River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-01-29
4 MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

when unmarried people are afraid 10
90 ont into the street unprotected. she
was between thirty-five and forty. Ol
q romantic nature, and rather addicted
to moonlight dreamings, her constant
dread was that some member of the
male sex would carry her off. She
trembled if she found herself alone in
a railway carriage with man. She
dishked men in general-they are so
deceitful. Rather easy in her circl M
that if she ever did allow herself to he
woodland she laid great stress on the
did-it should be for her money; but in
a general way she deprecated the idea
that she could ever be prevailed upon
to relinquish single blessedness for that
welded state which, she had heard,
was fraught with so many disappoint-
ments.
Miss MacWinkle, being OF good fam
iIy, had a pretty extensive circle of ac-
quaintances, ard spent most Of her
autumn in visiting at country houses.
Some weeks ago she received an invi-
tation from q lady who was distantly
related to her, and whose husband,
Capt Jaffie, Of the royal navy, had re-
Gently purchased an estate III Suffolk
with the proceeds of a legacy. On this
estate was hall which had been form
erly inhabitated by squire of eccen-
trio turn, who, because he lived alone
and minded his own business, was gen
orally suspected of having intercourse
with the devil. The room in which
this unfortunate man had died was, OF
course, supposed TO be haunted, and
Capt. Jaffe, 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. Jaffie 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
dinner table on the evening of her ar
rival.
"Dear Miss MacWinkle," said he,
when he saw that she had slipped her
first glass of sherry, 81 am sorry to say
that the room in which we had intend
ed TO put you turns ont to have 81
smoky chimney. We have been
obliged to quarter you in a chamber
that has the reputation of being haunt
ed. | hope you don't mind ?"
ooh, dear, no." exclaimed Miss Mac
Wrinkle, rather shrilly; and she allowed
her glass to be reflled. "But what sort
of ghost is it who haunts the room p
"No ghost at all, so far as l know, y
laughed tie captain. at is a large
handsome room, as you must already
have remarked. 1t has fine south
view, and the fireplace draws capitally."
"And there are no noises at night 2
asked Miss MacWinkle. 81 must tell
you that am light sleeper and cas-
lily disturbed"
"There are no noises at all" said the
captain.
'And no draughts Sometimes
rooms are said to be haunted because
the wind whistles through chinks and
crannies."
'The room is as alright as a corked
bottle. You have nothing to fear on
that score"
'And there are no rats or mice, are
there? | must confess to loathing rats,
and mice still more, if possible"
"We have three cats and two terriers
in the house, so rats and mice have no
chance here" rejoined the captain.
Poor Miss MacWinkle gulped down
half her glass of sherry, and made nc
further objections. Sne was of shy dis
position, and feared to look ridiculous
before the other guests, of whom there
were q dozen, including two girls of Il
with knocking eyes. but inwardly SHE
felt uncomfortable, and several of the
ladies present sympathized with her.
81 think it would have been kinder
to keep the existence of the ghost ou
of sight, Capt. Jaffie," said one of these
ladies. 81 am afraid that should no
exhibit as much courage as Miss Mac
Wrinkle"
'But there is no ghost, assure you,
answered the captain. cts only fool
ish rumor got up by idle people.
But it rests on something l sup
poser
Goa nothing more substantial thar
senseless talk; but if Miss MacWinklt
feels in the least nervous, l dare say VIZ
can contrive to put her In anothe
room, though it may not besuch a goo(
one"
Miss MacWinkle declined the offer
AMI felt little soothed by the encomi
ums that were bestowed on her pluck
and good sense. A handsome younl
dragon officer, who had been dividin.
his attention between the two girls o
eighteen. turnel- to Miss MacWinkl
and said that the qualities he admired
most of all in women were plain reason
and courage. Miss MacWinkle blushed
For Il few more such compliments sh
would have consented to pass her nigh
ma room where COLLINS danced in
ring, provided, at least, that these imp
did not touch her. She became tn
heroine of the evening, and when tn
hour arrived for her retiring to bed sh
took Il collected and graceful farewell
of the company.
"IfI see a ghost l will drive him on
of the room, and | rely on you to dis
patch him for me-" she said, softly, t
the dragon as she departed.
"Oh yes; believe my room is in tn
same passage as yours, and I'll keep
lookout" laughed the officer.
Don't use firearms though"
"NO: I'll rout him out with a-poke
or an umbrella"
Everybody was amused; and present
Is the whole company had dispersed
Soon after midnight the house wa
hushed, and even the drsgoon, VIII
ought to have been keeping watch f.
the ghost, slumbered in peace the slice
81 the just. Throughout the night nc
a sound was heard, and the pair {
terriers, who had been left free to ran
bic about the house IS sentinels, curle
themselves up in the passage near Mis-
MacWnkle's door, ard were neve
heard to bark or growl once.
Breakfast used to be served at $50 i
Capt. Jaffie's house, and all the CUES
staying under his roof generally cam
to ii. Miss MacWinkle had SAID owe
night that she would do so; therefor'
when the company assembled, and tn
coffee, tea, hot rolls, bacon, eggs, bu
tered toast, rounds of beef, game, pie
etc, we're all spread out in temptI
array, eyes were turned toward u
door, expecting to see the heroine wa
in. But NJ ISIS MacWinkle was Ia
After quarter of an hours della
Capt. Jsffie said to the butler: HI
MISS MacWinkle's maid told her thi
breakfast Is ready?'
''Ill go and ask, sir" answered Il
servant, and he went out. Five mi
utes later he returned, looking rath,
Hurried, and said, 1.-The maid b;
knocked several times at Miss Ma
Wrinkles door, and there is no answer
0Wban did she first knock - sske