The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-04-24
e ST. CLOUD. MINNESOTA, THURSDAY, APRIL a. B7a

dare to alluds to lt-but listened while
she described tho elaborate search thev
bad made; and how George locked
high and low fol the key Of that small
rso., and could not find it, thouzh
Miss Van ArtIandt. had givsai it 70 him
only the dsy before - s'.ss=' '"'j ne
':Let us 60 right down this minute
and sxsmine the closed room," I sug.
gsst.d; "'ee, here is tho key on thi,
ring, and it will seem 80 absurd to i'm.
'gioe that soy emo could get through
the locked door, ~heu We see the limo.
oent.laokine little place. that you will
laugh and get.sssr the feeling you
have about it," -.:
Bertha didn't seem at Il sure Of such
q oonsummation but she examined tho
Toy first, and then rose and went down
With me, whispering as she went. H.
| "The worst Of it is, George. says 1
shan't tell Miss Lenor., be cause she
seems 80 sad;it it's her ghost, she
osght to know it, and be responsible
for it, think do not you :"
/ laughed and said "Certainly," and
/
going into the dim dining.room, tried to
be very chivslrous, it gave but me such
a chill to pass through it, with all its
shutters closed, that made preteu CO
OF needing more light for an oxplora.
tion, and threw them all open.
The little room was curious one,
simply because in size and appoint
ments it differed entirely from any
other in the house. It was not more
than twelve feet in one direction aud
eight in another, and its furniture was
of tho p'ainest and most meagre style.
A small bedste.d Of painted wood, q
plain chest Of drawers, and = smsll
table and two chairs made up its sum
total. Its floor WI covered with mat.
Eting, and i had only on. b.dly-lightsd
window, which looked cut on the beard
led slde entrance through the garden to
the back part of tho house, and was
shaded BY faded green dsms,k cur
tain; and this: was ali.
| "Not very mystsrious.looking place,
you must confess, Berths,'' I said, but
{ did not laugh, nor did she. We both
peered round euriously and examined
Ethe dull white wallis, .s if We expected
to find some calculating inscription on
its surface.
"Tbat--that thing I told you Of
csms ia here" persisted my sister. t1t
Ibid, tor I saw it as plain IS I see you
now. All, what is that r.
I She screaned and ran to me in
Wild, affrightened; way, but it was, only
Bah, come to ask about lunch, as she
said.
/ She relieved her mind by twisting
up her face iato . queer knot before
she gave this expl.aetien, and shen
"sitsd with her eyes cast up and her
Hips drawn, down to hear what Bertha
bad to say.
"Bab," said my sister, suddenly re.
membering that George hadn't inter-
dicted questioning in her case, "doss
any one ever sleep in this room? 1
mean any one you know, or who visits
Miss Leonie 7"
"Not likely" responded Bob briefly.
"They couldn't do it it they tried"
"Why not, Bah I"
Bah untwistsd her face, and all of
sudden becoming grave, said:
r:"Thers are some places whore sleep
Will not come. This is one Of them"
Bertha drew close to her, aud her
eyes grew large with wonder, mixed
with fear. -. .::.-~u
"Pray t II me Why, Bah. l want to
know all about it, I cannot tell you how
uuch," she pleaded. s..
But. B.b's seriousness vanished as
suddenly as It came. She took refuge
in her grimaoes again and said ,,"How
should ehe know 'Twasn't any of her
business TO account for such things :;
her duty Was to get lunch, and sh"
wanted to kaow just what was required
for tho then peudiug NEAL"
| Missr Lsouie's noiseless feet had
brought her heavy black robes into the
room, and she stood close behind Bah
as she spoke. The girl4knew she was
there b: fore either Of Us was aware of
her presence, and I saw BY the change
that had come over her she did not
mean her former mistress to find her
| eossiping With Us about the house.
.7"We are wondering over this odd lit
tie room, Miss Laouie," I said as light
III a I could. 's1t seems out Of keep.
ing With the rest Of the house, l
think"
"Califoruia houses are arranged to
suit tho families for whom they are
built" she said briefly. II presume
this was meant for man.servanr who
took care Of tho place, By: sleeping %
the irst floor, or it may have been a
housekeeper's ROOM
II thought your parents built the
house themselves, Il ventured. !. to say,
/ for 1re.lly did not 500 Why ve should be.
afraid to ask : question on such = com
/ mon'plsoe subject. ., T.:
Her fsos changed; she displayed
great repugnanoe to answering at all,
but after some falteripg and hesitation,