The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-07-02

met by my wife, who sskedwhy I was
SO late for dinner, and where Mary was.
"Mary:" exclaimed; 81 forgot all
about her." and catching my hat of
the peg again, l rushed out, speeding
as fast as could to liberate her, and
bitterly lamenting my folly for locking
her in.
It was quite dark when I got there.
and / had no light; but I felt out the
keyhole, unlocked the door and tramped
loudly up the stairs. I called her, but
received 70 reply. Going into the room
in which had left her, 1 gazed into
the recesses, and found her huddled up
in one corner.
"Mary, my poor dear child" I ex-
claimed. twill you ever forgive me?'
Hush, hush! for pity s sake, hush!"
she said in a whisper.
"Why did you not answer me when
called your" replied
81 did not hear you until now. Oh,
have seen such fearful sights!'
felt her whole frame culver, and
then, as was assisting her to rise, she
fell on me in fainting fit. I had no
light, not even q fusee in my pocket,
and no one was within call. At length
thought of the water she had for her
work; it might revive her if I could find
it. laid her down gently, and CROP
ing about for the water, sprinkled her
face, which had the effect of bringing
her round.
Hurriedly rising, she exclaimed: ooh,
come away. Take me out of this horrid
placer
I began to rally her about the
absurdity of her fears, and her telling
me in the morning she was not super
stitious.
But she interrupted me by saying:
81 have seen no ghost. We are in q den
of horrid thieves and murderers! saw
two bodies dragged up stairs, stripped
of everything, with just sheet round
them. Oh, come out of the place, or
we shall be the next. Even now they
may have heard us, and they will muir
der u.s."
1 asked her if she had not got drowsy
whilst waiting for me in the gloom of
the afternoon-for it was November
and dreamed it.
''Oh, no!' she replied; II did not
dream; and horror-struck as was when
the ruffians descended the stairs again, I
crept silently up to see if I could find
out anything; and, oh horror. I shall
never forget the sight! DO let us 60"
Unjust confess I felt a little creepy
and nervous, but was myself again in
moment. Feeling her trembling, and
fearing another swoon, began descend
ing the stairs with her, when a light
from below shotu to us. She clutched
me convulsively, but was treasured by
hearing my wife's voice calling out:
Frank! Mary! Where are you?''
Z" Here" I said; ''all right"
s.Indeed," she replied, II think it all
wrong to give me such fright"
We had reached her by this time; and
by the light of the lantern she had
brought, she caught sight of Mary's
blanched face.
To my wife's interrogatories re-
specting her illness, the poor girl assur-
ed her that she was notill, but terrified.
81 will tell you ALL" she added, when
I get home"
Twas thankful for the light, and left
them walking on, whilst I ran up for
Mary's painting materials, and locking,
the door, put the key in my pocket,
meaning to return again after dinner
and try to elucidate the mystery. When
1 joined them, Mary was asking my
wife how she dared come alone all the
way from my house to that dreadful
place.
She replied, she would rather do so
at any hour of the night than be kept
in suspense, and added: 'sAs soon as
the day began to close, I looked for
you; but as you did not come. thought
Frank must have called for you, and
was lionizing you in the town. But
when fully an hour after dinner was
ready, he came back without you. and
you, was for the moment bewildered;
but thinking you must have been taken
i'll, and that Frank would want help and
a light. hurried to the kitchen for a
lantern, and told one of the girls to put
ON her things and accompany me to the
Dukes House, for you were there, and
must have been taken Ill. But would
you believe it? She. fatty refused, say
ing it served you right for going there;
you would never be found, for never a |
person going near that house after
dark was ever seen afterward. I ridi-
culed her nonsense, and appealed to the
others; but neither. would 60, so l had
no alternative but to come alone"
When we reached home, I went to |
the cellar, and got bottle of Moselle,
and made Mary drink off half a tum-
blerful; and then we sat down to dinner. |
We were just settled to dessert, when a |
friend dropped in for a hand at whist, |
and wondered at our being so late.
told him the reason; and then asked
Mary for her story. as I had forbidden