River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-04-17

ing through the broken easements
Slowly onward they went, led by the
strange power whose influence they felt
but which they could not see, and at last
came 70 the great room that finished the
suite. The door leading to this they had
left closed when they visited 1t IN the
morning, but now it was thrown wide
open. They distinctly remembered
closing it, and looked at each other in
astonishment.
"The servants never come here, and we
fastened this door," said Millicent.
''Yes, but we are being led you know. "
81 know it, and will go on to the end"
They passed through the open door
way, and Simon held the lamp high
alott.
AS the light flashed along the walls, a
cry of surprise escaped them.
The wind had torn away the faded
hangings with which the room was deco
rated, and its force SCENE to have open
ed heavy, narrow panel door, whose
fastening-bolt had rusted loose. This
door was fitted to match the wall, and
opened on a flight of steps leading
up. So closely had it been set that no
one unacquainted with its locality would
have thought that it existed.
Simon led the way up the steps, and
soon they came to small chamber with
a thin slit in the wall to admit light and
air. A curtained recess was at one end,
and as Simon Berkeley drew the tattered
damask aside shudder of horror thrill
ed them.
There amid the Wondering fragments
of rich cloth and linen lay skeleton, the
ieshless skull enveloped in a mass of
shining, golden hair.
"My God who can this be2" gasped
Simon
II do not know; but see, here is writ
ing on the WALL" said Millicent, whose
glance had turned from the CHASTITY pic
ture.
Simon followed her look, and saw, cut
by some sharp-pointed instrument, sever
al long lines Of writing. The LETT
ne quaint characters of the olden
/ -aes, and dampness had caused the
broken surface to gather dark green
mould, while the rest of the wall was yell
low, thus making the letters stand out
III bold relief.
The writing, when deciphered, read as
follows:
"T, Millicent, the daughter of Simon
Berkeley, founder of this house. feeling
that death is near, write these words:
II am the first person porn IN the
Berkeley, mansion, and in &c lived, see
ing no one but the two old servants and
my father for nineteen years. l never
saw my mother to remember her, for she
died when | was babe. / was never al
lowed to go beyond the orchard wall, and
did not do so until was 10 years old.
Then one day, | rambled into the wood
north of the house, and there met young
man.
HE said that his name was Harold
Mortimer, and that he was distant rela-
tive of our family, my father being at
enmity with his people. lie had come
to see him to try and make peace, but
had been coldly repulsed. During his
visit, ne had seen me, and he determined
TO speak to me.
"He was very handsome and very kind,
and we met frequently after this. Then
he told me of love, and spoke of going
away, and / found that his presence was
dearer to me than life, and that loved
him. We knew that my father would
never consent to our marriage, and
plighted our troth in secret. We could
get no one to marry us, he being strang
er. and there was no minister near, so
took my mothers Bible to tie woods,
and with our hands clasped on the sacred
book, we knelt and swore to be husband
and wife from that time, till God should
part us by death.
II had a happy week, meeting my hus-
band every day, and then my father
found us together. He said some hard
and cruel words, and l tainted. When
| grew conscious again | was in this
room, and here I have remained ever
since. Where my husband is l do not
know, though from some strange visions
that have come TO me, think that LIE is
dead. Were he alive he would find me,
for love can unlock all prisons.
"Nine months after / was brought
here my baby came, and for one year l
was happy. My father was the only per
son I saw. He attended me when sick,
never speaking to me, but bringing food
and clothing. At the end of the year he
took my baby away, and / have never
seen it since.
That is more than eight years ago. I
have kept the time by marks on the wall.
My father has visited me every day until
five days back, and have had no food
since. He has never spoken to me,
though | have prayed for his forgiveness
and he has seen that was growing weak
er all the time.
81 feel that | am dying of hunger and
thirst, and am too weak to call for help
with any hope of being heard. do not
know why he should so cruelty let me
perish here; but if die, shall see my
husband and my baby. May God bless
them and my father, and forgive me If |
have sinned. "MILIICENT."
Simon Berkeley had died five days be-
fore this was written. When his daugh-
ter died cannot be told. Doubtless God
ende d her sufferings very quickly after
she wrote out the record of her sad story.
This hard old man, who had kept her
a prisoner, had not intended that she
should die thus, but death chilled his
heart ere he could reveal her secret pris-
on.
Bereath the writing sthod heavy
oaken chest. The iron of the lock was
rusted away and when Simon had finish
ed reading the first Millicent's story, he
stopped d opened this. 1t contained
caskets and little sacks falling to pieces OF
old age, and these held gold an6 jewels,
the fashion and coinage being centuries
old.
When these lay revealed, the strange
ceiling that had led them on slowly faded
away, and the wind that had ragged out
side the building began to die away.
lit is the dowrY of the dead Millicent,
and she has given it to you," said Simon.
''There is more than enough to redeem
the land, and make Berkeley house the
grand old home it once was"
She chung closer to him.
at will help you, too, for we have no
need to wait to be married now," she
said, Sand we will be so happy that the
sad soul who lived so lonely here may
grow glad from cur joy"
As she spoke, she took up a tress OF
the golden hair lying on the bed.
"This shall be an heirloom that must
never leave the house." she continued,
as they turned away and went slowly
back to the room they had left TO begin
their search.
The wind had changed when they
reached the apartment. The storm
clouds were rolling eastward over the
wild sea, their great masses edged with
a rich silver light. The moon was sail
inc hi9h in the heavens and a sweet rest