South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-05-12
Romney. Hampshire County, West Va. May l2 1876

Tue 'no"hioS anu screening wind, con.
WINGED me that storm was raging. The
room was enveloped in inky blackness.
AS lay there staring into space, /
became conscious that something or
somebody beside myself was in tue room,
and WAS seized with an unaccountable
feeling OF terror. My teeth chartered:
and my limbs shook as IL with ayue.
l was absolutely paraIyzed with fear.
At last I managed to gain sufficient
control over myself to reach out to the
table, where 1 had left the lamp and
matches, and strike light, but the lamp
emitted only n sickly flame, SO that the
distant corners OF the room seemed lost
in the deep gloom.
Could 1 be still asleep and dreaming.
or did my sight deceive me? No. I
was tconhden, that Of the opposite side
OF the room. her elbow resting upon the
window easement. and her face pressed
against the pane, like one lost in thought,
saw woman standing. For some
moments she remained in this position,
then she turned. and without noticing
me, advanced TO the center OF the room,
where, tn my astonishment, beheld a
table, upon which were scattered writing
materials, which was not in the room
when l retired. Before this table the
strange visitor seated herself, and taking
up pen proceeded to write. Her face.
which was extremely pale. was turned
toward me, and was evidently that of a
woman of about forty or thereabouts.
How long she sat there have no idea.
1t seemed hours TO me, though it may
have been seconds.
Presently / heard the sound OF up.
preaching footsteps in the hallway be.
low. The woman laid down the pen
and turned her eyes toward the door.
Nearer and nearer came the sounds, till
at last they reached the very Threshold
of my room. My mysterious visitor a.
rose crossed to the door. and TO my Sur.
prise opened it, and admitted two men
aud woman-all as pale rs herself
No word was exchanged, but all crossed
to :he table, at which my first visitor
seated herself. aud seemed to add n
word or two to tue paper upon which
she hal been writing; then each of the
Few corners scrawled something upon it,
and, as quietly rs they had entered the
room, passed out of it.
When the sound Of their retreatiny
footsteps had died away. my guest pass.
ed to the table, took mp the document,
folded it carefully, and then crossed to
the chimney place at the extremity Of
the room. and, STOPPING. removed sever.
al of the bricks from the hearth. Into
the hollow thus made she deposited the
paper, then carefully replaced the bricks.
AT that instant my light suddenly
went out. 4 singular drowsiness stole
over me, and I fell into deep sleep, Il ON
which loud Knocking upon the door
oil the room awoke me to the realiza.
ton that it was morning. that the storm
had passed. and the sun was cheerfully
I shining in through the windows, and the
voice of my host from the hallway in.
! formed me that breakfast was waiting.
l arose and dressed hastily. Not the
slightest trace of what had happened
during the night remained. Table and
/ papers were gone. tried the door. 1t
was locked.
Only dream after ALL" exclaimed
The effects of negus no Doubt
When breakfast was over George. q.
rose, and, requesting me to follow him,
led the way to the library, and motion.
tioning Inc to be seated, settled himself
In chair near me.
81 have brought you here" lie said
after brief silence. ''to consult Won
regarding the matter referred TO in my
letter / noticed you were very much
surprised last evening when Maud en-
tered the dining-room, which was not
in the least singular. considering that
quite forgot to inform you of her pres,
ence here. AS il is about business close
~ connected with her that I am noinu
to speak. i will explain something OF
her history. You must know, then. thai
am the youngest OF three sons. Oscar
my eldest brother. who was over ten
years my senior, married lady Of some
means, by whom he had one child-o
daughter. With the money ne had gained
with his wife, Oscar speculated LARGELY.
meeting for several years with wonder
ful good fortune, but in an unlucky mo.
ment Inc invested all in venture which
proved failure. and he suddenly found
himself poor man. The loss OF his
fortune weighed so heavily upon his
mind that IL at last gave way beneath the
strain, and lie died raving maniac.
leaving his wife and child in abiect pov.
erty. Ills wife's grief at his loss was
intense, and two years later the grave
! closed over her.
II was at that time in very cramped
| circumstances, and unable to do any
thing for my orphan niece. who was In.
ken and cared for by widowed sister
Of her mother who was reputed TO be
quito wealthy. No mother could have
been kinder to the poor orphan Girl than
this truly good but somewhat eccentric
woman, who was often hea?d TO say tha;
she intended that Maud should inherit
I her means at her death. After my father
died, VIC we're obliged to sell the home.
stead. The purchaser was one Harvey
Highly. the only brother Of Maud's ben.
efaotress. lie offered bis sister and her
charge n home with him. Accepting
his offer, they came to live in this house.
| "About eight years ago Maud's adopt.