The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-11-06

Upon my finger glows ring,
Upon my lips "a kiss.
MYSTERY OF THE TE4ATCHED
HOUSE.
-a CONCLUDED.
During the next day I, as usual,
failed of courage to speak to my aunt.
desired one of the maids to sleep
ON the couch in my room, keeping
this arrangement q secret. The fol-
Rowing night / felt some little COM
fort from the presence of second
person ner me; but the girl soon fell
asleep. Lying awake in fearful ex-
peotation, was visited by a repeti-
tion of the previous nights horror.
1heard the foot-step a second time.
1 suffered secretly in this way for
about q week. had become SO pale
and nervous, that I was only like
shadow of my former self. Time
hung wretchedly upon my hands. I
only priced the day inasmuch as it
vas a respite from the night; the ap-
pearance of twilight coming on at
evening invariably threw me into an
ague fit Of shivering. I trembled at
shadow; screamed at sudden
noise. My aunt groaned over me, and
sent for the doctor.
/ said to him, ''Doctor, I am only
little noped. I have got bright
idea of curing myself. You must
pxescribe me a school-fellow.'
Hereupon Aunt Featherstone be-
gan to ride off on her old hobby
about the loneliness, the unhealthi-
ness and total objectionableness of
the Thatched House, bewailiug her
own weakness in having allowed her
self tolbe forced into buying it. She
never mentioned the word sthaunt-
ed" though I efterward knew that at
the very time, and for some weeks
previously, she had been in full pos
session OF the story of the nightly
foot-step. The doctor recommended
me complete change of scene; but
instead of taking advantage of this, I
asked for companion at the Thatch-
ed dHouse.
The prescription had begged for
was written in the shape of q note 20
Ada Rivers, imploring her to come
to me at once. stDo come now,"I
wrote; s'I have mystery for you to
explore. / will tell you about it
when we meet" Having said 30
much, I knew that I should not ba
disappointed.
Ada Rivers was O tall, robust girl,
Rith the whitest teeth, the Vnprest
complexion, and the clearest laugh I
have ever met with in the world. To
be near her made one feel healthier
both in body and mind. She was
one of those lively, fearless people
who love to meet morbid horror
face to face, and put it to rout. When
L wrote to her, 'tDo come, for am
aiok, I was pretty sure she would
obey the summons; but when I add
ed, 81 have mystery for you to ex-
plore," I was convinced of her COM
pliance beyond the possibility of
donbt.
It wanted just one fortnight of
Christmas day when Ada arrived ut
the Thatched House. For some lit
tie time beforehand, I had busted
myself SO pleasantly in making pre-
parations, that had almost forgot
ten the weeping lady, and had not
heard the foot-step for two nights.
And when, on the first evening of her
arrival. Ada stepped into the haunt
ed dining-room in her trim flowing
robe of crimson cashmere, with her
dark hair bound closely round her
eomely head, and her bright eyes clear
with that frank unwaverinp light of
theirs, L felt as IL her wholesome pre.
sence had banished dread at once.
and that ghosts could surely never
harbor in the same house with her
free step and genial laugh.
''What is the matter with youP"
said Ada, putting her hands on INV
shoulders, and looking in my face.
"You look like chsngeling. you lit
tle white thingP When shall get
1eaye to explore your mystery2"