The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-11
A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

A MlNlEklUU0 UiShGPEhRhNJE
Miss MacWinkle was Of that age wher
unmarried ladies are afraid to 20 out Into the
street unprotected. She was between thirty
Ave and forty. OF d romantic nature and
rather addicted TO moonlight dreanings hen
constant dread was that some improper.
minded member Of the male sex would en-
deavor to carry her Off. She trombled II she
found herself alone In railway carriage with
man. She dsIked mon In general-they
are 90 deceitfuli Rather easy Ia her Circum-
stances, she had made up her mind that II
she ever did allow herself to be woodland
she laid great stress on the did-it should be
for her own sake, and not Cor her money, but
In general way she deprecated tho idea that
she could ever be prevailed upon to relinquish
single blessedness for that welded state
which. she had heard, was fraught with 50
many dlsappolntments.
Miss MacWinkle, being Of good family, Ind
% pretty extensive circle Of aequaintanoos,
and spent most of her autumn In visiting III
country houses, Some weeks ago she received
nh invitation from n lady who was diatantly
related tn her, and whose husband, Capt.
Jaflle. OF the Royal Navy, had recently pur-
chased an estate In Suffolk with the proceeds
OF n legacy. On this estate was a hall which
had been formerly inhabited by n squire OF
eccentric turn, who, because he lived alone
and minded his own business, was generally
suspected Of having intercourse with tho devil.
The room I'm which this unfortunate man died
was, of course, supposed to be haunted, and
Capt. JniIle, being taeetiously disposed,
thought 1t would be n good joke to test Miss
MacWinkle's courage by asking her whether
she would object to sleep In IL ( Capt. jams
did not exactly like M isa MacWinkle and had
anil. tnu ifIIh m IN nInnnA
however, he put his proposal 10 this lady In
the most courteous way possible at the dinner
table on tho evening Of her arrival
"Dear Miss MaoWinkle," said he, when he
saw that she had slipped her first glass of
cherry, II am sorry 10 say that the room IN
which we had intended to put YOU turns out
to have q smoky chimney. We have beon
obliged To quarter you In chamber that has
the reputation OF being haunted. hope you
don't mindp'
ooh, dear, no." exclaimed Miss MacWinkle,
rather shrily. aud sue allowed her glass to
be refllled. But what sort of ghost Is 1t
who haunts the roonY'
"No ghost at ALL 50 far as KNOW laughed
the Captain. 1T IL large. handsome room,
rs you must already have remarked. 1t has
a line south view, and the fireplace draws
capitaliy."
And there are no noises Mt night2" asked
Miss MacWinklo. 81 must tell you that am
O light sleeper and easily disturbed"
"rhere are no noises ut all" said the Gap
tain.
.And no draughte2 Sometimes rooms are
said to be- haunted because the wind whistles
through chinks aud crannies."
"fhe room Is az air-ttght as a Corked bot
tle You have nothing 10 fear on that score. :"
"And there are no rats or MICE are there2
I must confess to loathing rats, and mice still
more, II possible
n house, 80 rate and mice have no chance here, !"
reiotned the Captain.
Poor Mias MacWinkie guped down half her
glass OF sherry aud made no further ohjec-
tions. She was of shy disposition, and feared
TO look ridiculous before the other guests, OF
whom there were a dozen, Including two girls
OF eighteen with hooking eyes. but inwardIy
she felt uncomfortable, and several of the
ladies present sympathized with her
81 think IL would have been kinder to keep
the existence Of the ghost out OF sight, Capt.
Jailie," said one OF these ladies. II am afraid
should not exhibit 50 much courage as Miss
MacWinkle."
''But there Is no ghost, / assure YOU" an
swered the captain. Its only foolish rumor
got up by idle people,
"But 1t rests on something suppose r"
"On nothing more substantial than sense
less talk; but II Miss MacWinke feels In the
least nervous, | daresay we can contrive to
put her into another room, though Ii may not
be such good one.'
Miss MacWnkle declined the offer and felt
little soothed by the encomiums that were
bestowed on her pluck and good sense. A
been dividing his attention between the two
girls OF eighteen, turned to Miss MacWinkle
ana said that the qualities he admired most
OF all In women were plain reason and courage.
Miss MacWinkle hlushed For q few more
such compliments she would have consented
to pass her night Ia a room where goblins
danced In a ring, provided, at least, that these
imps did not touch her. She became the
heroine Of the evening" and when the hour ar
rived for her retiring to bed she took q col
iected aud graceful farewell OF the company.
IF / see o ghost | will drive him out Of
the room, and rely on you to dispatch him
for me" she said softly to the dragon as she
departed.
s'Oh, yes; / believe my room is In the same
passage as yours, and Iii keep d lookout,
laughed the officer.
Don't use firearms. though"
No. II rout him out with poker or an
umbrella"
Everybody was amused. and presently the
whole company had dispersed Soon after
midnight the house was hushed, and even the
dragon. who ought to have been keeping
watch Tor the ghost, slumbered IN peace the
sleep OF the Just. Throughout the night not
sound was heard, and the pair OF terriers,
who had been left free to rambie about the
house as sentlneIs, cnrled themselves uD In
the passage near Miss MacWinkle's door aud
were never heard TO bark or growl once.
Breakfast used to BE- served at 8 80 in Capt.
Jaflle's house, and all the guests Shaving
under his roof generally came to 1t. Miss
MacWtnkle had said overnight that she
would do SO: therefore, when the company
assembled, and the coffee, tea, hot rolls, la
con, eggs. buttered toast, rounds Of beet,
game pies, etc, were all spread cut In a
tempting array, eyes were turned toward the
door, expecting 60 see the heroine walk In.
But Miss MaeWinkle WAS late After quar-
ter OF an hours delay Capt. Jaffis said to the
butler: H as Miss MacWinkle's maid told heI
that breakfast IL ready?"
''PIl go and ask her, sir" answered the SER