Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-11-16

me by what she had to tell. '"Why
miss, the people that lived here be
fore haG a raving mad old uncle witt
a great deal Of money, and this wa
his room, miss, where he lived Will
his keeper. That closet, misp, is 1
shower bath, with "A great, dig cisterr
over it, big enough to drown you ant
me; and when he was m re thar
common fractions, his keeper used t.
lock him in there (you see the key il
on the outside) and pull that rope
which let all the water down on his
poor old head till he was half dead
One day wien they went to take hin
out he was quite dead. and his family
got all the money. Which ill gotter
gaiAs never prosper, as doubtless
you We heard, miss ana it didn't d,
them much good, seeing they haven
"A penny now, owing 10 spending il
all, and was much obliged to let this
house to Sir Thomas and hide thei,
heads in foreign parts. They do say
miss, that the old geltIeInan may be
seen at night in the shower. bath, be
weeping and bewaiI:ug the cruelty Of
those that killed him, which hey did
for ceryain. Goodnight, miss, and |
hope you may s.eep comfortable."
She had certainly not taken the
best means 20 obtain that happy re,
suit but though | WAS so shy, | WAS
not in the least nervous about those
sort of things, and consequently did
not Eouble myself much about her
parting words. | had to turn my
whole thoughts and energies to the
consideration Of an important ques,
ton, viz how was to get into bed.
It was piled up so high that any or
dnarv means would have been wholly
ina equate The chairs were all SO
large and heavy Il suppose to prevent
the mad Old gentleman throwing them
at his keepers, that found It quite
impossible to lift ore to the bedside
and help myself in that way. The
only plan WAS to Ia ke run and a
jump, and after many failures, | at
length aiishted on the top Of this
mountain OF feather beds. There | lay
for some time, watching the hlckering
of the fire on the ceiling, thinking Of
home, and Of my different misadyeu-
lures since | hal left i, 50 short a
time ago. ....... ....,....
The house had become quiet, every
one must have been in bed, when all
at once AN odd fancy seized me to
look into the shower bath and see
what sort Of place it was fought
against the idea for some time, bnt
fading it kept me awake, thought 1T
best to indulge it, and after much hes
ltation and not little laughing at
myself for being so inqulsitve, i de-
scended carefully from the bed 'nd
advanced on tip-toe toward the mys-
tcrious door. '... a at'..... s.i
had already placed my hand on
the handle, when suddenly | heard a
slight noise within. Ny hear, stood
still. ! thought for moment. What
if it should be the old gentleman s
ghost ? ....
But as quickly dismissing 50 absurd
an ida, | remained perfectly st:ll;
holding my breath to listen. There
[ heard it again-a low rustic. such
as would be caused by a person breath.
ing heavily in rather stiff clothes. !
had no longer any doubt that some
body was hidden there with an evil
design. Quick as thought i. turned
the key SO as to lock the door, and
selling the rope which hung close be.
side, pulled violently, at the same
time screaming for help. A gasping,
strangled shout came from within the
closet, and then no sound was to be
heard but my own screams and the
steady dewn-pour Of water from the
cisterh. Soon footsteps came running
from all directions my door opened
and a confused troop Of servants, with
Sir Thomas at'their head, rushed in,
but | clung to, the rope as if for my
life, screaming, Dent let him out !
Don't let him out! He'll kill you T. o.
Sir Tlomas,in the shortest Of night
shirts. and the most wonderful niglf
Gap, with tassel at the top, stood mo-
tionless with astonlshment, grasping
in one hand, Il pair of trousers and in
the other AN. old scabbard without al
sword. The servants, too, overcome
with terror, did not stir beyond the
door and had not the water in the
cistern failed at last, | know not how
long We all might have remained in
ourrespective positions. When moth
ing came of all my tugs at the rope
but few slow heavy drops, | let goi
my hold and gasped odt to Sir Thorn
as He is there I'm sure Of it. But
;ou may open the door nov; I don't
think lie can hurt YOU - .gr(s 4
They did open the door, and sure
enough there lay half grown fustian-
clothed Iuilian, whose bunch Of skele-
ton keys, and other burglarious imple-
nents, sufficiently showed what he had |
come for. He was thrust into the