Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-09-03

lived to-day, was q mere absurditv.
al believe that there is some horri
bleAanseen thing in the room," she
said, ''some awful shapeless spirit
that when it is locked in with the vie
tip murders him. Let others believ.
what they will, believe that"
The words haunted me, but | laugh
ed,at them, of course. Whatever il
w;is J would try TO know. had Q
Plan.
al dusk | went into my bedroom
myself. came out a strange man
l Fore white whig, pair of green
goggles, and an overcoat, the tails oi
which reached to my heels. l had a
mafiler about nv throat, and a little
hlhch on one Of my shoulders. car
ried thick cane, and stopped great
deal as | walked. In my hands | car.
ricd carpet bag. and in my bosom a
pair of pistols, we'll loaded.
EAs l passed out into the street the
early moon was just rising she lit me
on my way to the door of Nine. Mat.
tcau's house.
1t was opened for me when knock.
cd, by old Hannah. Her eyes were
rfd and swollen. Then l told her
toat was a stranger, and had receiv.
Cd Nine. Matteau's address from a
gentleman in New York, and desired
TO stay all night under her roof. She
shook her head.
"ihe lady is away from home. Be-
sides we are in trouble here. don't
think Miss Gabrielle would"
But here Miss Gabrielle herself ap.
peared.
al am an old man, Miss" | said,
land as You see, quite intirn. dread
another step. l should take it as a
kindness if you would accommodate
me, and will pay you any price you
ask"
Miss Gabrielle looked at Hannah.
ave have only one room,' she said,
land that
ended the question Of my stay by
begging to be taken to it,
"iou will have supper, sir?" asked
the girl.
But declared that had eaten, and
only wanted rest.
Her reply was:
Hannah, show the gentleman to
the blue room and make fire.
was in the blue room, the scene of
the three sudden deaths or murders.
1t was small apartment, painted blue.
II had also blue window curtains, and
blue silk coverlet On the bed ; neat
striped carpet, set Of old mahogany
furniture aud very handsome ever
aud q basin of costly china. 1t was
at that time almost n universal custom
to burn wood. In this room, how
euer, was small coal fire. | alluded
to this rs Hannah came in with the
scuttle.~ aa--
Yes, sir" she said. "Missus does
burn Goals. Her son is a clerk or the
like ut the new mines at Manch Chunk
and he sends it cheap 10 her but its
nasty, dirty-smelling thi ng, aud |
hate it. Now its built and lit, twill
warm up in fifteen minutes. 1t takes
longer than wood"
She went out Of tue door and came
back in a minute with a little tray on
which stood Il pot and cup and sau-
Ger, also bowl and tiny pitcher,
and something in a napkin.
Miss sent bit and sip said
she. Tea rests us old folk nightly.
Good night"
Good night" said, IL expect
shall sleep soon; must be up very
early, though, for l have bills TO pay.
l have some hundreds of dollars with
me to pay out tomorrow, and it's in
this bag
She looked at me in queer sort Of
way and fingered beside me. AT
last she spoke:
look We. sir; think that old folks
Of your age do wrong to lock doors on
themselves. You might be i'll at
night, and who'd get in TO you? Leave
your door unlocked"
Was it this woman's practice to
beg travellers who stopped with her
mistress not to lock the doors, Was
there some baneful portion in the cup
she had given me!
1t was an innocent-looking cup
enough-an old fashioned affair cover
ed with little gilt sprigs. The tea
was fragrant Hyson but the suspic-
ion that had crept into my mind had
tainted it. fancied a strange color.
a curious smell. put it from me and
would not have tasted ii for king
dom.
Ihad not intended to sleep, and l did
not undress myself. merely remov.
ed my disguise, and sat down beside
the table with my pistols beside me.
That some attempt might be shortly
made to murder me felt to be posi-.
BILE. l thought of all the old tales l
had heard of trap doors, and sliding
panels, and secret entrances 10 trav.
ellers' rooms. l was not a.coward, Uut
l felt strangely nervous and singular
ly enough for man in my perfect
health my hands were growing cold,
and my feet were Jumps Of ice, while
my head was burning hot.
Fifteen minutes had passed and the
fire was kindled, but the room was not
warm. The blue flames struggled
among the black Goals, and flung fork.
ed Tongues tipped with yellowish tints,
into the room. There was nothing
cheerful about the stove, though it was
Of that open style now called Franklin.
Yet drew q chair toward it from hab.
it, and sat with my feet upon the
hearth. do not know how long l sat
there. Suddenly became aware that
was not myself. was losing my
senses. If unseen hands had been
ella :sed about my neck. and an unseen
knee had been pressed against my
chest, my sensations could not have
been different.
A thought Of the evil spirit which
my friend had suggested family strug-
glet into my mind. As staggered to
my feet noise like the roaring of a