Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-02-14
The Leisure Hour.
THE H.sUvTRD Cos RT.

My sister wrote me that she had take
house for the summer, "a queer, old fash
ioned house" away down on the lonely
coast. where the children would have the
benefit of the sea breeze and the surf-bath-
ing prescribed for them After sickly spring
season. And she urged me to come at once
and Join them in their new abode. Queer
and old d-fashioned indeed / found 1t each
room had the appearance of having been
built separately, by successive owners.
At the back of the main building pro-
jected sort of long and narrow wooden
gallery, consisting of a row of three or four
small rooms. last used, it appeared, as store
rooms for grain and vegetables, all open
ing upon covered passage connecting
with a brick office which had formerly
stood separate from the house. These rooms
and the Office we're unused by the family as
too remote to be desirable; besides there
was plenty of room in the main building.
Yet the first time visited this little brick
office, 1t at once took my fancy. It was
good sized, comfortable room, with a fire.
place on one side, and queer little triang-
ular closet or cupboard in corner, bear
ing the marks Of books and ink-stains on
its shelves. The very place, I thought, for
| a study so I at once chose this little room
for my own, bed room and study in one,
and afler giving it a thorough publication
and airing, took possession.
II proved quite as pleasant az I had an
ticipated. Here, awakening in the morn
| ing, I would open the windows ana let in
| the fresh sea breeze; and when evening
came, would sit in nv little garden-dcor,
and rejoice in the quiet and seclusion which
| I loved 80 much.
Thus l was sitting, about twilight, few
days after had moved into my little her
mtage, as I called it. The air was very
| still; scarce rustic disturbed the branch
| es OF the willow, and the surf ripping on
the beach made but low mnrmur. Sud-
denly, became aware of faint, uncertain
sound, like the whispering of voices and
the rustling of garments. Fancying that
my sister or her children had playfully
stolen upon me looked round; but, to my
surprise, there was no one visible.
It must have been fancy, of course, I
thought, and turned once more to the book
but hardly had done 80 when I again
heard the rustling of drspery, and what
sounded like a football upon the floor.
was startled, and sat breathless, staring a
round and listening. Once or twice It was
repeated, and then all was still as before.
That my story may be credited, must
tell the reader that was at this time wo-
man of four-and-twenty, had never in my
life been III or nervous, was the farthest
possible from being superstitiously inclin-
ed, and had been accustomed to regard with
ridicule all stories concerning CHESTS, COB
lins, and other so-called spiritual manifes-
tatons. Such being the case set 1t down
as one of those old and fieeting fancies
which do sometimes puzzle and bewilder
even the most rational.
But on the following day, and again on
the next, the mysterious sounds which
have described were repeated. It WAS ex-
actiy as though some person or persons
were occupying the room with me-movinp
with soft footsteps and speaking In low
whispers. rs If unwilling to be heard
Once I distinctly distinguished grating
noise. as of key turned in lock aftei
which. all was quiet.
said nothing to any one about these
noises, though by this time, I was almos
convinced that they we're not the effects OF
my imagination. yet decided to he thor
oughly convinced of their real existence
before exposing myself to laughter ant
ridicule by relating so Improbable story
A day or two after, about four o'clock II
the afternoon-a most unghost- like hour,
was reading on my lounge between thu
door and the window. Suddenly, as
turned a leaf, heard faint grating sound
az of key Just behind me, and then
voice speaking i'm low, indistinct mur
mur, inexpressibly hollow and sepulchral
For an instant only came the indistnc
murmur, and then asilenee. The sunlight
was streaming down In slender, colder
threads through the gently swsying branch
es of the willows; out on the lawn ] sav
the gardener at work, and on the beacl
heard the merry voices of the children.
felt courageous. Rising searched arounc
the room, under the bed and lounge, an'
In the triangular closet in the corner-th
only places where person could be con
cealed. Not living thing was TO be seen
and was about shutting the closet doc
when heard distinctly low, faint laugh
close in my ear, and then a moaning sigl
or groan, which seemed to die away Int
infinite distance.
confess that at this instant my nerve
did fail me, and cold shiver ran curdlin
; through my veins. I hastily closed tn
closet door, and without waiting even l.
snatch up my book. ran along the CALLER.
, 10 the other part OF the house.
Should tell my sister and brother-in-law
No; I still shrank from the thought o
their laughter. Finally-and the reade
will credit me with the possession OF NOR
than feminine courage in so doing-I re
solved to keep silence for the present, ant