Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-01-31
A MYSTERIOUS HOUSE.

understood that do not hold myself re-
sponsible for the accurate truth of the
details Of the story. need only add that
the events are to be taken as having oc-
CURED some years ago.
Some years ago, then, gentleman,
whom we will call Colonel Somerville,
was desirous of buying house in the west
of town, and passing one day through a
well known square, he observed house
to be sold, which seemed to him, as far
as outside appearances and situation were
concerned, to be the very thing he want
ed. The printed bill referred him to a
firm of real estate agents in the city, and
to them he at once went, though he could
not help entertaining Il misgiving that
tie price would be exorbitantly high,
and beyond his means. No harm, how
ever, could be done by simple inquiry.
He was agreeably astonished to find that
the sum demanded was only four thous-
and pounds. Not being commercial
man, he could not help expressing his as
tonishment at the small sum demanded, ,
and naively inquired if the mansion was
very much out of repair. The represent
ative of the firm replied unhesitatngly
that the house was in very good repair,
and would not require more than the usu-
al outlay upon decorations. The Colonel
pressed his inquiries, and, as he seemed
to be likely and desirable purchaser,
he was soon informed of the circumstan-
ces under which the house in question
was TO be sold. 1t had belonged to II
enwell, and who had died intcstae, and
the sale was ordered by his next of kin,
! who had been found with some difficulty
This old gentleman had died, strangely
enough, in the very act of drawing up his
will. He had Just prnncd the words
"And desire that my house in --
square should be-" when some kind of n
fit seized hlm, and he was discovered the
next morning 10y his housckcepcr, dead
in his chair. Now, the next Of kin was
found in Australia or some remote colo
ny, aud was anxious to realize the proper
ty MS quickly as possible. The house in
- square had been uninhabited foI
years. There was not a scrap of furni-
turc in it; ; but it had been scrupulously
cared for and kept clean by an elderly
deaf woman, who did not live in it, bu
who used TO go to it every morning and
spend almost all day there, and preserved
! it in such condition that the owner
might have furnished it at any time, and
come to live there without experiencing
any sense of discomfort which would or
| dinariy arise from residing in II house
which had not been inhabited for long
time. 1t was well known, | may add
that the elderly care-takcr never SLEPT
there. The Colonel went to view the
house. He found that he had not beer
deceived by external appearances, or by
the description Of the accommodation de
tailed by the agent; it was, in short, jus
such house rs he and his wife wanted
for residence, and in due course the
chase was completed. AS he was in nc
particular hurry to enter, and rs Mrs
! Somervilc happened to be unwcl at thi,
particular time, and unable to come tC
London to superintcnd the furnishing, he
contented himself with preparing bee
room on the first floor, and another fo
his valet on the floor above. He retained
the service OF the elderly deaf woman wh'
appeared 10 be grateful for his cOnsidcra
ton, a he alleged Il Al the pay She re
coivcd Tor her oublc was almost al
that she had to live on. The house be
came the property of the Colonel at mid
summer, lS5-. Toward the end Of july
the rooms mentioned were furnished il
temporary manner for the Colonel
who, mt that time, was frequently calleC
to town on business, but it was not til
the first week in August that Coone
Somcryille, accompanied by his vale
who had been in his service about twent,
years, actually entered us resident. Bu
in that house he only remained one nigh
and he never slept there again.
He arrived in town about midday OF
the Wednesday in the first week in Au
gust. The day was oppressively gloomy
and duh in the country, and all Londol
seemed to be scething in sullen heat
He went with his valet to his new hous
in square. The cabman took tn
fare offered to him without grumbling
observing, (as he glanced somewhat sus
piciously at the house,) "This is the frs
time as ever drove a gentleman, nor
lady neither, to this here 'ouse." and h
went away as quickly as he could.
Colonel Somerville took no notice 0
the remark at the time though it cam
wildly to his recollection afterward.
Having deposited his luggage, and see
that his room looked tolerably comfort
able, he told his servant that he intende
to dine at his club and should be HON
about eleven. The elderly deaf woman
/ should say, was in attendance.
Well, the Colonel transacted his busi
ness, dincd at his club with friend, an
returned to his house shortly after eleve
o'clock. His servant, smart, activ
young fellow, opened the door for him
showed him to his room, asked for hi
orders for the morning, and having re
ceved them, retired to his room above
1t was hot in the streets as Col. Somer
Vile drove home it was hotter still i
his bedroom. Another cigar he thougl
would soothe him INTO somnolency, so h