The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-11-03

4
and tell Inc all about it.
The child did not appear at nj
frightened, evidently supposing
grandma to be a mortal member
of the family.
"Well, mamma. +" she began, u
never saw her but three times, and il
was at night. / don't know how
she come into the room, but she did
come in, and looked on the floor fol
something.
"Does she look like Mrs. Mars,
ton? 1 inquired.
"Oh, no! She is little, and Mrs
Marston Is big"
"Well, 90 on, said | !; describe
her to me-tell me how she is dress
Cd"
/" can't tell exactly, for the night
taper does not give much light; but
she had on a queer hood, and she
walked this ways" and the gypsy
threw her skirt over her head, and
with tottering steps, and bent back,
hObbled around the room with al;
the gravity and ihiirmity of a wO-
man of ninety, which elected a peal
of laughter from the other girls, in
which | Joined, though much against
my will.
Why do YOU keep your hand
stretched out in tnat way?" ! asked.
'Is that the way grandma held hers 2"
"Thats the way she held the can
dlcStick, mamma
"Oh! Then she had a candle
stick?"
To be sure she had and she was
looking for something on the floor.
drew the candlestick, continued
my little masquerader, for it was
of such a strange shape-not a bit
like those we use"
"Indecd said ], leginning to
feel very much as if ] were in a
dream. | should like to see the
drawing" Straightway it was pro-
duced and sure enough, there was
the antique candlestick of a century
back. = Stay here, darlings, a little
while" | said, rising hastily; a
will soon be back" and, impelled
by feeling of mingled curiosity and
annoyance, l went in search of Mrs.
Marston.
She was not in any of the rooms
usually occupied by her. | calle:l,
but received no answer. On l went,
until | reached the wing of the build
ing hitherto unfrequented by me.
AS | approached | heard voices, evil
IDENTIFY raised in argument or anger.
The ScOtchwoman's tones were loud
est, and distinctly heard her say,
81 do all | can, but | Gamma watch
them any more" On this entered.
The two women were alone. Mrs.
MarstOn started on seeing me, and
turned so white thought she would
have fallen.
HAS anything happened, mad
am she faltered-" that you
have"
She stopped. | was in no mood
to pause until she had recovered her
self.
Yes, Mrs. MarStOn, something
has happened-much has happened
since | was unfortunate enough TO
enter this house. God forgive you,
madam, for the deception you have
practiced upon me. Your conduct
is inexplicable, and your manner,
motives, and surroundings are mys-
terry. If you had told me you had
other inmates in your house, / would
have been prepared for circumstan-
css which have shocked me beyond
expression. Had you no thought
for me, your humanity should have
prompted some consideration for
my children, who, had they possess
cd the slightest tingc of superstition,
might have been terrified into a state
Of"
| did not utter the word, the moth
cr anticipated it. Her eyes dilated,
she shiyercd as with an ague. and,
with Clasped hands and bitter sobs,
she threw herself almost at my feet
" Yes, you must go, she moaned
'ail 20 that come herc--no one can
'tay. Oh. it is too dreadful! too
sreadful.' -
As soon as she was a little COM
posed | asked her why she did not
place her iortunaics where they
cOIId be watched and tended with
out fear ofeXpOsurc. She shook her
head sadly.
No, | cannot bear the thought of
strangers tending them," she said
1" they are so gentE, SO inoifensivc.
and so tenderly attached to each 9TH
er. They are twins; and they have
been so lovingly cared for that rough
ness or severity would kill them. In
warm weather | cannot keep them
clothed-it is their only wayward-
ness. How they have eluded our
watch(ulness of late, Heaven only
knows. Matte says she is losing
control of them. suppose they
were attracted by the laughter and
voices of your little ones." And
the poor woman's tears flowed
afrcsh.
"This is not all, Mrs. Marston.
There is another inmate of your
house that you have never mention
cd to me--yOur mothcrw
81 have no mother" she replied.
and | saw quick look pass between
her and the ScOtchwoman.
"Who, then, is this old lady that
my children tell me of? No more
if you please" said |. |
quickly. "Who is This old woman -
"Mrs. Westray," replied, slowly 4:
you know as much with regard to |
her as we do, where she comes from.
or why she walks, we cannot tell.5
Walks" said |. "What do YOU
mean by walks. "
"Oh, don't question her any |
MORE" said Matte, imploringly. !
- The innocents are all her trouble. |
She thinks Of nothing else. I"
l was determined to have an expIa- |
nation; so OH | went.
as there any correction between |
the strange vapor, which so annoyed !
me i'll my bedroom when | first |
came, and the appearance OF this
wOman?"
Good only knows" she replied |
1reamily; eve cannot tell. We
heard strange stories of the house be-
fore we took it. Our greatest in
iucement to do so was its isolated |
situation. need not tell you nor
why we shun society, and why we
pay so little heed TO the strange
scenes which you have witnessed |
here, and which are driving YOU
from us. / can offer you no apology
for our deception. Indeed, we seem
% have lost ourselves, and all con-
iidoration for others, iu our sad and
realities.
Ny heart failed me. | had inten-
20 demand an explanation. give vent
% my just Indignation, and then
cave the house and its iDcompre-
'ensiblc Inmates forever. | now
found myself held back by two mo-
ives: First, | felt that the weeping,
hopeless woman before me had re-