Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-10-20

of this. the fourth story. We visited tn
other rooms, which had the plain, decen
furniture OF an opulent sand sensible
household. There they were. empty and
deserted, but clean and good, We closed
the blinds and windows, came down, anc
retracing our steps through Gerlrud de !
rooms. we locked the doors behind us.
took possession of the key, 10 deliver II
when he should arrive, TO Mr.. Ayscough
Occasionally, | visited these rooms o.
his to air them, and to see that no stray
mouse or other intruder had violated then
quiet loneliness. l was very much at
tracted by Gertrude's picture. II so hap
pened that | had never seen her; her
brief hour of youthful bloom had been
spent before | returned, an army officers
widow, from NY hard life on the Western
frontier. Often, | would stand and look
at the picture by the hour,-it fascinated
me; then rousing myself from my reyery'
would complete my rounds, and go back
to my room.
After Mrs. Morton had been gone about
4 month. had visit from Mr.. Ays-
cough. He was pale and interesting
young man, very refined and educated,
evidently much influenced by his sorrow.
lie talked necessarily about his vile. and
was interested in my admiration OF her
portrait. He took me in 10 show me
some at the contents Of the trunks. To
my horror found that some very valua'
be iewelry and silver comprised part OF
that mysterious luggage which had never
been unpacked.
But, Mr.. Ayscough,' ! exclaimed,
"you are not going 10 leave these valua'
be things here in this empty house, un'
locked and slrewn about in these trunks,
and no one but me to take care Of them y
lie laughed 4 sort Of empty laugh. rs
if he did not care much what became OF
them, and gave me no sort OF satisfaction.
From that moment. DO not know why,
began To feel troubled. had had the
comfort OF seeing all the family silver
carried of 10 the bank before Mrs. Nor
ton went away. aud, il had though, OF
them ut all, was convinced that all
burglars were aware OF that fact and
would never trouble me in the least.
Now had "a sort ol uneasy sensation
about Mr. AyscouSh's room which |
would gladly have had remoycd--in fact.
it became the focus OF many uneasy sen
sationS.
Mr.. AyScouSh liked to como to the
library and look over the new books
which were seut TO me to criIicise. One
day he took up book on Spiritualism
which soon fascinated him. | was cx.
tremely sorry when | saw how he iasten'
ed to il and began TO drink in 4 sort OF
dangerous comfort irom il. He talked TO
me about it, and asked me if had any
belief in the communion OF spirits.
lie found most robust unbelieyer in
me. Al my habits OF thought, my rough
experience of Lille, my anti.nervons tenn
permanent were against the theory and
practice of Spirilualism. lie went away
after few days. and | returned TO my
lonely life. Perhaps | was not sorry
when heard one day the unusual sound
Of voice asking Tor me ut the front door.
and went down TO see my nephew Rich
ard, good young fellow from the West,
who had come to the city 10 make his
fortune, and who had found me out.
Richard was OF course very anxious 10
see the sights of the great metropolis, so
we agreed TO make tour OF the amuse-
ments. lie took me ont OF an evening,
perhaps three times week. | remem'
Der being very much charmed with 4 pair
Of acrobais. a man and woman, who were
entirely independent of the law OF gravi-
lstion, and who sailed through The air ''on
the flying trapeze" with all the dpiomJ
and fearlessness OF birds. Richard used
TO laugh at me rs ], night alter night, de-
clared in favor oi'the acrobats. The
woman was beautiful! creature. and had
Tor me strange and weird attraction
which | could not account for, but it is
10 try to account for some
things. began at this time to believe
that | was growing ianciful, thing
which never had occurred before. Once
or twice l had sleepless nights. l
thought great deal too much about the
iewelry and silver in Mr.. Ayscough's
rooms. and began to make my inspec-
tions OF the house with sort of anxiety.
One OF my great pleasures, particularly
Of Sunday evening, had been TO have
Thomas light all the gas that | might see
the works of arl 10 advantage; and il
gave me, too, a sense Of companianship
which | needed. On that evening Nancy
and Thomas took their only pleasure.
They went out, leaving me entirely alone.
The policeman in the square mad become
somewhat OF an acquaintance OF mine,
and | had provided myself with whistle
by which l could call him if necessary in
these periods Of utter loneliness. Some.
times, as he walked under the window, l
would step to the balcony and speak to
him; so long rs | heard his tramp,
tramp, was not utterly isolated.
One Sunday evening | was walking up
and down, looking particularly at fine
Venetian picture,-a wilderness OF color