Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-05-28
A Mysterious Disappearance.


Miss MacWinkle was of that age
when unmarried ladies are afraid to go
out into the street unprotected. She
was between thirty five and forty. vi
a romantic nature and rather addicted
to moonlight dreamings, her constant
dread was that some improper minded
member of the male sex would endeavor
to carry her off. She trembled if she
found herself alone in a railway car
rage with man. She disliked men
in gcneral-they are so deceitful !!
Rather easy in her circumstances, she
made up her mind that if she ever did
allow herself to be woodland she
laid great stress on the Gid-it should
be for her own sake and not for her
money but in general way she dep
recgted the idea that she could ever be
prevailed upon to relinquish single
blesseduess for that welded state which,
she had heard, was fraught with SO
many dissppointmcnts.
Miss Mac Wrinkle, being of good fam
lily, had a pretty extensive circle of &C
suaintances, and spent most OF her
autumn in visiting at country houses.
Some weeks ago she received an invi-
tation from lady who was distantly
related to her, and whose husband,
Capt. Jaa2e, of the Royal Navy, had
recently purchased an estate in Suffolk
with the proceeds of legacy. On
this estate was hall whick had been
formerly inhabited by squire of SC,
centric turn, who, because he lived
81 &c h,,o
was generally suspected of having in
tereourse with the devil. The room in
which this unfortunate man died, was,
of course, supposed to be haunted, and
Capt. Jsaae, being facetiously disposed,
thought it would be good joke to test
Miss MacWinkle's courage by asking
her whether she would object to sleep
in it? Capt. Ja1Rs did not exactly like
Miss Mac Wrinkle, and had only invited
her in order to please his wife how
ever, he put his proposal to this lady
in the most courteous way possible at
the dinner table on the evening Of her
arrival.
"Dear Miss MacWinkle," said he,
when he saw that she had slipped her
first glass of sherry am sorry to say
that the room in which we had intended
to put you turns out to have a smoky
chimney. We have been obliged to
quarter you in a chamber that has the
reputation Of being haunted. l hope
you don't mind ?"
"Oh, dear, no." excla ;n,"F ~ 50
Mac WiDkle, rather shriliy, ....>. she al
lowed her glass to he retll6d. But
what sort of ghost is it who haunts
the room?"
"No ghost at all, SO for as know"
laughed the captain. cit is q large,
handsome room, as you must already
have remarked. IT. has fine south
view, and the fireplace draws CAPT
tally"
And there are no noises at night? "
asked Miss MacWinkle. 90 must tell
you that ! am light sleeper, and easily
disturbed"
"There are no noises at ALL" said the
captain.
"And no draughts9 Sometimes
rooms are said to be haunted because
the wind whistles through chinks and
crannies."
"The room is as air-tight as corked
bottle. You have nothing to fear on
that score"
"And there are no rats or mice, arc
there? l must confess to loathing rats
and mice still more, if possible"
We have three cats and two terrier:
IN the house, 80 rats and mice have nc
chance here" rejeiged the captain.
Poor Miss MacWinkle gulped dowr
half her glass of sherry and made nj
further objection. She was of shy dis
position, and feared to look ridiculou.
before the other guests, of whom Their
were a dozen, including two girls o
eighteen with hooking eyes but in
wardly she felt uncomfortable, and sew
eral of the ladies present sympathixe,
with her.
I" think it would have been kinde
to keep the existence Of the ghost GU
OF sight, Capt. JaMe," said one of thes
ladies. " l am afraid should not ex
hlbit so much courage as Miss Mac
Winkle."
"But there is no ghost, 1 assure you,
answered the captain. Its only
foolish rumor got up by idle people.
But 1t rests on something, l sup
pose ?"
son nothing more substantial thai
eenseless talk ; but if Miss Mac Winkl
feels in the least nervous, daresay W
can contrive to put her into anothe
room. though it may not be such goo,
one"
Miss MacWinkle declined the otfe
and felt little soothed by the enoomi
ums that were Bestowed on her plucl
and good sense. A handsome younI