Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-06-05

"Is your master up?" asked the ma
jor.
81 am the master of this house."
said a venerable gentleman, making his
at the door.
81 am benighted traveller, sir" said
the major, touching his hat, "and come
to claim your wel[known hospitality.
Can you give me bed for the night? [
am afraid my four-footed companion is
hardly able to carry me to the next
inn"
II cannot promise you bed, sir"
said the host, ''for | have but one spare
bed in the house"
"And that" said the major.
"Happens to be room that does not
enjoy a very pleasing reputation. In
short, sir, one loom of my house is
haunted; and that is the only one, I'M
fortunately, that [ can place at your
disposal tonight"
MY dear sir" said the major, spring
ing from his horse and tossing the bri-
die to the servant, "you enchant me be-
yond expression. A haunted chamber!
The very thing-and [ who have never
seen a ghost! What luckI"
The host shook his head gravely.
81 never knew q man." he said, F'to
pass night IN that chamber without
regretting it,
Major Stanley laughed as he took his
pistols from the holster pipes.
"With these good friends of mine" he
said, Il fear neither ghost nor demon"
Colonel Rogers showed bis guest into
a comfortable parlor, where real coal
fire was burning IN the CRATE, and re-
freshments most welcome to a weary
traveller stood upon the table.
Mine host was an old campaigner, and
had seen much service during the war
OF the American Revolution, and he was
full of interesting anecdotes and descrip-
tions of adventures. But while Major
Stanley was apparently listening atten-
lively to the narrative of his hospitable
entertainer, throwing in the appropriate
CALCULATIONS of surprise and pleasure at
the proper intervals, his whole attention
was in reality absorbed by a charming
girl of twenty, the daughter of the col
onel, who graced the table with her
presence. Never, he thought, had he
oCCA1 ~ bCIUOllul, 81 lllOdCSb St1V 81
lady-like creature; and she in her turn
seemed very favorably impressed with
the manly beauty and frank manners
of their military guest.
At length she retired. The colonel,
who was three bottle man, and had
found a listener to his heart, was some
what inclined to prolong the session into
the small hours Of the morning, but
finding that his guest was much IA
tigued, and even beginning TO nod in
the midst of his choicest story, he felt
compelled to ask him if he would not
like to retire. Major Stanley answered
promptly in the affirmative, and the
old gentleman, taking up silver candle
stick, tremendously marshaled his
guest to large old-tashioned room, the
walls of which being papered with
green, gave to it its appellation of the
"green chamber" A comfortable bed
invited to repose; cheerful fire was
blazing on the hearth, and everything
was oozy and quiet. The major looked
around him with an air of satisfaction.
Il am deeply indebted to you, col.
onel," said he, for afording me such
comfortable quarters. 7 shall sleep like
top"
81 am afraid not" answered the col
onel, shaking his head gravel. 81
never knew guest Of mine to pass q
quiet night in the green chamber"
81 shall prove an exception" said the
major, smiling. "But [ must make
one remark" he added seriously. "It's
i'll sporting with the feelings of soldier
and should any of your servants at
tempt to play tricks upon me, they will
have occasion to repent it" And he
laid his heavy pistols on the lightstand
by his bedside.
"My servants, Major Stanley" said
the old gentleman with an air of offend
ed dignity, care too well drilled to dare
attempt any trick upon my guests.
Good night, major"
" Good night, colonel"
The door closed, Major Stanley locked
it. Having done so, he took a survey
of the apartment. Besides the door
leading into the entry, there was
another leading into some other room.
There was no lock upon this second
door, but heavy table placed across
completely barricaded it
81 am sure" thought the major, Gun
less there is a storming party of ghosts
to attack me in my fastness, | think /
shall sleep WELL"
He threw himself into an armchair
before the fire, and watching the glow
ing embers, amused himself with build
ing castles in the air. and musing on
the attractions of the fair Julia, his
hosts daughter. He was far from think
ing of spectral visitants, when a very
slight noise struck on his ear. CHANGING
in the direction of the inner door, he
thought he saw the heavy table glide
backward from its place.
Quick as thought he caught up pis-
tol and proceeded at once to challenge
the intruder. There was no reply, but
the door continued to open and the
table to slide back. At last there Gid
ed into the room tail, graceful figure
robed IN white AT the first glance the
blood curdled iA the majors veins; at
the second he recognized the daughter
of his host. Her eyes We're wide open,
and she advanced with an assured step,
but it was very evident she was asleep.
Here was the mystery of the green
chamber solved at once.
The young girl walked to the fire.
place and seated herself in the arm
chair from which the soldier bad lust
risen. His first impulse was to vacate
the room at once, and 60 directly and
alarm the colonel. But, in the first
place, he knew not what apartment his
host occupied, and in the second, curl
osity prompted him to watch the de-