The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-05-02
Select Story.
The Secret of the White Chest.
From Al The Year ArOund.

1t was just the house l wanted. In size
and situation it suited me exactly, as the
phrase goes, literally down to the grourd.
Facing Hyde Park, and placed back from
the high road with nothing in front of it
but the broad strip of garden belonging to
the terrace in which it stood, and the open
stretch of turf and trees, it was the very
abode for a London season. Its rent, too
was extremely moderate it was in sound
| repair drainage without flaw fixtures,
furniture and decorations in the best taste :;
the owner only desiring to let it occasionally
because he went away from town each
spring. Why, then, did | hesitate to take
it? Why did everybody hesitate to take it?
For the last seven years and more it had
never been let All the house agents at the
West End had it in hand one after another
The terms had been reduced each season
that it came into the market, and still there
was no finding tenant for it, Everybody
who went over the house was charmed with
it. The entrance being in the rear, all the
best rooms had delightful southern aspect !;
and going up from floor to floor on their
first visit of inspection, every body grew de-
lighted the higher they got. The apartments
increased in cheerfulness, if not in size, the
outlook from the windows became more ex-
tensive and airy, while, when one reached
the top story, and ascended by a narrow
stair on to eaded fiat roof, with high
balustrade running round it, the view was,
as the house agent expressed it, quite un-
iquc"
Nevertheless, everybody having reached
the roof, and having looked round for q
minute or two, descended with firm de-
termination not to take the house. Now,
what was the reason 1t was not haunted,
no ghosts had ever been seen or mysterious
noises heard - such things were never hinted
at There was nothing about it in appear
ance like the gloomy, forbidden mansion in
Severn square, concerning which so many
queer stories are told, and which, like the
house in question, no one will take. No, it
was the very reverse, in all respects, of that
long and still untenated abode. | had heard
the rumors about the Hyde Park house of.
ten when | had been in London, and my
curiosity had always been piqued, so that
now, when | wanted just such a house for
the -eason, determined to go and look at
it Tor myself.
Finding all satisfactory, and just as | ex-
pected from bottom to top, | was stepping
out on the roof with Mr.. Crumble, the
agent, and was saying to him
well, can't conceive why people won I
live here when my eye fell upon curious
object erected upon the leads at the rear
and surrounded by high railing. 1t looked
like huge sky-light or glass lantern, about
ten feet long, three high and three broad.
But instead OF forming a light for stair.
case or room beneath,i 1T seemed to have been
built for the purpose of covering another
curious OF ject, which, occupying nearly the
whole Of the space under the glass, was
plainly visible through it. This was long
white box, resembling a seaman's chest
more than anything, only much lar
| ger, IL Itsttu upuh luui lVEo VI iNVti NhlSH
raised it about foot from the fiat surface OF
the roof, 1t was painted a creamy white,
and vanished, and, apparently not being
intended to open any more than its glass
covering, had no hinges or lock to its top or
| lid.
What the deuce is that p said to Mr..
Crumble.
'Ahr replied that functonary, with an
odd expression in his face, that's it
sir ?
What's it, pray {?
why, the secret sir
'The secret how is ii a secret what do
you mean ?
We'll, sir, what it is, what it's meant fol
that's inside of it,
DO you know
No, sir.
Doesn't any one know p