The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-03-15
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posure. said to myself, 81 shall find
out the secret. The first link Of the
chain Ia between my fingers. 1 never
before heard Of ghosts tramping bits out
of their drapery, and no doubt the ghost
saw had been nearly as much afraid as
myself when so suddenly approached
it, and had not got away without little
furry. This accounts, too,"I L thought,
" for the resistance which felt to my
hand when I first laid hold of the win
dow.curtains."
/ was more than ever persuaded that
trick was being played upon me.
did not feel, however, as If could sleep
in the room that night. If my visitor
was, as suspected, mortal like myself
there was no telling what he or she
might be induced to attempt should the
desire of revenge prompt a second visit.
My life was not safe in such circum-
stances, when barred window and
locked door were not sufficient to protect
me from intrusion. / resolved for that
night to occupy the bedroom where my
two eldest children slept, which could
reach without disturbing the rest of the
house.
1 was about to take up my candle and
go, when imagined 1 heard a sound
behind me. In my state of nervousness,
started, and had almost dropped the
candle. I looked toward the window;
but the curtains hung motionless, and
were parted as had left them.
A thought struck me. If my visitor
were to return after had retired, how
should know? pondered the matter
a little, and then proceeded to action.
Trickery must in this case be met by
trickery. went up to my work-box,
took out reel of thread, and drew off
few yards. There were curtain fasteners
on each side of the window, about two
feet from the floor and between these
stretched and made fast the length of
thread, so that no one could enter the
room from the window-rece dur
ing the night without unconsciously
breaking the barrier had erected. This
would afford me sufficient proof as to
whether the privacy of my sleeping
room had again been invaded. Taking
up my candle and the bit of cloth,
then passed quietly out, locking the
door of the room, and carrying the key
with me. felt myself stronger in the
presence of my children, and soon man.
aged to fall asleep.
My first quest next morning on leav-
ing the apartment where had slept
was for the purpose of ascertaining
whether my bedroom had been again
entered after had left it on the previous
evening. / unlocked the door, and
cautiously looked in. Enough light
came through between the drawn cur
tains to show me that the room was
apparently as I left it. / advanced to
the window and found the thread there,
unbrokeh, and evidently untouched. I
must confess felt somewhat disappoint-
ed. My fears had probably exaggerated
my conceptions of the danger, and had
anticipated second visit as more than
probable. After thinking, however, 1
came to the conclusion that it was bet
ter as it was. Had my strange visitor
for any purpose entered my room q
second time, and found that L had
quilted it, the effect might have been
the reverse of favorable to discovery of
the trickery, which discovery could best
be forwarded by my making as little
change in my usual habits as possible.
1t was not improbable, seeing that no
suspicion had been aroused by the
knowledge that 1 had changed my
sleeping apartment, that the "ghost"
might be emboldened to pay me visit
on the following night; and by that
hoped to be able to arrange for the
interception of my strange visitor, and
the detection of the trick.
In the course of the morning 1 had
made up my mind how l should pro-
ceed. Mrs. Weevil generally left after
breakfast on her errands to the neigh
boring village or elsewhere, not gener-
ally returning for few hours; and
thought this a good time to obtain an
interview with Andrew, the old garden
er, who, saw, was engaged trimming
the walks in front of the door. had
no doubt now that what.I had seen had
been also appearing to the servants who
had so suddenly departed on the pre-
vious evening; and / had no doubt
also that Andrew knew the whole story
about the ghost having been again seen