The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-04-16

broad hearth, and sent its rose colored
light out into the gathering shadows.
As the darkness increased, the feeling
that effected them grew more intense,
and made their conversation sink to low
ly murmured words.
They had wandered through the desert.
cd rooms talking of the old house and
the people who had lived in it. Millicent
said they had left no room unvisited, and
alter this survey they ate their supper, and
then settled themselves by the fire for a
long chat, as Simon was to leave for Boston
the next day, there to try his strength in
| the battle aud turmoil Of life.
AS they sat thus, Millicent's low voice
making sweet echoes for the fierce storm
songs of the wind, this strange feeling
came and grew SO intense that thew
thought some one was with them.
Millicent was first to speak of it.
"Do you not feel oddlyf" said she.
''There seem to be others beside our.
selves in the room, and yet I can see no
one"
Il have the same impression, and yet,as
you say, can see nothing. The house
must be haunted"
'There are stories to that effect current
among the neighbors and surely believe
| we have some one in the room with us.
though 1 have no faith in either ghosts
or Spirits"
"Nor have I; so 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 so wish that we had monev
enough to redeem the land and restore
the building, fer it is the home of the
Berkeleys," said Millicent; "then we
could come here every summer, and make
1t a heaven of rest, and you know the rail-
road brings it very near the CITY,"
IL know that it does," and, stopping
abruptly: Simon Berkeley sprang to his
feet.
"Do you know that there is some one
in this room9" he said; II felt their gar
ments brushing past me-"
Mellicent rose and came to him.
II feel the same presence, what can it
means" she cried.
II do not know; I can see no one; but
this feeling grows stronger all the while,
me to follow"
II have the same impression. What
shall we do?"
"Let us see where it will lead u.s. and
ne took up the lamp that stood on the
table.
She chung to his arm, and together thew
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, and 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 steadily they went on across
the great hall and along passage lead
ing to the eastern wing. They had
traversed the same route during the day,
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.
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 1t, 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"
II know it, and will 60 on to the end. ]"
They passed throug h 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 deco.
rated, and its force seemed to have OPEN
ed heavy, narrow panel door, whose
tastenlng-bolt had rusted loose. This
door 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.
o1n!oA Aeu Iue way up Inc 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
ed them.
There amid the Wondering fragments
of rich cloth and linen lay skeleton, the
feshless skull enveloped in a mass of
shining, golden hair.
my God who can this be?" gasped
Simon.
II do not know; but see, here is writ
ing on the WALL" said Nillicent. whose
glance had turned from the CHASTITY pic
ture.
Simon followed her look, and saw, cut
10y 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
broken surface to gather a dark green
mould, while the rest of the wall was vel
low, thus making the letters stand out
in bold relief.
The writing, when deciphered, read as
follows:
II, Millicent, the daughter of Simon