The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-08
creyIce. To my horror saw two ruffians


,tsy long, for they soon came out, ana
tramped DOWNSTAIRS again, leaving Inc
Ioor partly open. beard The sound OF
heir footsteps die away In the lower base
nenis, and, all being quiet, ! stole quietly
10 the stairs and peeped into the ROOM
There, before fire OF red ombers, STOOD the
Did bag I saw go up in the afternoon. sue
was stirring something In caldron on tDe
lire, gibbering and muttering liSe tne
witches In Macbeth" She turned roupd,
and thought her gaze fell on me. Iell
myself sliding down, remembered no more
until I wss again aroused by the same TWO
demons coming up with another bundle.
What could do2 They would soon be up.
| knew now that the old wretch bad not
seen me, sfor 1 was unmolested. l saw
might gain my room before they could pos
sibly reach II, aud they would not bear me
above their own din. did so, ana knew
no more until you reused me-"
The more thought the more l felt con-
WINGED 1t was the result OF my COUSINS as
ordered imagination, from being lett all
alone at nightfal In such a'ghostly building.
After a while said: whist is out OF
the question tonight; no ones tboughts
would he in his or her hand; so II Tom
would like a stroll am ready for one."
He eagerly accepted the invitation; but
wife and Mary both sprang up and inter-
cepted us on our way to the door, saying
should not go out.
She knew [ meant to go to the house. and
II did, she would 20 too. pooh.pooned
the idea of going there, especially after
what Mary had told us.
"You don't believe word that | told
you-I am sure YOU do not can see it by
the twinkle of your eyes she exclaimed
aud don't you go, Tom, let me beg oil
your MARY bad a special interest in TOM
and then he won't care 10 20 alone"
So Tom promised, fully meaning to keep
the promise, | am sure and we were at
lowed to pass.
As soon as we got outside, said: "Well
Tom, did not promise, nor do wish to
break yours; but am off to the Duke 's.'
have the key in my pocket, and l wish to
satisfy myself; tomorrow it may be too
late.'
"Then you believe Mary's story?" he
said.
swell, I am bound to believe il but it Is
not murderers or ghosts, and I'll md out
before come back. But don't 90 in until
| return, or YOU will be sending my wife
after me, and all will depend on quiet"
NAY" be said, " il you 90 | will. No
great harm in breaking a promise OF that
kind; and it will be forgiven when l
plead anxiety for your safety"
agreed" / replied. "But we must
have light. And il 90 into the kitchen
for my bulls eye it will create suspicion
there, and the news will be carried into the
parlor."
81 have one at my lodgings" he said.
" and IT'S on our road; we can call and
get it,"
We accordingly did, and Tom suggested
our taking pair Of pistols, in case OF need.
| firmly believe Tom hoped for brush with
the villains.
Arriving there we walked around the
house before entering and peered into every
nook we could find. AT last we directed
our glance TO the upper regions, and about
half way up the circular tower we could
discern a light. This was the wing Mary
had chosen for her sketch. Tom could see
it too. So we determined upon entering
and, il possible, solving the riddle. As we
reached the second landing-it was noble
staircase, with its carved balustrade-we
heard voices and humping as ii beating
heavy substances against the walls. When
we came to the story whence we saw the
light on the outside Tom produced bis Ian
tern to find the door, FOR so well did 1t Ut
that we could see no creyice OF light to
guide us; and having quietly opened it we
peeped in, but all was dark.
We entered, but it was empty, and the
tapestry being stripped from the walls
showed nothing bot the rough stones. All
was now so quiet that ii really seemed as
though we bad disturbed demon phantoms
ut their reveis.
said to Tom, "What can be the mean
ing OF this!"
When, last as he was going to reply, the
noises commenced again, end we stepped
outside and listened attentively. At last
Tom suggested: lone OF these inches
which looked panelled out for statues must
be door,"
We examined the one carefully next the
room we had Just left, and sure enough
came up a.secret spring. Tom put bis light
out Of sight and put bis hand on his pistol.
| very gently pressed the spring, when il
noiselessly opened sufficiently for Us to see
into the room. There was the old hag still
at her brew, and one man with knife dis
Numbering the limbs OF his victim. He
stopped bis work to address some beng
out OF our sight, aud we, having seen
down stairs and soon reached home. Tom
was always very pale, with large dark eyes,
aud when he entered the room where my
wife and Mary were his look told in mo-
ment where we bad been.
eyes," l said, in reply TO their queries,
/" we have been there, and have seen enough
to appal The stoutest heart" Here | caught
Toms welI-dlssembed look OF alright. and
could control myself no longer. flung
myself on the couch and roared with
laughter.
| laughed so long that my wife began to
think my brain was turned. She looked at
Tom, but he kept his c0untenance and con-
tinued his ldiotic stare. At last, seeing they
were frightened, / gasped out, 'sMurder
will out The c0rpses were pigs-scalded
pigs-and the bag was the old woman that
sells such splendid black puddings!"
When took the key back To the old man
I asked him why he had his butcher-shop at
the top of The old building.
"Ob, sir" he replied, "don't tell on me.
You see, sir, / make little by letting it
very cheap to these people. should not
be allowed were it known. They use that
room because no one knows OF 1t, and they
are unmolested. can show the house with |
out showing that room to the strangers who
visit the town. l used to make a good bit
by showing it in former times, but very few
come 10 see IL now"
never hear OF haunted houses now but
l think OF the pig-killels.- Chambers Jour
nal.