New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-30

order. When we arrived we found everything
ready and supper laid for us in a comfortable din
ing-rOOm. 1t was late, and we went to the rooms
prepared for us in the new wing OF the house. and
slept soundy The next day Helen wished to ex,
plOre the place. and we sent for Mrs. Jennings and
the KEYS. There were n number OF rooms almost
bare of furniture and the best the house contained
had been collected to furnish those prepared for
At the further end of the drawing room was door,
concealed by heavy velvet curtain. Helen laid
her hand on the handle. but Mrs. Jennings hurried
up to her. "Thats locked door. ma'am; that
don't lead powhere. it don't Don't Zee try to open
that my dear lady" aWhy not ~ asked my vito
with some surprise inc od woman woman changed ner
like, and was afraid you might hurt your fingers"
But If it is not door, why is there curtain hung
maybe. or to keep off the dIaught" said Mrs. Jcn-
nings cOnfnsedly. The draught from sham
door" laughed Helen. But the old woman hurried
away without saying more. Some days passed, and
began to feel quite at home and to an II any
alterations and improvements to he carried out in
the course of the summer. 1t was now the end OF
Nav, but the evenings still chilly. We were
sitting by bright wood fire in the drawing-rOOm
on the evening OF the 3lst. when the churcll-cock
began to strike 10. The church. as you hav3 seen
is nearly half mile distant but 1t has remark
ably loud and sonorous bell, that wc heard 1t as
distinctly asif it had been in the honSc AT that
moment icy gust Of wind swept through the
room, and q sound as if OF heavy body falling,
came from the further end, near the mysterious
a aT% was that so s saa @ E
whisper. l told her | thought it was something
falling in the room overhead, though heard
She was rcassured by my matter 0ftact answer, bat
still stood, holding my arm. till in few minutes
the same icy cold wind passed over us again, VIII
n strange sickly smell. / own that Il shuddcr ran
through me, though did not know why; ana my
wife was so terrified that she would not remain an
Obliged to 90 on business to Stanton. and only
returned III time for dinner noticed that Heirh
was pale and silent; and as S0on as the servants
not false door in the drawing-room. There must
he a small room there with a window ike tnls
end raised by two three broad steps from the rest
of the room $50 you have ben making invcStiga-
tions, Mrs. BluebeardS" said laughing. No;
have not been into the room. TO say the truth L
think should have been little frightened alone;
and, besides. | did not like to tell Mrs. jennings
that had found out that she had told me story
suddenly occurred to me that the large window
which corresponds to this one must he III some room
we have not vet seen. 1t closed with shutters;
and then thought of the false door in the drawing
room. | measured the walls by PAGES, and ma
there must be square room 90 aa and eSneTe Il
asked. Not tonight, please said Helen with
shivcr. Let us stay here tonight. And so We
did The next morning the sun shonc brightly. ana
NV wife seemed to have forgotten her fears. We
made an excuse to get the keys from Mrs. Jen-
mugs and after some difficulty for the lock was
very rusty, succeeded i'll penetrating INTO the
locked up rOOm 1t was Helen had imagined,
nearly square, and raised by two or three steps;
above the level OF the drawing room. lt contained
a heavy oak table with carved legs, which stood III
the centre few chairs and cabinet or tw0 OF sim,
liar workmanship all deeply coated with 'lust ana
cobwebs and was paneled with oak to about two
thirds of the height of the walls One picture that
of dark young woman in some foreign dress hung
over the high chimncypece gut dogs Ior turning
spite of tho forlorn state of neglect IN which we
found it, the room had cheerful home, IKE ar,
which at once took lleenS fancy. 10 make long
story short in spite of Mrs. Jennings fearful renon-
STANCES and the unwilllngncss OF all the servants
to have anything to do with the as W., We
called it occupied it rs siting-room during the
whole of June, without any ANNOYANCE. Oilce or
twice. as the clock struck 10. | was sensible OF %
kind of chill tor which | c0nld not account: ana,
CHANGING at Helen noticed that she turned pale ut
the same time. But we neither OF us mentioned tho
subject and before the end of the month had al
most forgotten that there were any suspicious CIR
cumstances connected with our favortc sitting
room. Of the occurrences OF the night OF the 3Oth
of June | will not speak. YOn wish to see and
Judge for yourself if | have decided rightly that
Rivngton Hall is not fit for human habltaton;
and have no doubt that you will he in position
TO form an opinion on the point after Tomorrow
night My poor Helen has, as you may sec never
recovered the shock she received that night ana
NAMED longer in that hateful house that we moved
here even before she ont of danger and a. soon
"a nossible we shall quit the ncghhorhnod forever
'But' said / as soon as Harry had thus brought
his communication to n close. have you thoroughly
sifted the matter, and satisfied Yourself that no
trick has been played on you =
of course | have. On the night of the 31st OF
July went alone without giving 2 hint OF my m
tentiOns to any human beng to the nan; wincn
mad remained empty and locked up from the day
we left it. carefully examined the drawing room.
through which only access to the square room
conld lie had sounded the panels the back of the
chimney the floor, every spot, iii fact, where any
one could possibly be concealed. linen locked
the door and waited
Precisely tho same scene was repeated. lon
will | have little doubt. witness 1t Tomorrow
night: and Will accompany you. think you Will
be satisfied that have not lightly gwen way 10
groundless fear -
unlike his former CHEEKY hght-hearted sell. that
% i'm
to undergo again for the gratiicalOn OF my sccpt-
cal curiosity, ordeal that, to him. was evidently
of no little suffering But my Intense ucsii9 10
witness the phenomena. of whatever nature they
might be- which had 80 deeply impressed my friend,
got the better of all INV scruples ana looked ior-
ward with impaticnco to the following night.
In the morning Harry told Mrs. Danvcrs that he
had accepted invitation for us to shoot with 2
friend of Mr.. East3ns who llvea several miles S Oh,
turned whittier than ever If possible. and exclaimed
20 Harry! have YOU forgotten what night 1t IL =
Come come, little woman, he said, must not
have you give way to uIicaslncs+ we WIN ASK
Mary Talbot to come and stay with you. am sure
you would not wish to deprive Buriey OF 4 goou
tCertainiy not she answered in her sweet sad
voice.
l felt like great brute but as she was not sup
posed to know that was aware OF tnc strang ''
events that had 50 deeply shaken her. conld only
saw few commonplace words, hoping that shouid
not be allowed to cause her any inconvenience ana
Onr Shooting that day was little more than pre-
text and after an early dinner we lett Kings Lea
Some wine IN a hamper. and were besides pro-
vidcd " iih IA lamp, packet of candles, and mate
rails for making fire. Harry brought WIN MN
the KEYS of the Hail. and our arrival Easton sent
away the dog cart with instructions to tho servant
to be at the stabe-entrance. which was close to tho
road, at half past 10 o'clock-an order which the
man received with evident unwillingness.
Passing through IL large entrancc-hall, anu along
q broad passage lighted at tho end ny window
tered the drawing room. and through 1t the scene
of action The room was Harry had described IL
"A sunaIe chamber well furnished with handsome
carved oak and raised by two broad steps above