The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-03-14
A SECRET OF THE WHITE CHEST.

1t was Just the house | wanted. In
size and situation il suited me exactly,
as the phrase goes, literally down to the
ground. Facing Hyde Park, and placed
back from the high-road, with nothing
in front of it but the broad strip of gar
den belonging to the terrace in which it
stood, and the open stretch of turf and
trees, ii was the very abode for Lon
moderate; it was in sound repair; drain
age without flaw; fixtures, furniture and
decorations in the best taste; the owner
only desiring to let it occasionally, be-
cause he went away from town each
spring. Why then did 1 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
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 be-
ing in the rear, all the best rooms had a
delightful southern aspect; and going
up from floor to floor on their first visit
of inspection, everybody grew more de-
lighted the higher they got. The apart
ments increased in cheerfuIness, if not
III size, the outlook from the windows
became more extensive and airy, while,
when one reached the top story, and as
cended by a narrow stair on to loaded
flat roof, with high balustrade running
round it, the view was, as the house
agent expressed it, "quite unique"
Nevertheless, everybody, having
reached the roof, and having looked
round for a minute or two, descended
with firm determination not to take
the house. Now what was the reason
Il was not haunted, no ghost had ever
been seen, or mysterious noises heard
such things were never limited at.
There was nothing about it in appear
ance like the gloomy, forbidding man
sion In Severn square, concerning which
40 many queer stories are told, and
which, like the house in question, no
one will take. No, it was the very re-
verse, in all respects, of that long land
stiiD untenanted abode. / had heard
the rumors about the Hyde Park house
often when L had been in London, and
my curiosity had always been piqued, so
that now, when wanted just such a
house for the season, L determined to go
and look at it for myself.
Finding all satisfactory, and just as
expected 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't 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, in
stead of forming light for staircase
or room beneath, it seemed to have been
built for the purpose of covering an
other curious object, which, occupying
nearly the whole of the space under
the glass, was plainly visible through it.
Dhis was a long white box, resembling a
seamans chest more than anything,
only much larger. 1t rested upon four
legs or feet, which raised il about a
foot from the flat surface of the roof.
1t was painted creamy white and var
nished, and, apparently not being in
tended to open, any more than its glass
covering, had no hinges or lock to its
top or lid.
What the deuce is that?" said I to
Mr. Crumble.
Ali" replied that functionary, with
an odd expression in his face, that's it,
sir!"
What's it, pray9"
Why, the secret, sir"
The secret? how is it secret? what
DO You mean2"
well, sir, what it is, what it's meant
for, what's inside of it,
Don't you know"
No, sir"
Doesn't any one know"
It suppose somebody does, sir, but
we don't; we are forbidden to inquire
or to attempt to find out; If we knew
we should be able to let the house, per.
haps.'
How long has II been there?"
A long while, believe, sir-ten OF
twelve years. Before my time
But who put it up?"
Well, Mr.. Gayling, we suppose; no.
body seems TO know exactly when it first
appeared there