Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-02-22
MY MAD TENANT.

/ Contrary, I uOn. I In1Qk you Will Ilnu Il
more tidy old bachelor in dress and per-
son than myself anywhere. My eccen-
/ tricity is shown in an inordinate love of
the mysterious. As a boy | ruined my
! eyesight by reading terrible tragedies,
| horrible histories, hideous homicides and
| strange stories These | would repeat to
my nurse, Janet Gruesome, a plain and
| simple-I might say very plain and sim
| ple-country girl, holding her by my bed
| side of night, shivering with cold and
| terror as she listened.
| Life was full of misfortune for me IN
til was turned forty, when q mysterious
uncle of mine, who had left England
whilst | was still a baby, died in Austria
! liza, and left me the sole heir to his vast
wealth. l instantly settled with my
creditors, and, taking my nurse" and
my romances, started for the country, de-
| termined to wander about and seek for
| the marvellous
One day | came across a vast, gloomy
mansion that exactly suited my fancy. 1t
was weird and ghostly building, with
whispering voices in its ivy-clad walls,
doors that opened directly they were shut,
and shut directly they were opened. Long
| corridors, lighted by narrow windows, led
into recesses, so that on moonlight nights
the shadows Of the tall trees outside took
spectral shapes, and seemed pointing with
bOny fingers to spots where deeds of viO-
lence had been done; whilst the withered
branches tapped eagerly against the win
dow panes as if they were houseless
ghosts, wishing to take up their abode in
| this mysterious mansion. | was delight
ed and determined to take it at once
! The agent was soon found, and the terms
agreed upon; but there was one clause in
the lease which [ did not like; it was
| even too mysterious to please me. By it
the superior landlord, DIR. Thomas Bal.
cOmbe, held all rights over one room on
the first floor, small chamber, the shut
tiers and door of which were closed and
securely fastened. | inquired the reason
of this, but the agent could give me no
positive information. He believed the
room contained the family papers and
portraits, and that Mr.. Balcombe had
locked them up there for security.
But" said |, @ it is mysterious to
have a sort of Bluebeard chamber in your
house."
q quite agree with you, SIR" replied
the agent, land told Mr.. Balcombe so,
but he is a strange man, and will have his
own way. It's nearly twenty years now
since that room was locked up. At first
ii made a great noise in the village, and
strange stories were circulated; but that
soon died out, and, except telling these
stories at Christmas time, or when a
stranger asks for them they are never
heard Sometimes people come for pic
mic IN the wood yonder, and go to see the
haunted house, as they call it, but |
never let them in. | never heard it was
really haunted"
We agreed eventually as to terms, and
in couple of weeks | arrived from Lon
don, bringing with me Janet Gruesome,
two maid servants, and some fine old
plate and jewelry my uncle had left me-
1t was dreary night when | arrived at
the "Yews," as my new abode was
called. But I was happy enough. A
CHEEKY fire was Ii GIFTED in the oak-panel
room, and whilst the servants prepared
my supper | unpacked the plate and ar
ranged it on the sideboard, to make the
place look brighter. When / had done
this and finished my supper, [ drew an
arm chair to the fire, mixed myself q stiff
glass OF something warm, lit my meer-
schaum pipe, and began reading one of
my favOrite tales Of terror and magma
ton. | had just reached the most thrill
irg situation, when the parlor door was
thrown violently open, and Janet Grue-
some entered the room.
g Master!" she whispered, in trem-
bling tones, d" the secret room is open, and
it's coming out"
It's coming out?" l cried. "What
is coming Out?''
The ghost, master! cts coming
down stairs following of me-"
Then shut the door, you idiotp' | ex-
claimed; for, to tell the truth, l never felt
less inclined to see a ghost in all my life.
And bolt it."
She turned to obey my orders, but was
too late, tor at that very moment venera-
BILE. hite-haired old gentleman, clad in a
velvet dressing gown and scarlet slippers,
entered the room
Il beg your PARDON he said, rather
nervously. Il hope | do notdisturb you.
| was not aware YOU haunted tonight.
believe you are fresh ghosts, or''-here he
lowered his voice. are you ghosts in
embryO?"
Sir" l exclaimed, "you must know
that this house is mine.'
Indeedp' said the creature, sitting
down in my armchair and drinking my
grog. : Has my Cousin Tom let it to you,
or are you Balcombe?'
" am not Balcome," | cried, i'm
patiently, for knew now that he could
not be ghost-specters don't drink
spirits; & still this house is mine from the
chimneypots to the cellars, all - 2"
But one room" interrupted my mys-
FERROUS guest; "that Tom could not
would not-let You would not have
been happy had he done so. l keep the
ghosts in there. Sometimes one or two
escape, and then come out to hunt for
them. | thought you were ghosts-stray
ones, you knOw-at first. Ill take little
more brandy and water. That room is
cold, and ghosts are dull fellows at best;
they are never lively. Come, my dear
sir, sit down and be cheerful"
Man or ghost, the creature evidently
knew the art of making himself at home
He mixed some more brandy and water,
then took up my pipe, lit ii, and beg a
smoking.
janet l whispered, "he is not an
ghOst-be is mailman"
Madman!n cried the thing, looking
up suddenly, for his ears were evidently
as sharp as his eyes. "Madman: why
that is what Cousin Tom used TO call me,
but he was wrong. l was mad when |
had fierce passions, and tried to strangle
him; but then the change came-and I
was light, etherial-a spirit. Tom saw
this, and, knowing that [ talked to the
ghosts of our ancestors, gave me room
to collect them in. That's the room. Get
us some more glasses,'' he continued,
, turning to Janet" more glasses and
pipes; we will be merry"
He is mad," l whispered. ''Do as
he bids you; we must humor him. But
make haste back, JANET
-" Come, that looks WE'LL" he cried.
when we all had some hot grog and l was
smoking. Your health, Mr.. -, 1
beg pardon, what name?''
mulberry, SIR" L replied, sternly,
mulberry"