The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-15
Written for the Sunday Crescenkl t.
asa STRANGE. BUT TRUE.
CONTINUED.

Il
As / told you last week, have seen ghost.
Now am Of q disposition not to cit quietly down
accepting any theory that may be offered without |
at least attempting to investigate its truth. Never
in my life have known the meaning of the word |
fear, for when but q child of eleven years my |
mother, who hated coward, put me through
course of treatment that would either throw
child into spasms or render them fearless for lfe
It had the latter effect upon me, and to this day
have never been able to resist the impulse OF at
once, under all circumstances, investigating the
why and wherefore of any noise or sight that was
unusu al and altar left the old farmhouse and
returned to the hotel WAS vexed not only with
my hosts but with myself, and in bordering over
the affair came to the conclusion that would re-
turn and see If / could not solve the mystery of
the apparition.
No sooner determined upon than done. or.
dered . carriage ana :once more wended my way
along the picturesque road, shaded BY tall hickory
and oak, and fringed with hazel and pawpsw
bushes heavy with their burden of delicious fruit
On reaching my destination l was kindly well
coined, and when offered another room, ssid:
"No, prefer the one had before I am not will
ling to acknowledge myself conquered by Q
ghost and would like to see If it will return
again."
"scarcely come soon," replied my hostess.
at does not appear very often, and months may
20 by and you not see it." .s....r
eat all events" said, F" shall not give 1t up
till make one more trial" and 30 was installed
afresh in my pleasant, quaint chamber, and went
to rest in my soft, dreamy couch, and all passed
The house was certainly delightful one, my
| h SIS agreeable and kind yet soon decided that
| there was some mystery about the place that was
not easily read. In going to and from my room
| noticed that in the large hall through which
| passed there seemed space that was not &c.
counted for by the rooms apparent. and that
/ the hall was papered two thirds Of the way up
over paneling Of dark oak, that, Judging from
the part over the paper was too beautifully carved
| to be hidden from sight, and the blank space
| without door, of dead-papered wall. was out
| of keeping with the original plan OF the house.
| But though could see there was secret which
| perple xed me- as it was q pleasant house, with
| pleasant people In it, who were KIND TO the SICK
stranger within its walls and made 1t home like to
her so far as they could, did not pry and cues.
ton into what was not my own affair." not oeing
Several nights passed without interruption, and
began to congratulate myself upon the fact that
the ghost did not care to be bothered with visiting
me, or was better employed elsewhere. al isst
grew careless, and instead Of watching as did at
first would dismiss my maid after my night toilet
was over, and sit dreaming over the ire until the
wee sma' hours ayant the twaF were gone, OF
else sink into the broad, downy bed, and dream
But at last was awakened one night by the
! sweet solemn tones of the organ filling the room
| with rich sounds, and there at the organ was the
| fair woman. Determined this time not 10 De de-
ceiyed or foiled in solving the singular affair: re-
NAMED quietly in bed and slowly slipped ASIDE tne
| heavy silken folds of the bed curtains until
could command full view Of the room on all
| sides then waited to see what should see. III
| spirit il could but disappear it had before; Il
living it might in some way betray its secret, anc
| would then have the qualification OF having dis'
b, sbfSaah that 4
| was rewa rded for my patient vigil by seeing hel
turn from the organ and slowly glide up 70 my
bedside, and stand there looking at me with ne
me in fond, soothing manner, and again Eel
the thrilling touch of the cold, soft hand upon MI
face, smoothing the hair from oil my brow IN q
inexpressbly loving way. and gentle murmur Q
felt the nearest approach to fear 1t has eve
been nv fortune to experience, and opening m.
eyes looked full into her face and spoke 70 ner
! but with a stifed cry she retreated towards IN
where she had seemed to sink into the chest, jus
in time TO see the floor near 1t close up as thong
| a trap door was there; and pressing upon u
place before it had time to settle firmly BACK,
sank with me, and found myselfin small room
and my fair woman fleeing before me fhreugh
| door in the further end. "Never give up" ha
) | long been nv motto, and IL helped me here
aIiyipp or dead III see who or what you ar
q before leave you" I said and fastened afte
her as she fed along the passage, aud began
; low, sobbing cry, as gained upon her. knnnin
D into q room ct the end Of the passage, she san
upon q low couch, and crouched up as though !
4 fear, while her pitable cry made me stop an
think of retracing my steps, for | now knew
. was living thing, not spirit, that had haunte
4 | my chamber; but, on looking around, iound
was in an entirely unknown part OF the mouse
. me, and scarcely knew which way 70 tuii
: So gently approaching her, spoke sofs
8 and kindly to her, entreating her to be cab
, azd not fear. While / was trying to sooth
her, q door opened and my hostess entere'
% Never shall forget her face as locke
upon seeing me there. Her dread secret tnat "a
!. been SO closely kept had at last escaped ht
i | keeping and was In the possession OF anotne
| and that other a total stranger. "Oh, my Go
=. how came you here!" All Myra, my poor chill
y At last YOU have betrayed u.s." At the sour
4 of her voice the fair woman sprang up from u
10 | couch and ran TO her, crying hide me, MI
me.p and hid her face in the bosom OF n
+ hostess, who gently soothed her. III you
show me the way to my room, Mrs: L."
3, marked to her, I'm leave you and shall be 81
y, TO see you there when you can come IN Y
mean time let me assure you that your seer
is safe with me and will never be betrayed
Ia She simply replied, "Thank you, this Is y
g | way" opening door that found leo lh,o
,e large hall and was secret door IN tne Ola
space. At once all was explained, the singuu
blank space was concealed rooms appropr1at
% 10 the use of the fair woman, and she was ma
IL Shortly after / returned to my room, tap
n the door announced my hostess, aud tnen
heard The secret Of the haunted room.