The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-11-11
AN UNsOLyED MYSTERY.

AN UNSOLvED MYSTERY.
About the close of the eighteenth
century the fashionable life of Dublin
was In its zenith ; the Ranelagh Gardens
were the resort of the beaux and bellies
of the day ; the Parliament was held in
College Green, and its members had
their town residences in Dublin, and
lived there for a considerable portion OF
the year.
One of the members, an illustrious
Irish nobleman who had spent some por-
ton of his youth in Italy, was a man of
. cultivated taste and refinement. Upon
his return to Dublin he conceived the
idea of inviting over some italian artists
to decorate the walls and ceilings of his
residence after the Florentine manner
He carried out his idea, and the orna-
mentations of Charlemont House bear
witness to the taste and skill of the
decorators. Other noblemen employed
these artists the present Royal Irish
Academy House, then q noble private
residence, is similarly decorated /; also
several other city mansions in several of
the leading streets and squares.
When Dublin decreased in impor-
lance after the Act of Union in 1901, and
was no longer the center of fashion for
the Irish nobility, its splendid private
residences gradually decayed; and
wealthy burghers and DublinIs proven
bially professional ~aristocracy now in
habit them. Many of the houses yet re-
tain their curious, rare old decorations,
and of n of these residences, situated
in q leading square, we would more es-
pecially speak.
A large, stately, gloomy-looking house,
with a ponderous hall door, studded
with iron nails, like the door of the cath
edral. High, narrow windows, with
italian jalousies. The grass grows in
the interstices of the high, steep steps,
now fast feInng away. The rusty iron
ratings hive become loosened IN their
stone settings, and seem as though a
good push would hurl them into the
molder;ng, vault-likearea. Entering the
hall, a damp, earthly smell greets the in
truder-fori intruder must any n be con-
sidered who ventures into that region of
ghostliness. The wide, tagged, echoing
hall, the broad, dark, oak-paneled stair
ct6t, l6du W Cuhu1DOAo dW4u4 LII t4C1l OP-
pressiye sense of loneliness and utter
desolation. Cobwebs festoon the paint
ed walls; queer, crawling creatures hold
high holiday on the once polished floors;
but not even the squeak of a rat or a
mouse breaks the solemn, death-ike
stiffness which pervades this old, desert
ed mansion.
Over all there hung a cloud of fear,
sense of mystery the spirit daunted,
And said, as plain as whisper to the ear,
"The house is haunted"
Twenty-Five years ago this house was
tenanted by Miss Steele, an eccentric old
lady, who, dying suddenly at the adj
vanced age of 81, her property-includ-
ing this house and furniture-came into
the possession of a married grand niece
living In Kildare, whom she had never
seen. The season in Dublin was just
commencing about the time that all pre-
liminary law matters connected with the
property were being settled, and the
h~eiress, Miss Nugent, acting upon the
advice of her lawyer, resolved to let the
house furnished. The furniture, al
though antique, was handsome |; espe-
cially that of the drawing room The
ceilings of this apartment were superbly
ornamented in the Florentine style.
Arabesques on aIpale blue groundadorned
the ceilings /; the panels of the walls we're
painted with groups of figures or rare
pieces of still life /; while from the mold
ings which separated these panels sprang
figures which, bending downward, held
the candelabra lighting the apartment.
The furniture was in keeping with the
architecture-of inlaid wood, heavy
with gliding and upholstered in amber
satin !; it was of that stately and old
world type which suggested the days of
minuets, apple-blossom sacques, cherry.
colored satin ~petticoats, and high-heeled
shoes. A spindle-legged spinnet stood
near the fireplace, wherein W a no CRATE,
but great brass dogs. The fireplace was
tiled with the queer little Dutch tiles
that came over with the tulips in the
days of William and Mary. These tiles
bore a succession of Adams and Ewes,
of Gains and labels, and other Scriptural
characters, who looked sadly out OF
place among the nymphs satyrs, and
similar profanities which surrounded the
chamber.
The house was no sooner advertised
than it was Immediately taken by an
officer then quartered In Dublin. Being
a man of taste, Col. Comyers would moi
allow the house to be remodeled in any
way. Mrs. Comyers, too, was a woman
who liked novelty, and she trfumphantly
pictured to herself what a delightful
sensation her antique-looking drawing
room would create when well lighted uI
and filed with a fashionable mob. a
pretty, piquante little woman, she was
enthusiastically charmed, enchanted,
with her Irish residence. One day,
about the beginning of October, she
moved into it, with her two infant chill
dren, and two servants that she haC
brought from England-a cook and {
nurse. For the first night she had nc
other servants in the house.
Upon the first evening of Mrs. Com.
yers' arrival, her husband vas obliged
to spend the day and night from home,
She amused herself by wandering about
the clubhouse, prying into musty cabinets
and cupboards, looking with wondering
and admiring eyes upon the rare old
Venetian glass and egg-shell china, which
seemed almost too fine and too delicate
for use. About half-past 6 o'clock, as
she sat In the drawing-room, the nurse
entered, saying that it was necessary fol
her to go out to buy some things ur
gently required. The woman respect
fully asked her mistress if she would &c
up to the nurseryto the children, SHOULD
she hear them cry.
Certainly, nurse. Isuppose you vii
not be very long away9"
81 cannot say, madam. I do no
know Dublin"
"Then 1 think cook had better &c
with you-she has been here before.
dare say no one will call this evening.
"Thank you, madam" and the nurs,
left the room. Presently Mrs. Comyer
heard the hall door closed, and the tw,
women's footsteps echoing down tn
steps.
A quarter of an hour-twenty minute
passed. The doors between the draw
ing-room and the nursery, two fight
higher up, were left open, so that Mrs
Comyers could hear every sound. TIL
auaninO uas fast closing in and she az