The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-23
THE DAILY STAR
A HAUNTED ROOM.
The Mysterious Disapp ppearance Of Miss
MaeWinkle.

Miss MacWinkle was of that age when
unmarried ladies are afraid to 60 out into
the street unprotected. She was between
thirty and forty. Of a romantic nature
and rather addicted to moonlight dream
ings, her constant dread was that some
imprOper-minded member of the MAKE
sex would endeavor to carry her of. She
trembled if she found herself alone in q
railway carriage with man. She dis
liked men in general-they are so deceit
full! Rather easy In her circumstances,
she had made up her mind that if she
ever did allow herself to be woodland
she laid great stress on the did-it should
be for her own sake, and not for her
money; but in general way she depre-
Gated the idea that she could ever be pre-
vailed upon to relinquish single blessed
ness for that welded state which, she had
heard, was fraught with 80 many disap-
pointmenta
Miss MacWinkle, being of good family,
mad pretty extensive circle of acquaint-
ances, and spent most of her autumn in
visiting at country houses. Some weeks
ago size received an invitation from a
lady who was distantly related to her,
and whose husband, Captain Jafle, OF
the Royal Navy, had recently purchased
an estate in Suffolk with the proceeds of
a legacy. On this estate was hall
which had been formerly inhabited by
a'Squire of eccentric turn, who, because
he lived alone and minded his own bust
ness. was generally suspected Of having
intercourse with the devil. The room in
which this unfortunate man had died
was, of course, supposed to be haunted,
and Captain Jatile, being facetiously dis
posed, though. it would be good joke
to test Miss MacWinkle's courage by ask
ing her whether she would object to sleep
in itS Captain Jaffle did not exactly like
Miss MacWinkle, and had only invited
her in order to please his wife; however,
he put his proposal to this Lady in the
most courteous way possible, at the din
ner table, on the evening of her arrival.
"Dear Miss MacWinkle,' said he, when
he saw that she had slipped her first glass
of sherry. II am sorry to say that the
room In which we had intended to put
you turns out to have 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." exclaimed Miss Mac
Ninkle, rather shrilly; and she allowed
her glass to be reflled. "But what
sort Of ghost is it who haunts the
roomY'
"No ghost at all, SO Ear as know"
laughed the Captain. at is large,
handsome room, as you must already have
remarked. 1t is fine south view, and
the fireplace draws capitally"
sand there are no noises at nighty'
asked Miss MacWinkle. II must tell
that I am light sleeper and easily dis
turhed" ~.
"There are no noises at ALL" said the
Captain.
"And no draughtsl Sometimes rooms
are said to be haunted because the wind
whistles through chinks and crannies."
"The room is as air-tight as a corked
bottle. You have nothing to- fear on
that score."
"And there are no rats or mice, are
there9 / must confess to loathing rats,
and mice still more, if possible"
"NVe have three cats and two terriers
in the house, 50 rats and mice have no
chance here" rejoined the Captain.
Poor Miss MacWinkle gulped down half
her glass of sherry, and made no further
objections. She was of shy disposition,
and feared to look ridiculous before the
other guests, Of whom there were dozen,
including two girls Of eighteen with
mocking eyes; but inwardly she felt un-
comfortable, and several of the ladies
present sympathized with her.
81 think it would have been kinder to
keep the existence Of the ghost out of
sight, Captain Jaffle," said one of these
ladies. II am afraid should not ex-
hibit 20 much courage as Miss Mac Win
kle."
"But there Is no ghost, I assure you,"
answered the Captain. "It's only a
foolish rumor got up by idle people,"
"But it rests on something | sup
pose"
''On nothing more substantial than
Senseless talk; but if Miss MacWinkle
feels in the least nervous, / dare say we
can contrive to put her into another
room, though it may not be such good
one."
Miss MacWinkle declined the offer,
and felt little soothed by the ecomiums
that were bestowed on her pluck and
geod sense. A handsome young dragoon
officer, who had been dividing his atten-
tion between the two girls Of eighteen,
turned to Miss MacWinkle and said that
the qualities he admired most of all in
women were PLAIN reason and courage.
Miss MacWinkle blushed. For a few
more such compliments she would have
consented to pass her night in a room
where goblins danced in ring, provided,
at least, that these imps did not touch
her. She became the heroine Of the
evening, and when the hour arrived for
her retiring to bed, she teok q collected
and graceful farewell of the company.
"ff / see ghost / will drive him out
of the room, and ! rely on you to dis
patch him for me-" she said softly to the
dragoon as she departed.
"Oh. yes: / believe nv room is in the