The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-09-12
TLIE QuEER SKELETON.

haps. At any rate, / believe in my !
father, and ho belived the story am |
about to relate. My father resided IN !
Ipswich, and once had occasion to go |
TO London on business. 1t was during
a period OF great popular commotion,
aud, the city being very full, ho had
some trouble in finding lodging. The
master Of tho house observed that 1t
was good large room--for he could
get but Onc--and very comfortable, if
he did not mind-but there he stopped,
for bis wife gave him nudge. That
made my father suspect something was
not right. ft
1t isn't over slaughter.house, or a
battle-ground, or disseyting room2'
says my father
"Oh, dear nor says the landlord
."but somo people say the next house is
haunted and that ANYBODY who sleeps
in this room can see n lady in white,
crying, at that window that you can
sec there.
ooh, is that ali2n says my father;
"pcrhaps there's some maniac confined
there. | don't caro- rush for all the
ghosts that We're evor invented. Well,
he took possession Of the room; and
before night closed in he had al op-
portuuity oftakihg an accurate survey
OF the neigLborlng premises. \ lead
roof, apparently ovet workshop, lny
between his window and that one
where the ghost was sand TO appear,
only there was this difference, that he
could easily step out Of his upon the
leads, whereas the nighbor's was about
bint or ten feet higher My father
always vowed that he was perfectly
sober when he went TO bed He could
not tell how long he had beon asleep,
when he was suddenly awakened by
loud screams and when he opened
hls eyes he saw that the opposite
house was on fire. lie was out on the
leads in moment. The haunted room
was filled with bright flames, and at
the window stood lovely young wo,
man, claspng baby IN her arms, aud
screaming for help.
oh, saye my ychild-savc my child"
she kept on crying, in tones Of such
anguish that they went to my fathers
very heart.
Give lt tC me" ho san, "and then
jump nut into my arms, The distance
lis nothing; you cannot be hurt, Take
courage! Now, give me tile baby '.
She leaned forward and dropped the
baby wrapped in a shawl, into my fa-
/ Tiers arms. Just as he got it safe,
/ 1t seemed to him that the roof fol in.
/ There was crashing noise, but not
very loud the flames disappeared, and
SO did theyouEg lady. In at his win
low he rushed again, and through the
house shouting: Fire fire." with all
MS might. and with the baby still in
/ his arms. Out rushed the landlord rs
hpalo as ghost, and his wife after him,
lin such monument of q nlght.cap. that
It quite ovcrawed my ii thcr. even in
tho midst OF Ms agitation. The maid
was shriclng "Murder" down in tho
kitchen, and the apprentices had tum-
blcd out iiom under the counter in the
shop, and wcrc pokiug their noses
cautiously out and kindly nqdiring
who was killing her; and OH every
landing up tho stairs the dodgers were
calling out to know what was the
mattcr. There vas altogether a tori
bio row in the place.
"Thc next house is on fire" said my
father.
"1t's only tie old story" said thC
landlord.-"Runu up stairs, my dear
, and tell them it's false alarm
But It is not f,dso alarm, says
INV father. for | saw the flames, an
saw the roof fall in, md fear thu
lady is buried under the runs.--Wh.
don't you como and bclp her? Sh
had just dropped her child INTO m.
arms when the roof fcll''
The landlady thon first sot eyes Of
! tho bundle fDr her husband at tia
/ tmomcnt lighted a candle from thcrnsh
light; which bad very imporlec1y il
lumina.cd the scene before.
~ baby says sho
. eyes y says my father, 'andIthink Il
/ bettcl leave it with you, ma'am while
go aud endeavor TO rescue the mother.
The woman di1 not speak nor utto
. Il sound, but she Just lifted mp the shaw
from the childs iaco. and droppe
G down like lump oc lead upon tn
4 floor. 1t contained the skeleton OF II
infant, wrapped upiu rags of what 9a
c once been very costly garments NJ
'( father felt very sick, aud the lander
n staggered back against the wall, an
dropped the candIesticlt out OF b
= hand,
:, When the landlady fell (shc was
81 tall, heavy woman, and gave the hou'
Z, u good shaISe) the maid scrcame
n "Murder!' louder than ever and I'll
- lodgcrs called out yot moro energet
" caliy to know what was the matte
e. That frightened the landlord back
his senses; for he thought if they can
down and saw what my father had &C
) IL wouId frighten them all out of Il