The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-02-17

scream. you couldn't induce, for love
or money. one Of them to enter this
room after dark"
"Why notP" I asked. What's in the
roomp"
Claire turned red, and hesitated for .
minute. and then she laughed. What .
simpleton l ann to Let it all out! But
there's no use in making q mystery of
il, and then l think you'll like to know
that this room is considered haunted.
You know there's as much difference
between us as there is between lion
and mouse. wouldn't sleep here
for worlds, but you like to do daring
things. and I've heard you say at school
there was nothing you'd like better
than to sleep in haunted room"
Now that I was likely to realize my
foolish wish, l couldn't say that par
ticularly enjoyed the prospect. But
hada character for bravery to support
. very inconvenient thing I've found it
and it wouldn't do to show the white
feather; SO quietly said:
"A real haunted room, Petite? Hon
or bright now, is it the genuine article,
or humbug?"
"Wef. it was the room of Max's
grandmother. She was a very hard,
stern woman. and for some misconduct
drove one of her sons from the house.
He went to the bad entirely then. COM
mitted q crime, and while the officers
of justice were after him. he galloped
up to Linwood and went to his mothers
room. He said few bitter, reproach-
full words to her. and then shot himself
before her eyes. She never got over
the shock. aud became almost imbecile.
''Day after day she would sit at that
window. muttering and pleading to
some invisible presence. The servants,
who are very superstitious, said it was
her sons ghost, for sometimes she
would utter sharp cry. and call out
his name. She was found dead one
morning in her chair. Of course the
servants pretend that they can hear all
kinds of sounds in here about midnight;
but that's nonsense, for Charlie, that 8
Max's brother, always sleeps in this
room when he visits US, and he says he
has never heard sound"
"Oh, then he's driven the ghosts
awayr' 1 laughed.
81 dare say" Claire said. "Now
you know. Mag, don't really believe
in such things, but all the same I'm
just as much frightened as if I did.
Now Charlie would just suit you, for he
laughs at everything. He is visiting
us. and wanted to see you so much,
dear; but his father sent for him this
morning. and he had to 60. He'll try
and come back tomorrow, and I do
want you to like each other so much"
l hardly heard her, for to tell the
truth, my mind was going over and
over the details of the tragedy had
just heard. Putting the haunted ques-
ton aside, it doesn't make a room more
cheerful, does it, to know that suicide
and heartbreak have occurred in it?
'Oh, how grave YOU lookr Claire
cried, throwing her arms around my
neck. perhaps you don't like the
room after all I've told you. There's
another one as large and comfortable
just next to mine, but chose this be-
cause l knew how you loved flowers,
aud the view from the balcony is so
fine; but you shall not stay here"
Of course l was not willing to submit
to such an ignominious defeat, and lose
all my laurels at once. declared that
l would occupy that room. and no 9TH
er, whilst l was at Linwood.
~ knew you'd prefer it," Claire
said, kissing me, land I told Max so.
He said it would be pleasure to meet
a girl who wasn't forever screaming
and trembling at nothing, and he did
hope I'd try and initiate you a little.
Charlie said he didn't believe there was
a girl or woman in the world who
wouldn't crack her throat screeching
and lose her head in a moment Of
danger. He declared that if they re
quiet, it's because they're paralvzed by
terror. told him to wait and see nv
brave. stately Lady Margaret.
She slipped her arm through mine,
and we went down stairs aud outside
into the tlower-garden. Suddenly she
cried out:
"Look!-look at that tramp coming
up the walky'
A slouchy, morose-looking man was
walking slowly toward us, looking Gu
riously at the flowers and shrubberv.
Not q man-servant on the premises"
Claire whispered to me. AFTER din
ner to-day gave them permission to
60 to funeral several miles from here,
Oh, what shall we do?-and the over
seer is away. too, at the races"
l can't say that l am afraid of tramps
in broad daylight. but this fellow had
surly. sneaking look l did not like. 1t
wouldn't do, however, to let him see
that we were frightened, so whispered
to Claire to let me speak to him, for she
was shaking like Leaf.
"Mr. Gordon sent me here" he said,
not even touching his hat. I'm to do
some work for him, and he said I was
to stay ut the Overseer's."
II don't believe him." Claire whis-
pered. 'What does he want with such
q creaturep Max never sent him."
"Where did you see Mr.. Gordon?' I
asked.
AT the races. He told me to tell
the madam maybe he wouldn't be at
home tonight. I'm to stay at the over
seer's house," he repeated, in logged
.-..4
There's the overseer's house,"
gasped Claire, looking quite pale, and
pointing to low white building some
distance in the field. "Go to it, nv
good man, and dare say the overseer
will soon come in"
He slouched off through the dusk, for
it was now nearly dark, and as he passed
the vine under my win low. he stopped
and uttered q little chuckle of amused
establishment. l heard him mutter as
he moved of, swell. if that amt the
queerest affair of vine ever did seer'
This speech did not make much inn
preston on me at the time, for Claire
was getting quite unnerved, aud hur-
ried her in the house. A couple of her
colored servants, the house-maid and
old housekeeper, were there, and she
soon recovered from her panic and be-
came almost as lively as ever.
1.-The house fastens as securely as a
JAIL" she said, land if Max should
came home, he has his pass-key. I'll
keep Mima-the maid-in my room to-
night. If you shoxl get frightened.
Mag don't look so insulted you can
run down the corridor, and my room is
at tho and rDsv Lnoc, -