The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-02-07
SAVED BY A RING.
BY SOULE SOULT.

s.AS-
oughly Americanized, by a residence al
most from infancy in this country, was by
birth Spaniard.
That they were exceedingly well-bred
and amiabe people, was the unanimous
conclusion of the inmates of Madame De-
laroche's aristecratic boarding house.
"Ah, Madame said Mrs. Juanez, as
that lady introduced the new corners to
the apartments destined for their occcu-
pancy, "these are very pleasant rooms
high and airy with large windows. l like
plenty of light and fresh air.
"But Jose," the little lady exclaimed,
turning to Mr.. Juanez, "what singular
ly, ponderous door this is between the
rooms.'
"It is indeed" said her husband, "and
quite suggestive of a prison. If you are
not good girl l shall immense you behind
it with the cheerful accompaniment of
bread and WATER" he continued playfully.
As both looked at Madame Delaroche for
an EXPLANATION of such battle-like door
amid it's homogeneous surroundings, she
smiled saying:
1.-THE house is, l believe, quite old. L
have occupied it but recently, however,
and know nothing whatever of its his
tory
The architecture Of the mansion showed
conclusively that it was built long before
the period of sham and shoddy; at time
when comfort, convenience, and durability
were considered paramount to mere ap-
pearance. The apartments upon which
the interest Of my story centers were IN
the left wing of the house, upon the third
floor and approached by long corridor
leading from the main staircase.
The rich, dark wood in which the rooms
were finished gave them at twilight
grimly sombre aspect, but when lighted up
by the warm sunshine that came in glor-
ious flood through the large windows, they
grew bright and cheerful and even the
frowning faces of the figures supporting
the cornices seemed to look down with an
almost good natured grin.
A door opened from the corridor into
the larger of the two rooms and the only
means of communication between the two
apartments was through the pondereus
door. Mrs. Juanez by means of pictures,
books, flowers, and various beautiful orna-
ments arranged with ready skill and good
taste, had converted her portion of the old
mansion into the brightest spot magma
BILE, but the "queer door, the little lady
was always saying. She was sure there
was some romance or tragedy, more proba-
bly, the latter, connected with it and the
mystery about it possessed singular fas-
cnation for her.
Why was it made so thick and heavy,
and of different wood from the rest in the
room? Why such an immense lock; such
a strong bolt above it and another bolt
quite as strong near the floor? Why was
the inner side from distance of two feet
from the floor to the height one could con-
veniently reach, covered with indentations
as if it had been battered again and again
with some instrument?
She remembered to have once seen a
brawny sailor strike heavy plank with
his clinched hand and leave a similar i'm
preston with his horny knuckles, but that
was softer wood.
She asked the other boarders about it.
Some were Indifferent some smiled at the
look of deep speculation in the brown eyes,
others wondered, and languid Mrs. Single
ton, who thought it singularly unlady-like
to show curiosity about anything so vulgar
as that " dreadful door," said:
"The reason Mr.. Singleton declined TAX
ing that suite of rooms was because l never
could have endured to look at anything SO
frightfully gloomy and out of place.
One morning, Anna, the chambermaid,
said: Mrs. Juanez amt you ever kinder
nervous sittin' here every day lookin'
at that doer?''
"Why no, Anna" laughed the little
woman, "why should l be nervous"'
With an expression as of conjurng up a
ghost, the garrulous maid continued:
"They don't none of the boarders like
these rooms, no how, an I've heard tell
that folks that built this house, oh, ever so
many years ago KEEP a man fastened up in
that there room, an there used to be aw-
full noises, and they do say he tore hisself
dreadful and went on terrible. Anyhow
under the carpet there's dretful stain on
the floor. I've seen it, an scrubbed an
scrubbed it, an it won't come off neither.
wouldn't want to live here, mum, no;
not if there was rosaries an Angus Dies
all about the room-no, mum!''
That night Mrs. Juanez told her hus-
band she had at last found clue to the
mystery that had so long perplexed her
and laughingly added: sc shall proceed to
write tragedy thereon
All, little woman, you have no need to
aorite tragedy upon it
Breakfast was nearly over one morning
Young Smith was wrestling manfully with
his eighth muffin assisting it's departure
with copious draughts of fragrant coffee.
Precise Miss Emrick having adjusted
her knife and fork at the proper angle
upon her plate and placed her napkin care
fully folded within it's silver ring, leaned
comfortably back in her char to listen to
hearty strong voiced Mr.. Monmouth, who
was reading local items from morning
paper.
"Senator Blatherskite is alarmingly i'll
at his residence, No. 1100-Avenue.'
"Child run over and instantly killed, at
the corner of A and B streets. Driver
escaped without arrest" The gentleman
continued: Eighty five deaths from SIN a
"Don't ~ cried nervous Mrs. Darling,
from the other end of the table. Every
body smiled, except the reader. who look
ed as if guilty of some grave blunder.
"S-m-a" would have been smallpox,
had not the exclamation from the nervous
lady checked the words in the process of
enunciation.
That dread disease had by common con-
sent become tabooed subject at Madame
Delarocbe's 1t was in reality prevailing