The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-04-09
WHOLE NO. l44s.


II am sorry, sir, but sll the rooms
are taken.n
"Tha. is, all but one.r be added,
"and that, | suppose, you would not
care to occupy"
"Why not ?n replied I.
"Well you see. it's haunted"
l was tired, and besides being nat
urally incredulous. on the subject Of
ghosts, engaged tie room without fur
ther conversation.
A very qusins and attractive little
place was the village of l., nest
ling so snugly in the valley. and this
inn vas a great resort for those who
wished to escape the noise a,d hustle
OF the world. and 10 consequence, on
this autumnal evening. the inn was
filed.
NV luggage having been sent up
to nv room, | sat with the landlord
iu bis bar-room, conyersing and smo-
king the fragrant Havanas which |
brought along with me, thinking /
would not find them in such an out
of-the-way place.
Among other topics We soon found
ourselves conversing about the haunt
ed room, aud prevailed on the land
lord to tell the story.
He at first hesitated. bat when /
told him that / should like to hear its
history before | occupied it, he began
bis tale:
sit was stormy night in October,
when q coach came up to the door,
from which there alighted a gentle
man and lady. They bad come with
great haste, for | could see by the
light of the lantern that the horses
were all of a tremble.
"The gentleman was wrapped 10 q
heavy cloak, and could distinguish
nothing but a pair of fierce black
eyes. / did not have time, however,
to take long survey, for be strobe
imperiously toward me. and demand
ed room.
The woman, / noticed, rather
dreaded him, for could see through
the veil pale, scared look upon her
face. l assigned them the room you
are to occupy, and left them.
'1n the morning the gentleman ap-
peared, and without making any re.
mark paid his bill and departed. /
thought it rather strange that be
should go alone, but something in his
eyes told me not to address him about
it.
"He bad scarcely been gone an
hour when the servant came hurry
ing down stairs, almost breathlsss
with fright, but suddenly she burst
out with torrent of words, in which
| could only distinguish. the word,
murdered y
Who's murdered ?"
And then | drew from ber that the
strange lady was lying dead upon the
bed
Entering tie room / saw that il
was indeed too true there, stretched
balf across the bed, her head evident
ly struck with heavy. blunt instru-
ment, lay the lady. dead.
"She was buried the next day, and
all that could be done to ind ber rel
atives or the strange gentleman was
in vain.
Ever afterwards the servants are
afraid to venture near it, because they
say it is haunted by the strange
lady"
Thus closed my hosts story, and
as it was quite late / arose and re-
quested to be shown to my room.
Now" said the landlord, as be
lighted my candle, II can accommo-
date you with bed upon the floor, IL
you desire it."
NO" said I. for / had too much
pride to retreat; II will take the
room "
well, If you are found dead in
the morning it will be no fault Of
mine"
| We had reached the door by this
time, and bidding me good night my
host departed.
opened the door and walked in.
1t was low room, with the old-fash
ioned bed and rush-bottomed chairs,
and through the window the moon
light cast weird shadows over the
room, making it look 30 gbostly that
I must confess that but for nv pride
| should have gone back; bot there
was no help for it, go sat down for
while and smoked to dispel the
thoughts. which would intrude them
selves in spite of all that / could pos
sibly do.
Finally closing the door, but not
fastening it. for there was no lock, /
Jumped into bed.
Still | could not sleep for some
time. / tried all methods to WOO the
drowsy god, till at last was success
full.
How long | slept | know not; but
suddenly found myself broad awake.
while there was strange stiffness in
the room, almost unnatural, q drift of
air threw a cold chill over me, and /
saw with astonishment that my cham
Der door was open.
Staring with painful intensity, IS
if expecting something-for l could
not turn my eyes awsy-I saw .
white-robed figure glide swiftly along
the floor. Directly along the bed it
came.
A moment more, and l felt cold,
icy touch on my hand, and IL seemed,
clutch upon my throat, slowly but
surely strangling me. / had almost
tainted, when, with g sudden, quick
effort, made q desperate struggle,
and sprsng from the bed.
As did 80, l felt myself grssped
about the arms again, and cold breath
passed over nv face, and the word,
Revenge - fell upon my ear, and
the figure drew me along TILL it stood
opposite the fireplace, and touched 9
small knob upon the wall above,
which discl osed an apartment. and
in it was . box labeled, "Woodfell
Ames."
A moment more and / WAS alone,
the sunlight was pouring into my
chamber. rubbed my eyes and
tried to get together my scattered re-
collections st last succeeded, and.
full of bewilder ment, presented my