New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-03-09
hear me above their own din. I did so.
and knew no more until you reused

hear me above their own din. I did so,
and knew no more until you reused
me-"
When she had ended, said: "Mary,
dear, do you not think you must have
dropped off to sleep whilst waiting for
me, and your gloomy surroundings
caused that very ugly dream? You
know it has been proved that one min
ute's doze suf1ices the soul for vagaries
which, in our waking hours, would take
weeks to perform
NO." she replied; II did not sleep
one moment. Besides, should I sleep,
DO you think, in broad day, especially
after l saw the old woman vanish out of
my sight?'
"Then you do believe in ghosts'' l
laughed out.
Indeed, I do not; but it is all SO puz.
cling"
''And you are certain she did not
come out again?''
''Quite positive; for did not take
my eyes off the door until was in the
room, and walked into the large fire.
place, and looked to- see if she had hid
herself there. But it was all clear up
to the sky.''
Well, would believe in it's being
haunted rather than in its being den
OF wholesale murderers. Were our
town seaport or near the sea, should
think it was haunt for smugglers, who
bad bad scuffle with the coastguard.
and had brought home their dead to
give them burial. Then I thought of
the resurrectionists or body-snatchers;
but there was no medical school in the
neighborhood, or l would have put it
down at once to one of those worthies
The more l. thought, the more l felt
convinced it was the result of my
Cousins disordered imagination, from
being left all alone at mig htfall in such a
ghostly building.
''After a while I said: "Whist is out
of the question tonight; no ones
thoughts would be in his or her hand;
so, if Tom would like a stroll, am
ready for one.''
He eagerly accepted the invitation;
but my wife and Mary both sprung up
and intercepted us on our way to the
door, saying should not 20 out. She
knew I meant to 60 to the House; and
if l did, she would go too. I pooh
poohed the idea of going there, espe-
cialiy after what Mary had told us.
"You don't believe word have
told you-I am sure you do not; can
see it by the twinkle of your eyes!' she
exclaimed-"An don't you 90, Tom,
let me beg of you'' (Mary had a special
interest in Tom); "and then he won't
care to 90 alone"
So Tom promised, fully meaning to
keep the promise, I am sure; and we
were allowed to pass.
AS soon as we got outside, I said:
"Well, Tom, I did not promise, nor do
wish to break yours; but I am off to
the Dukes l have the key in my
pocket, and wish to satisfy myself; to-
morrow may be too late.''
."Then you believe Mary's story?"
he said.
"Well, I am bound to believe it; but
it is not murderers or ghosts, and I'll
find out before I come back. But don't
you 90 in until I return, or you will be
sending my wife after me, and all will
depend on quiet.''
"Nay," he said; eff you 20, will.
No great harm in breaking promise of
that kind; and it will be forgiven when
I plead anxiety for your safety"
"Agreed," replied. s.But we must
have light. And if I 90 into the
kitchen for my bulls eye, It will create
suspicion there, ana the news will be
carried into the parlor.''
81 have one at my lod gings," he said;
''and it's on our road; we can call and
get it,
We accordingly did, and Tom sug-
gested our taking pair of pistols, in
case of need. l firmly believe Tom
hoped for brush with the villains.
Arriving there, we walked around
the house before entering it, and peep
ed into every nook we could find. At
last, we directed our glance to the upper
regions, and about halfway up the
circular tower we thought we could
discern light. This was the wing
Mary had chosen for her sketch. Tom
could see it too. So we determined on
entering, and if possible solving the
riddle. AS we reached the second
landiEg-it was noble staircase with
its carved balustrade-we heard voices
and humping as of beating heavy SUBJ
stances against the walls. When we
came to the story whence we saw the
light on the out side, Tom produced
his lantern to find the door, for 80 well
did it fit that we could see no crevice
of light to guide us; but all was dark.
We entered; but it was quite empty,
and the tapestry being stripped from
the walls, showed nothing but the
rough stones. All was now so quiet
that it really seemed as though we had
disturbed demon phantoms at their
revels.
I said to Tom: "What can be- thu
meaning of this?''
When just as he was going to reply,
the noises commenced again, and we
stepped outside and listened attentive
~. At last Toni suggested: "One of
these inches, which looked paneled out
for statues, must be door,
We examined the one carefully next
the room we. had just left, and sure
enough came upon secret spring.
Tom put his light out of sight and put
his hand on his pistol. very gently
pressed the spring, when 1t noiselesslv
opened sufficient for us to see into the
room. There was the old hag still at
her brew, and one man with q knife
dismembering the limbs of his victim.
He stopped his work to address some
beings out of our sight; and we, having
seen enough, quietly closed the door,
darted down stairs, and soon reached
home. Tom was always very pale,
with large dark eyes; and when he en-
tered the room where my wife and Mary
were, his look told in moment where
we had been.
YES" I said in reply to their
queries; 1--WE have been there, and
have seen enough to appal the stoutest
heart" Here caught Toms well dis
sembled look of alright, and could con-
tain myself no longer; 1 flung myself
on the couch and roared with laughter.
l laughed so long that my wife began
to think my brain was turned. She
looked at Tom, but he kept his counte-
nance, and continued his idiotic stare.
At last, seeing they were really fright:
The OOrDSeS were MOS sca16od ,,ioe.