The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-06-12
THE HAUNTED CHAMBER
From the New Y ork Mercurg.l

The speaker was, pretty girl of eigh-
teen, and a bride OF three weeks, who
| thus expressed herself to her husband
on the day after her arrival at his
plantation home, grand old estate on
Cooper River, in South Carolina, which
had been in the Lindsay family for
many generations pl eylous to that of its
| present oMAer. VIZ
'Wnat is SO terrible about that room,
Lucy p asked the young husband, With
tOnd smile. sr
! 10, Graham, after you were gone out
yesterday. and old Martha was showing
me over the house, sne stopped short
when we came to that room. Nothing
would induce her to enter 1t, she said,
and then she told me q frightful story
about a young lady who came here as q
iDride many years ago, and WAS mur-
dered in that very room by the quadroon
IhOusekeeper, who was afterWard hung
iior it. The widower committed suicide !;
land old Martha declares Lhat the three
ghosts haunt the room. She says that
| she herself has seen them, and tnat the
liyoung lady Is a very sweet, sad.looking
shade; but that the other two have their
4 faces IN the backs OF their heads, Whieh
have heard the negroes at Home say
indicates evil and unhappy spiflts. vi
| course, don't believe al this, but l
can't heip feeling u horror Of the ROOM"
i "Don't 90 into it, then, love-" said
Grah I'm, smiling. The house is large
enough without us using that particular
apartment; and will have il brIcked up
4 II you say So"
90, no, you need not do that" said
lLucy; "but is there any truth in old
Martna's story, GrahamW
sim afraid there Is, dearest" he re-
Il plia iah ssb n n Ua6 "
many years ago; and you need not let
ltue thought OF it trouble you, for l as
sure you there is no quadroon, nor
1OctoroUn, nor any otner kind OF oon
behind the scenes here now to disturb
llyour peace"
so, Graham, as if l could imagine such
a thing OF your
4 "W ell, don't know. Little women
are very apt to get foolish notions into
their heads when they are left So much
to them selves, as l snail be Obliged to
leave you, now that L have this new
oyerseer, upon wAom L must keep my
Il eye until l have proved him trust
worthy. But Dy the by, that cousin o.
yours from st. Louis is coming TO visit
lyou. How soon VIII she be here?"
! Next week." said Lucy, "and she'll
be a charming person to have with US
Sue is tile most perfectly beautiful Wo-
man ever saw, and fun OF life and
| splrits."
Ills she much older than your" esked
i Graham.
'Ahout ten years. Let me see, to-day
lis Wednesday. We Will have nGr with
us ntxt Monday evening"
Accordingly The following Monday Mr.
i and Mis-. Graham Lindsay grove in theil
handsome family carriage to Monks
| rniI tnt tr
meet the expected guest.
''TnaG is sne," cried Lucy, delightedly,
as she espied lady standing alone
upon the platform, and In few minutes
4 she was lmpusively kissing her cousin
| "Claudfa, this IL my hus Uand. ALLOW
me to introduce him. Graham, Mrs
\ Levin.n
| Graham Lindsay bowed respectfully
| to his Wlle's COUSIN, and after speaking
a few words OF welcome conducted hel
tu the carriage, placed Lucy in also, ant
in Less than Aour they were driving uL
the long avenue that led to Lueys new
home. 1t was large, old-fashIoned man.
sion built of brick, rouSn cast, and had
been Standing firm and stately since the
colonial Times.
4 "What delightful aspect of home
II perYades everything" said Mrs. Levin,
as Lucy conducted her upstairs to q
large luxurious beuchamUer, turn ished
in true Southern style, with a brigh
, Wood-tire burning in the ample chimney y
1--WE will have dinner i'll about an
hour, DEAR" said Lucy, land l will send
my maid Sylyie up to you lmmedi
ately."
Halt an hour later, as Mr.. and Mrs
Lindsay SAT together in the drawing
room, Mrs. Levin entered.
i n
voluntary start of admiration, as he
drew large armchair forward for her
and we'll ne might be thus affected
Claudia Levin was in the full blown per.
lection OF early prime, with every
, natural advantage enhanced by careful
study. La height little above th,
medium, with very limb ana feature
(; cast in faulEless mold. Her complex
ion was SO dark as to be Andalusian
but her face was as smooth and polished
as an alabaster; and her hair, black al
midnight, coarse and glossy, lay in ricl
+ waves against her temples. Her eve
/, brows were beautifully penciled, ant
her large, gteaming, light-gray eyet
were velled ny sn neeping jetJy lashes
Her Roman nose, overlooked rather full
but beautifully curved scarlet lip
which parted to reveal two rows O
, peariy teeth. She was dressed this even
lug in rich garnet silk, with cream
; valenciennes aU0ut the bosom ant
sleeves, which latter were made larg,
and open SO as 10 display the polished
rounded arms, and her ornaments weri
warm, glowing rubies. Sue moved witt
. lauguid grace that became her Well
and sank into The Chair with scarcel,
perceptlble notion.
Lucy, sitting oppiste, with her tai
complexion and light brown hair, ap
, peared like one OF the blurred, insiynih
cant figures in the background of SOM
RI radiant picture; and Granam's eye
were rivited on Mrs. Levin.
"Sylyie has vowed exclusive devotion
to me during my visit" said Claudia
( witt a tunelul laugh.
"And you will lind her as good as he
word" said Graham. ''1hese servant
have as fine Il sense Of loyalty as any G
OF The adherents OF the SLuarts or Bour
bons."
II am very fond of gossiping with th
negroes,Y said Claudia.
n u nope you are not as easily affecte
by their ghost stories as Lucy u.s." sai
Graham, smiling; and just then Dime
Twas announced.
4 After the meal the party played whis
with dummy until bed time.
AS Claudia drew her 'statuesau
hands softly over The cards, displayIn
| ler fauIJleSS arms up to The round e