The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-10-18
The Old End Room.

ter. Hcy:"
Something had been said to her, bu,
Mrs Pottington was too deaf to heaI
anything that had not been beloved
into her ear at least fifteen times.
Hey said Mrs. Pottington
Speak agin. i'm just the least mite
hard o hearin'"
"7he-house-is-not-haun 7" ex.
claimed Mrs. Robins. who was in treaty
Tor the mansion. "They-told us-ai
the agent's-it nas."
WAS what ?" asked Mrs Po,ting
ton
"Haun-ted." yelled Mrs. Robins
Oh. 1t was when We bought it," said
Mrs. Pottington. without smile. But
the ghost was in the old eend of the
house. and after we took it down it
didn't bother. Twas the ghost of a
man that was shut up there and mur.
dered once. He used to groan and
bump at the doors. But he was up and
went when we tore down the old eend.
1t was fun to see the rats" said Mrs.
Pottington. MY old man killed forty
af EN- urter the wall fell"
All" said Mrs. Robins. Il don't
anticipate trouble with the ghost. Not
that believe in one," she added, "but
l hate a house with creuks and cracks
vnd uEcanny noises in it, and I'm really
afraid of rats"
This she said to her daughter. Then
she shrieked to Mrs Pottington:
Il suppose it was your son who drove
us over Z"
{" / haven't one." said Mrs. Potting-
ton
"Oh. thought you mentioned him
some pet narne-'Cushy,' wasn't it ?"
"Lor'." said Mrs. Pottiugton, "that
is the eoao. l had her little calf; and
she's like child-follows me up and
down stairs. Didn't you ever see a
COW go up stairs? I've called her into
my bedroom to milk her when wasn't
well. Lor', Cushy! only wonder
she isn't after me now"
/ did see brown COW in the gar
den" said little Miss Robins.
That's her, said Ms Pottington.
"Well. you are agreed. then. I'm to
keep that little room, the only one left
of the old eend. to lock up my big
trunks, and my old bureau. and INV
feather beds IN, and the rest you'll take.
There isn't room enough in daughters
house for all Of EN-"
SO the agreement was made. Mrs.
Pottington promising to get her things
packed away before night.
The next evening brought Mrs. Rob
ins and her daughters and their trunks
to the house. Also stout Irish girl
and small black boy. Mr.. Robins
was to come down in a few days.
As they alighted, full of spirits, came
to meet them Mrs. Pottington. with q
detected countenance.
Glad to see ye," she said. "but I've
no heart to say anything. or be sociable.
I've had misfortin. Cushy is gone"
Dead" cried Mrs. Robins.
"Well. it seems as ef she must be-"
said Mrs. Pottington. Either that. or
she's stolen. We looked everywhere |
fixed my things in the old eend room,
and locked the door, and I went down
and out. and seeing you said you saw
Cushy in the garden ! called her, but
she did not come, SO | went hCme. i
haven't seen her since, nor ! shant see
her again. i am afraid.
And Mrs. Pottington began to cry,
and walked away.
"What q pity" said the Robins.
However, Cushy was not their COW;
and bedding was to be arranged and
prepared for the night. All
were busy. At last, after light sup
per, they retired. Mrs. Robins and
daug hters in the front part of the build
ing, the girl in the back attic. the boy
in slip Of room adjoining that occu.
pied by Mrs. Portington's feather beds.
All slept-but only for while. About
every creature started up in
bed in horror. Shrieks filled the air.
aud fumbling for candles. lighting them
with trembling hands, and rushing out
into the halls in any chance drspery
tha, could be found in q hurry, the la
dies met Biddy. white with horror,
along with her the poor little
black boy. who was evidently on the
brink Of a hit.
"what has happened, Biddys 10 the
house on fire =" ~sken Mrs Robins.
'Oh. no. no. mum; it would be better
if it was!' moaned Biddy. "Oh. no.
why did come here at all oh. ho !"
"Y,u. then, Cicero. tell me-" said
Mrs. Robins. Speak What is it -
what is it :"
Cicero pointed with his thumb to-
ward his room and tumbled over in o
sort of convulsion. AT this moment oil
became aware of an awful pounding in
some remote region Of the house
Burglars" cried Mrs. Robins; land
your pa not here"
No, num-" said Biddy. as she cov-
cred her head with her apron. its
worse than that; it's 6 ghost"
"Oh. if it's q ghost" said Mrs.
Robins, regaining composure. I'll lay
him. Come"
T.kiug u candle she headed the pro.
cession. Even Cicero camc too, and ac-
companied her. The poor child had
reason TO be terrified. From the locked
apartment adjoining his own bed
room came succession OF the most
mysterious sounds. People were walk
ing about; people shod in heavy boots;
something Tapping against the walls;
eroans were heard. aud some heavy
object was flung against the door.
The whole asse,ablage listened in hor-
ror. white as the drapery they wore
At last little Miss Robins spoke;
"Oh. ma" said she. 1t Is just as old
Nrs. Po,tington said; the old man vas
shut nm there AID murdered, aud the