The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-20
Tho Beggar Woman OF Locarno.

quis of Como, the ruins of which are still
visible to the traveller, as he passes over
the ST. Gothard-a castle with lofty and
roOmy apartments, high towers and narrow
windows.
In one of these rooms an old sick woman
was deposited upon some straw, which had
been shaken down for her by the house
keeper of the Marquis, who found her beg
ging before the gate.
The Marquis, who was accustomed to 20
into this room ON his return from hunting,
to lay aside his gun, ordered the poor
wretch to get up Immediately out Of h"r
corner and be gone.
Tho creature arose, but slipping with
her cruch upon the smooth floor, she fell,
and injured her back SO much that ii was
with great difficulty she got up; and NOV
ing across tho room lis she had been desired,
gioaning and crying sadly, sank down be-
hind the chimney.
After while she arose again, dragged
herself painfully out of the castle and died
in the adjacent village.
Several years afterwards, when the cir
cumstances of tho Marquis had been much
reduced by war and failure of his crops, II
Florcntine gentleman visited the castle,
with the intention Of purchasing it, in con-
sequence of the beauty of the situation.
The Marquis, who was very anxious to
have the bargain concluded, gave his wife
directions to lodge the stranger in the same
room in which the old woman had rested,
it having, in the meantime been very hand
somcly fitted up; but, to their constcrnl-
ton, in the middle Of tho night, the strnn-
ger entered their own room, pale and ngi-
lated, protesting loudly that the chamber
was haunted by some invisible bcing-for
tint he heard something rise in The corner,
rs il il had been lying among the straw,
move over the chamber with slow and tot
tcring steps, and sink down, gr0anng and
crying, near the chimney.
The Marquis, alarmed, though he scarce
ly knew why, endcavorcd to put fair face
Oh the matter, and to laugh of the fears of
his visitor, telling him he would rise HIM
self, and spend the rest of the night with
him in his room; but the stranger begged
that he would rather allow him to occupy II
couch in the adjoining room; and rs soon
as morning broke, he took his leave, and
departed
Ills occurrence, which "ccasioncd much
notice, made SO unpleasant an impression
upon intending purchasers, that not anoth-
cr inquiry was made, and ut last, even the
servants in tho house becoming possessed
with the notion that there was something
dreadful in the affair, the Marquis with the
view Of setting the report to rest, deter
mined to investigate the matter himself
next night.
Accordingly, in the twilight, he caused
his bed to he brought into the apartment,
and waited, without sleeping, the approach
of midnight.
But what was hls CONSERVATION whcn
on the stroke of midnight, he actually
heard some remarkable noise in the apart
ment, rs If some person had risen from
among straw, which rustlcd hrnralh him,
walked slowly across the floor, and sank,
signing and grooming behind the chimncyi
When he came down the next morning.
the Marchioncss asked him how the invrSti-
CATION had gone on; and he, after gazing
about him with wondering glances, and
holting the door, told her that tho story of
the chambers being haunted were true.
She was terrified out of her senses; but
begged him, before making any public dis
closures, once more to make tho cNpcri-
mcnt in her company.
Accompanied by trusty servant, they
accordingly repeated their visit next night,
and again heard, rs the Marquis Ind done
ID lore, the same ghostly and inConccivublc
noise; and nothing but the anxious wish
to get rid of the castle, cost what il would,
enabled them to suppress their tcrrors in
the presence of the servant, and to ascrihe
the noise to some accidental cause.
On the evening of the third day, when
both, determined to probe the matter to
the bottom, were ascending with beating
hearts the stairs leading to the strangers
apartment, 1t Glanced TINT the house dog,
which had been let loose from the chain,
was lying directly before the door of the
room; and, willing, perhaps to have the
company of any other living thing in the
mysterious apartment, they took The dog
into the room along with them.
The husband and wife seated themselves
on the couch--thc Marquis with his sword
and pistols beside him; and while they
endeavored, tho best way they could, to
kill time with conversation, the dog, cow
cring down at their feet, fell asleep.
Again, with the stroke of midnight, the
noise was renewed; something though
what they could not discover, raised itself,
rs If on two crutchcs, in the corner; the
straw rustled rs before.
At the sound of the first oo,fall, the
dog awokc, reused itself priclcd up its cars
and growing and barking as if some person
was advancing towards him, rctrcatcd in
Viz uiISCtloh vi thc CIlllnllcy.
At this sight, the Marchioncss rushed out
OF the room, her hair standing on end and
while the Marquis seized his sword, en-
claimed "Who is there z" and receiving no
answer, thrust like nadnnn in all dircc-
tions, she hastily packed up few articles
OF dress, and made the best OF her way to-
wards the town.
Scarcely, however, had she proceeded II
lew steps, when she discovered TINT the
castle was on fire.
The Marquis had in his distraction, over
turned the tapcrs, and tho room was in
stantly in flames.
Every effort was made to save the un-
happy nob]eman, but in vain; he pcrishcd
IN the utmost torturcs; and his bones, as
the traveller may be aware, still lie where
they were collected by the ucghboring
peasants-in corner of the apartment from
which he had expelled the bcggar woman
OF 1,acarnO.
Curious Hiding Places.
Some women have curious wavs or b;dino