Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-13
you say, can see nothing. The house

we have some one in the room with us,
though have no faith in either ghosts
or spirits.''
"Nor have I; 80 we will talk of other
things, and perhaps this feeling will then
pass away" and he changed the CONVEX
sation to their approaching separation,
and the condition Of the old house.
Oh, do 80 wish that we had money
enough to redeem the land and restore
the building, for it is the home of the
Berkeleys,'' said Millicent; "then we
could come here every summer, and make
it a heaven of rest, and you know the rail-
road brings it very near the CITY,"
81 know that it does," and, stopping
abruptly. Simon Berkeley sprang to his
feet.
''Do you know that there is some one
in this room2" he said; II felt their gar
ments brushing past me.''
Mellicent rose and came to him.
II feel the same presence, what can it
mean?" she cried.
II do not know; can see no one; but
this feeling grows stronger all the while,
and it seems to be like one beckoning
me to follow"
II have the same impression. What
shall we doc"
"Let us see where it will lead U.S. and
he took up the lamp that stood on the
table.
She chung to his arm, and together they
went slowly to the door, and out into the
passage leading to the great hall.
The wind was raging fiercely outside,
and sent wild sounds echoing through the
old house. The elms swayed about the
stone walls, ana circling gusts of air came
from the passages by which they walked,
and made the lamps flame flicker, and
made weired shadows in the gloom that
circled close about their way.
Slowly but steady they went on across
the great hall and along passage lead
ing to the eastern wing. They had
traversed the same route during the dav,
and the way was familiar. Through the
musty apartments they went, the mould
ering tapestries of colonial days futter-
ing in the storm filled air that came rush
ing through the broken easements.
i Slowly onward they went, led by the
strange power whose influence they felt,
but which they could not see, and at last
came to the great room that finished the
suite. The door leading to this they had
left closed when they visited it in the
morning, but now it was thrown wide
open. They distinctly remembered
closing it, and looked at each other in
establishment.
"The servants never come here, and we
fastened this door," said Millicent.
''Yes, but we are being led you know
II know it, and will 60 on to the end"
They passed through the open door
way, and Simon held the lamp high
aloft.
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 dec o
rated, and its force seemed to have open
ed heavy, narrow panel door, whose
fastening-bolt had rusted loose. This
aoor was fitted to match the wall, and
opened on 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
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
7 ed them.
There amid the Wondering fragments
OF rich cloth and linen lay skeleton, the
ieshless skull enveloped in mass OF
shining, golden hair.
, ''My God who can this be2" gasped
Simon.
81 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 letters
were the quaint characters of the olden
; times, and dampness had caused the
7 broken surface to gather dark-greer
/ mould, while the rest of the wall was vel
l low, thus making the letters stand out
in bold relief.
The writing, when deciphered, read as
follows:
| III. Milliccnt, the daughter of Simon
Berkeley, founder of this house, feeling
2 that death is near, write these words:
II am the first person porn IN The
Berkeley mansion, and in it l lived, see
, ing no one but the two old servants and
1 my father for nineteen years. I neve
saw my mother to remember her, for she
:, died when | was babe. I was never al
g lowed to 60 beyond the orchard wall, anl
: did not do so until was 10 wears old
Then one day, rambled into the woo(
! north OF the house, and there met youns
I man.
o "He said that his name was Harold
Mortimer, and that he was distant rela
: tive of our family, my father being a
> enmity with his people. He had com,
to see him to try and make peace, bu
y had been coldly repulsed. During hi
f visit, he had seen me, and he determines
e to speak to me.
Gle was very handsome and very kind
and we met frequently after this. The,
/, he told me of love, and spoke of goins
away, and found that his presence wa
< dearer to me than life, and that lovet
7 him. We knew that my father would
;, never consent to our marriage, ant
}, plighted our troth in secret. We coult
q get no one to marry US, he being strane
er. and there was no minister near. so
e took my mothers Bible to the woods
4 and with our hands clasped on the sacre,
: book, we knelt and swore to be husban,
e and wife from that time, till God shout,
n part us by death.
II had happy week, meeting my hus
d band every day, and then my fathe
e found US together. He said some har
and cruel words, and l tainted. Whe
[ grew conscious again I was in thi
g room, and here have remained eve
:. since. Where my husband is I do nc