The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-11-19
The Haunted Closet.

My sister wrote to me that she had
Nl- taken house for the summer, ga
queer, old-fashioned house" away down on
the lonely coast, where the children would
have the benefit of the sea-breeze and the
surf-bathing prescribed for them after a
sickly spring season. And she urged me
at once to come and join them in their new
abode. Queer and old-fashioned indeed I
found it; each room had the appearance of
having been built separately, by successive
owners.
At the back of the main building pro-
jected a sort of long and narrow wooden
gallery, consisting of ROW of three or four
small rooms, last used, it appeared, as store
rooms for grain and vegetables, all open
ing upon covered passage-way connecting
with brick office which had formerly
stood separate from the house. These
rooms and the Office were unused by the
family as too remote to be desirable; be-
sides there was plenty of room in the main
building.
Yet the first time visited the little brick
Office, it at once took my fancy. 1t was
good-sized, comfortable room, with fire.
place on one side, and queer little trian-
gular closet, or cupboard in a corner, bear
ing the marks of books and ink-stands on
the shelves. The very place, thought,
for a study, SO / at once chose this little
room for my own, bedroom and study in
one, and after giving it thorough purifi-
cation and airing, took possession.
1t proved quite as pleasant as l antici-
pated. Here, awaking in the morning, l
would open the windows and let in the
fresh sea-breeze; and when evening came, I
would sit in my little garden-door, and re-
joice in the quiet and seclusion which ]
loved so much.
Thus was sitting, about twilight few
days after had moved into my little her.
mitage, as called it. The air was very
still scarce rustic disturbed the branches
of the willow, and the surf ripping on the
beach made but loy murmur. Suddenly,
became aware of faint, uncertain sound,
like the whispering of voices and rustling
of garments. Fancying that my sister or
the children had playfully stolen upon mo
looked around; but to my surprise, there
was no one visible.
1t must have been fancy, of course, /
thought, and turned once more to the book !;
but hardly had done SO when again
heard the rustling of drapery, and what
sounded like foot fall on the floor. was
startled and sat breathless, staring around
and listening. Once or twice it was repeat
ed and then ali was as still as before.
That my story may be credited, must
tell the reader that was at this time a
woman Of four-and-twenty, had never in
my life been i'll or nervous, was the farth-
est possible from being superstitiously in
clined, and had been accustomed to regard
with rdicule all stories concerning ghosts,
goblins, and other so-called spiritual mani
festations. Such being the case set II
down as one of those odd and fieeting fan
cies which do sometimes puzzle and bewil-
der even the most rational.
But on the following day, and again on
the next, the mysterious sounds which
have described were repeated. 1t was exact
ly as though some person or persons were
occupying the room with me-moving with
eoft footsteps and speaking in low whis-
pers, as if unwilling to be heard. Once
distinctly distinguished grating noise, as
of key turned in lock; SITTER which, all
was quiet.
Should tell my sister and brother-in-
iaw9 No; / shrank from the thought Of
heir laughter. Finally--and the reader