New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-03-09

But she interrupted me BY saving,
II have seen no ghost. We are in q den
of horrid thieves and murderers! I saw
two bodies dragged up stairs, stripped
of everything, with just.a sheet round
them. Oh, come out of the place, or
we shall be the next. Even now they
may have heard us, and they will MUIR
der u.s."
asked her if she had not got drowsy
whilst waiting for me in the gloom of
the afternoon-for it was November
and dreamed it.
"Oh, no!' she replied; II did not
dream; and horror-struck as I was when
the ruffians descended the stairs again, I
crept silently up to see if I could find
out anything; and, oh horror, I shall
never forget the sight! Do let us CO."
must confess felt little creepy
and nervous, but was myself again in
moment. Feeling her trembling, and
fearing another swoon, I began descend
ing the stairs with her, when a light
from below shotup to us. She clutched
me convulsively, but was treasured by
hearing my wife's voice calling out:
Frank Mary!, Where are. youp'' 49,,
Here" l said; ''all right
Indeed she replied, II think it all
wrong to give me such fright"
We had reached her by this time; and
by the light of the lantern. she had
brought, she caught sight of Mary's
70 my wife's interrogatories re.
specting her illness, the poor girl assur-
ed her that she was notill. but terrified.
II will tell you all" she added. "when
Twas thankful for the light, and left
them walking on, whilst ran up for
Marys painting materials, and locking
the door, l put, the key in my pocket,
meaning to return again after dinner
and try to elucidate the mystery. When
l joined them, Mary was asking my
wife how she dared come alone all the
way from my house to that dreadful
place.
She replied, she would rather do so
at any hour of the night than be kept
in suspense, and added: "As soon as
the day began to close, I looked for
you; but as you did not come, thought
Frank must have called for you, and
was lionizing you in the town. But
when fully an hour after dinner was
ready, he came back without you. and
you, was for the moment bewildered;
but thinking you must have been taken
ill, and that Frank would want help and
light, l hurried to the kitchen for a
lantern, and told one of the girls to put
on her things and accompany me to the
Dukes House, for you were there, and
h0r1 4n1~ D,,L
you believe it? She fatty refused, say
ing it served you right for going there;
you would never be found, for never
person going near that house after
dark was ever seen afterward. 1 ridi-
culed her nonsense, and appealed to the
others; but neither would 20, so 1 had
no alternative but to come alone.'
When we reached home, I went to
the cellar, and got bottle of Moselle,
and made Mary drink off half a tum-
blerful; and then we sat down to dinner.
We were just settled to dessert, when
friend dropped in for hand at whist,
and wondered at our being SO late. I
told him the reason; and then asked
Mary for her story, as had forbidden
her talking about it until she had got
her dinner. I,
She began: 'After you left me, l
worked on for long while, until, feel
ing hungry, I looked at my watch, and
found it was past two O. clock. I then
ate my sandwiches, and after taking
turn through some of the rooms, set
tied into work again. had not been
long thus occupied when was aroused
by strange irregular noises which
seemed to come from the landing
above. 1 then awoke to the conscious
ness that had been hearing scuffl :ng
of feet for some little time. The
scuffling commenced again: and l got
up; moved cautiously to the door,
which was ajar, and looked out Just in
time to see an old bag disappear in a
doorway above, and the door close soft
~ behind her. I stepped up, and noise
lessly opened the door, and peeped in;
but to my great surprise, the room was
empty. walked in to see if there was
any other door through which she could
have passed; but there was not; nor
was tIcle a WintoW Sic could have got
out of. was fairly puzzled, for you
know don't believe in ghosts. Invent
down to my room, but could not settle
to work. went up again and again;
but could discover nothing, nor could
detect sound. 1t was broad day when
I saw her; and now found it was get
ting too dark for me to do any more of
my painting, so I gathered all together,
and put them in one corner, ready for
tomorrow morning, and sat down to
wait for you. AS it was now getting
dark, and had been expecting YOU,
since three o'clock, l thought you must
have forgotten me, 50 went down to
see if l could find any means of egress.
AS could not, returned to my room,
where could watch for your coming;
for it was not so dark but I could see
any object crossing the court. Whilst
was thinking whether I should tell you
about the old woman tonight or wait
until tomorrow, the wind rose moan
very dreary; but soon heard sounds
above the scughing of the winds,
strange heavy thuds below me; and the
legends you told me as we walked
through some of the rooms in the morn
ing rushed to my mind; but soon ban
ished such nonsense, knowing il must
be produced by living beings"
"What did he tell you?' asked my
VIE.
'.Why, he told me about a very
wicked Duke who for some baleful
reason whipped his unfortunate wife
every night through the house, her
lamentations being heard by any one
who had the temerity to be near the
house after dark. Well, all was quiet
again for little while, when I heard
voices, and the sound of something
being shuffled and dragged up the stairs
toward the room was in. crept be-
hind the door, and holding my breath,
peeped through the crevice. To my
horror saw two ruf1ians dragging up
something wrapped in sheet; they
dragged It to the room 1 had examined
by daylight. The door opened, emit
ting lurid glare. They entered, but
did not stay long, for they soon came
out and tramped downstairs again,
leaving the door partly open. I heard