The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-16
STEEPSIDE.
a Ghost Story,

The strange things i am going to tell
YOU, dear reader, did not occur, rs such
things generally do, to my great uncle,
or to nj" second cousin, or even to my
grandfather, but to myself. 1t happened
that II few years ago l,received an invita-
from an old school fellow TO spend christ
mas week with him in his country house
on the borders of North Wales, and as :
WAS then happy bachelor aud had not
seen my friends for a considerable time.
| accepted the invitation and turned my
back upon London on the appointed day
with light heart and anticipations OF
the pleasantest description.
Leaving my city haunts by morning
train, was landed early in the afternoon
at L. o nearest station to my friends house,
although in this case nearest" was in
deed paradoxically by no means near.
When / reached the inn where l had
fondlv expected to find "fles, omni5uses
and other vehicles obtainable on the
shortest notice. l was met by the landla-
DIV of the establishment, who, with an
apologize curtsey and deprecating
smile informed me that she was extreme
" sorry to say her last conveyance had
Just started with a party, and would not
return until late at night. looked at
my watch-it was past four. Seven
miles. and had large travelling bag
to carry.
us it a good road from here to-|
l asked the landlady.
IDh yas sir. very fair"
well" said, 81 think I'll walk it.
The railway journey has rather numbed
my feet, and n sharp walk will certainly
improve their temperature
So | courageously lifted my bag and
set out on the journey to my friends
house. All, how little l guessed what
was destined to betall me before reach
ed tina: desired haven't had gone, | sup
pose. about two miles when | deserted
behind me q vast mass of dark, surging
cloud driving up rapidly with the wind
was in open country and there was evil
IDENTIFY going to be a very heavy snow
storm. Presently it began. At first
made up my mind not TO heed It, but in
about twenty minutes after the COM
mencement of the fall the snow became so
thick and so binding that it was abso-
lutely impossible for me - find my way
along road which was utterly new 10
me. Moreover, with the cloud came the
twilight and most disagreeably keen
wind. The travelling-bag became un-
bcarably heavy. shifted it from one
hand to the other; l hung it over my
shoulder; put it under my arm; car
ried it in all sorts OF ways; but none az
forded me any permanent relief. TO add
to nv misfortune | strongly suspected
that l had mistaken my way, for by this
time the snow was so deep that the foot
path was altogether oblteratcd. In this
predicsment looked out wistlully across
the whitened landscape for signs OF an
inn or habltation of some description,
where l might "pnt up for the night;
and by good fortune Tor was II DAD :!
at last espled through the gathering
gloom a solitary and not very distant
light twinkling from lodge ut the en-
trance Of private road. l fought my
way throug h the snow rs quickly as pos
sible, and, presenting myself at the gate
of the little cottage. :ans the bell com
placenty and fattered myself that l had
at length discovered a resting place, An
old man with gray hair answered my
summons. Him | acquainted with my
misfortune and to him preferred my re-
quest that | might be allowed nights
shelter in the lodge, or ut least the tenn.
porary privilege of drying myself and my
habiliments at his freside. The old tel.
low admitted me cheerfullv enough; but
he seemed more than doubtful as TO the
possibility OF my passing the night be-
Meath his roof.
aye see, SIR he said, we've only one
small room-me and the misses-snd |
don't well see how we're to manage about
YOU. All the same, sir; l wouldn't ad-
wise We to go on tonight; for If we're
bound for Mr---'s, we've come q deal
out of your way, and the storms getting
worse every minute. We shall have a
nasty night of it, sir, and it'll be dea!
too stiff for travelling on foot. -.
Here the wife, hospitable-lcoklng ola
woman, interposed.
"Willum, don't We think as the gentle
man might be put to sleep in the room
up at the house. where George slept last
time he was here to see us? His bed 5
there still, We know. It's very good
ROOM sir she argued, addressing me,
land I can give We pair of blankets IN
no time
"But," said l, ''the master of the house
doesn't know me. am stranger here
altogether"
"Lor' bles. We, SIR" answered my host,
"there amt nobody in the place. The
house has been to let these ten years. at
least 80 my knowledge, for I've been here
o;rht and tha house and tho lndga had