Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-12-01
WHOLE NO 1906

OF tnht hihu anu W WIZ w 'v'HNS"
when ] plead anxiety for your safety
"Agreee," ! replied, "But We
must have a light. And II ] 60 Into
the kitchen for my bulls eye, II will
create suspicion there, aud the news
will be carried into the parlor"
~ have one at my lodgings" no
said, "and 1t " on our road We can
call aud get IT,
We accordingly did, and Tom sag-
gested our taking pair Of pistols, 10
case Of need, l firmly believe Tom
hoped for a brush with the villains,
Arriving there, we walked around
the house before entering II, and peep
Ing into every nook We could find A.
last We directed our glance 10 the up
per regions, aud about half way up
tha circular tower we thought we
conld discern light, This was tho
wing Mary had chosen for her sketch.
Tom could see II too. so we determin-
ed on entering and, It possible, solv-
ing the riddle. As We reached tho
second landing-it was q noble stair
case with its carved balustrade--we
heard voices aud humping as Of beat.
ing heavy substances against the
walls. When we came to the story
whence we saw the light on the out
side, Tom produced his lantern to
find the door, tor so well did II fit
that we could see no crevce Of light
to guide us; and having quietly open.
ed it we pceped in, but all was dark.
We entered but it was quite empty
and the tapestry being stripped from
the walls, showed nothing but the
rough stones. All was now 80 quiet
that it really seemed Us though we
had disturbed demon phantoms at
their revels
said to Tom; "What can be the
meaning Of thisi'
When, just as he was going to re-.
ply, the noises commenced again, and
we stepped outside and listened atten.
lively. AT last Tom suggested:
"One of those inches, which looked
panelled out for statutes, must be a
door.
We examined the one carefully
next the room we had justl left, and
sure enough camo upon secret
spring. Tom put his light out Of
sight and put his hand on his pistol.
I very gently pressed the spring, when
it noiselessly opened sufficient for Us
to see into the room. There was the
old hag still at her brew, and one man
with a knife dismembering the limbs
of his victim He stopped his work
to address some being out Of our
sight, and we, having seen enough,
quietly closed the door, darted down
stairs, and soon reached home. Tom
was always very pale, with large, dark
eyes, and when he entered the room
where my wife and Mary were, bis
eyes told in moment where!we had
been.
"Yes," I said in reply TO their que.
ries "we have been there, and have
see enough to appall the stoutest
heart Here I caught Toms we'll
dissembled look of alright, and !
could control myself no longer il
flung myself on the couch and roared
with laughter.
I laughed 30 long that my wife be-
gan to think my brain was turned.
She looked at Tom, but he kept his
countenance, and continued bis idiotic
stare. At last seeing that they were
really frightened, I gasped out.
"Murder will out The corpses were
pigs, scalded pigs; and the hag was
the old woman that sells such excel
lent black puddings!"
When 1 took the key back to the
old man, I asked him why be had his
butcher shop at the top Of the old
building.
"Oh, SIR" he replied, don't tell on
me. You see, sir, ] make little by
letting it very cheap to these people.
I should not be allowed were 1t
known. They use that room becsuse
no one knows it, and they are unmo-
Tested. I can show the house with
out showing that room to the strang-
ers who visit the town. I used to
make good bit by showing it in for
mer times, but very few come to see
it now. - "
never hear of haunted houses now
but I think Of the pig. killers.--[Cham.
bers Journal.