Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-14
The Mystery of the Old
Oak Chest.

liearIbIy sol,Ild"
t"Nonsensew replied my sister Hattie,
with y little nervous laugh it's only the
wind, or u mouse stirring IN tho
Hattie glanced apprehcnsvcly over her
shoulder, IN tiic direction indicated, n'ltc
white and startled.
pHow foolish IL was OF rs 10 think OF
staying twon gIts in this great old house
alone wish Cousin Jack were here,
for if ghost we're really TO make lIaap.
pearanee, What should we ever do|
- Am not ~ much afraid Of ghosts
troubling NY aa am OF robbers. Thank
heaven, all the doors a'e locked below,
.l.,,o one can got III without our hear
inv them, were they to walk ever 50
softly said |.
During ihc abscucc OF our parents,
who had gone to see 4 sick relative nv
lug III II uoighboring town, my SISTER
Hattie and had volunteered TO remain
at home and take charge oi affairs llltll
their return. The only person besides
ourselves in the liouSG--.a great, ralnb-
linz old structure, with lhnuneiaole
.hmnsys and gables, and weather
stained porclles--was female domestic
who slept in " Remote chamber on the
frat floor. We went up to orr room early
IN tho evening, for VIC felt little tlnld
in spitc of the often expressed assertion
thnt we we're not u bit afraid.
The silver was kept in small safe III
nv mothers apartments, which commit
nicated with ours, and could not be
reached otherwise without going through
\ lonp hall, the door Of which waa both
b.ltsd AND locked from the inside, Tlio
,no@ that had startled ~ 40, wns unlike
ANYTHING had ever heard bolore-'-h
kind of stealthy. uncertain rIiStIlng, ~
if made unintcntoually AMI entirely
AGAINST the will Of whatever OF whooSei
il was that oGcasione0 It.
Naturally courageous, and accustomed
TO acting rs well ~ thinking for myself
arose, locked The door, dropped tl'
surtain, and took u look around th'
room. No sign Of either ghost OF robbie
TO be seen.
"a brave pair we are must say, J" Sai'
|, taking volume OF SCOTS Poems ifo''
the table, aud beginning TO read 'tio'l'
from the clay Of the Last MINSTREL h''
1 had scarcely read three lines before tn
sane low, strange, rusling sound wa
heard again.
Hattie quickly turned around an
locked inquiringly atthc closet, tile doc
Of which stood partly open. a large
cid fashioned chest WIS IN one corner
and above il hung u nnmberlcss array {
rarments-drcsses, skirts, wraps, an'
ladies' apparel of all kinds.
at must surely be u mouse, Grace,
for there can't be anything else III th
closet, said Hattie, in u frightened wli''
per.
/ got up, Hung the closet door VIC
spen, and gave the skirts u vlgoro'
shake. even mounted the old chest III
took prolonged survey OF the upp'
shelves, moving bonnet boxes al
shawly, and everything movable with
NV reach but mouse there was non
nor any indications that one had ov
been there.
at In very odd observed Hattie, IN
low tone, noting anxiously the result
nv search. 81 wonder if there truly
any such things rs spirits"
"Of course not. We are only u lit
nervous, for there's really nothing here
and gave the skirts another shake
way of adding point to my words
Hattie said no more, aud | rcsum
NV scat, iimly determined not to aIl'
my fears to get the better OF my rcaso
Hattie, after awhile, said she would
20 bod, and might have Scott and t
chest to myself. But it was ratl
lonely, sitting up alone, so thought
wisest thing could do was to follow |
example, but not until had again ma
sure that the door was locked, and h
placed shaded chamber lamp vt
stand at the head of the bed.
It must have been near eleven o'clo
when 1 was awakened, not by soul
for l did not hear any, but by somcthi
That seemed like q shadow passing
tween me and the light. | sprang
without disturbing Hattie, and TOOL
everywhere about the room torsomc s
of the mysterious presence, or whatc
it was that so unpleasant!y awaken
mo; but I saw nothing.
I drew mp the curtain and looked
Oh the lawn. Absolute silence rcigI
everywhere. With sigh ofrelcf !
"a, In, tl,, |