The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-11-03
A STRANGE VISITOR.
A GHOST STORY.

The Doctor took his grape-juice and
began. 80
II In 1848, had been in business year
or SO, and was beginning to pick up stray
cases. One night in the small hours, the
lnight-bell rang family over ray head. ]
WANTED work in those days, and its clam
or was not quite so altogether horrible as
it became in after years; SO jumped up,
and, putting on my wrapper, opened the
wanted me. Hearing no answer, and the
might being utterly dark, I slipped on
my clothes and went down to the door.
| To my surprise there was 10 one visible,
and the street was black and silent An.
noyed at the impatience of my visitor,
went sullenly back to bed. The next
night at the same hour of two o'clock,
the bell rang again, and, as before, faint
ly, like the ring of a child. The night
was cloudless and the moon brilliant, but
no one was on the steps or near them
Instantly was possessed with a strange
impression of terror as closed the win
dow and stood a moment thoughtful be-
fore going back to bed. / had scarcely
fallen asleep when the bell rang once
more. On this occasion dressed instant
ly and went down to the door, As be-.
fore, there was no one in sight. Still in
doubt. went out and explored in vain
the dark side of the street and the nearer
| shadows. You may laugh, Colonel, but
| the thing wasn't pleasant The next
might i resolved to sit up and catch the
disturber. Providing myself, therefore,
with good stick, I left the street door
unlocked, so as to be easily opened, and
in my office. Precisely as the clock
struck two the door bell rang. In a mo-
ment had opened it, ,exclaining: So
I've got you at last /" Then l paused in
my wrath. On the top step was wee
little figure of "a child about nine years
DID,, as I judged, barefooted, although
the night was cold, and muffled in some
thing like the torn half of ragged Gov
erlet. s9ai4 otsse5ia2 eaf ~
"Come in out of the cold," said, "and
Etell me what you want" 81 asa saus.9
Without saying word the child walk
ed into my office AS. it faced the light
saw the wanest and weariest little visage,
with great brown eyes, long, tangled, yell.
low hair, aud white lips, which said,
| feebly: .t...
NANNY is dying You come along,
quick. sir" 9n.i sEo Daa 59a.F r4ia49
Iput on my overcoats and went with
her, saying: gsff 1891 al .ua;-fgsgr
'"Good heavens child who sent, you
out in this dress?" for the little thing
seemed to be in short white petticoats
and without gown. Ha
She made me no reply, except to re-
peat, Come quick, SIR" Out we went.
Whats your name ?" said I.
"Susy."b 8ta 81 E314
Aren't you cold?" a.a4 aae1 4
mo" -
Were you here last night ? " 1 said on
q sudden. oaa st4& 1st71a 21 #la
"Yes."
" Who sent your" .f-arn- +.
Don't know. =,
"why did you run awayg"T Iip|
DON'T know" bus alol io rd 81 II
+ Meanwhile the little naked feet trotted
on i'll front of me swiftly, and suddenly
turning into Crosby street, dived into a
dark court. Here she opened door,
and followed her up stairs. We climb
ed three stories of mean, ill-smelling
staircase, until she suddenly stopped be-
fore door in the attic, which she opened
in turn, so that we went in together in a
wretched garrett The room was deadly
cold, and saw by Pickering tallow
candle, fireless stove, bare floor and
walls, and every sign of the deepest mis-
cry. On a straw mattrass Tav a woman
With features pinched and haggard, her
feet bale, because she had drawn the
scanty covering up about her chest.
what canI do tor you?" 1 said,
arousing her with difficulty. Hse
Nothing" said weak voice, husky
and broken. 81 am starving-that's all"
Then relapsing into the delirium from
which my words had called her for asmo-
tnent, she began to wander anew.
| Upon this turned to the child To
my surprise, she was gone, leaving me
| alone with the dying woman. Kneeling
beside her, called aloud in her ear and
gently shook her, when she again grew
partially sensible.
"Where is the child?" I said. 81
want her to call some one in the house, so
as to get q little help
Child ?" she said What child!"
"Susy," said /, recalling her name.
At this the woman suddenly sat up
pointed across the garnet, and exclaimed
"Susy She's over yonder-been dead
these three days. Starved, too, guess {"
and so saying, she fell back, groaned,
struggled an instant, and was dead
Shocked at the horror of the scene,
lslowly got up from my knees, and taking
the failing candle walked over to far
corner where confused heap lay on the
floor, covered with torn counterpane.
raised the corner, and bending over saw
that the heap was a dead child, and that
its face was that of the little wanderer