Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-02-18

simpleton am 10 lot IL all out! But
there's no use in making n mystery of
IL, and then 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 q mouse. l 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 was likely to realize my
foolish wish, couldn't say that par
ticularly enjoyed tho prospect. But l
hada character for bravery TO support
n very incon fenient thing I've found it
and IL wouldn't do to show the white
feather; so quietly said: 'ir'
"a real haunted room, Petitep Hon
or bright now, is it the genuine article,
or humbugp" s,tt,..,, ,ls.e yd
swell, it was the room of Max's
grandmother. She was n 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 wentto his mother s
room. He said a few bitter, reproach-
full words to her, and then shot himself
before her eyes. She never got over
the shock, and became almost imbecile.
"Day after day she would sit Mt 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 s
Max's biother, always sleeps in this
room when he visits us, and he says he
has never heard a sound" If1 -
"oh,i then he's driven the ghosts
awayr' laughed.
II 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 rs if 1 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 go. He'll try
and come back tomorrow, and dc
want you to like each other so much.
ag i 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.
tion aside, it doesn't make room more
cheerful, does it, to know that suicide
and heartbreak have occurred initp
4. nh hnu lnnRn (los,.a
cried, throwing her arms around my
neck. r'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 1 chose this be-
cause l knew how you loved flowers,
aud the view from the balcony is sc
fine; but you shall not stay here"
.Ofcourse was not willing to submit
to such an ignominious defeat, aud lose
all my laurels at once. l declared that
Iwould occupy that room, and no 9th
er, whilst was at Linwood.
"I knew you'd prefer it." Claire
said, kissing me, "and l told Max so
He said it would be pleasure to NEE
girl who wasn't forever screaming
and trembling at nothing, and he die
hope l. d try and initiate you little
Charlie said he didn't believe there wa
girl or woman in the world wht
wouldn't crack her throat screechins
and lose her head in a moment O
danger. He declared that if they'r,
quiet. it's because they're paralyzed by
terror. told him to wait and see m,
brave, stately Lady Margaret"
She slipped her arm through mine
and we went down stairs and outsid,
into the flower-garden. Suddenly sht
cried out:
#" Look!-look at that tramp coming
up the swalk!i,
A slouchy, morose-looking man wa.
walking slowly toward us, looking Gu
riously at the flowers and shrubbery.
mot rnan-servant on the premises,
Claire whispered to me. "After din
ner to-day 1 gave them permission t,
go to funeral several miles from here
Oh, what shall we doP-and the over
seer is away, too, at the races"
can't say that l am afraid of tramp
in broaa daylight. but this fellow had
surly. sneaking look did not like.
wouldn't do, however, to let him Sc
that we were frightened, SO whispere
to Claire to let me speak to him, for sh
was shaking like leaf r II
"Mr. Gordon sent me here" he said
not even touching his hat. Pm to d
some work for him, and he said l wa
to stay ut the overseer -
~ don't believe him." Claire whis
pered. "What does he want with sue
a creatureP Max never sent him."
Where did you see Mr.. Gordon?n
asked. ~ III A
"At the races. He told me to te
the madam maybe he wouldn't be q
home tonight. I'm to stay at the ovel
seer s house." he repeated, in dogge
manner. 4To-t-+-.l gsoi
"There's the overseer's house,
gasped Claire, looking quite pale, an
pointing to o low white building som
distance in the field. "Go to it, m
good man, and dare say the oversee
will soon come in" "riH g 5bufIui
He slouched off through the dusk, fc
it was now nearly dark, and as he passe
the vine under my window. he stoppe
and uttered little chuckle OF amuse
astonishment. heard him mutter {
he moved off, ".Well. if that amt th
queerest affair OF vine ever did see!
This speech did not make much in
preston on me at the time, for Clair
was getting quite unnerved, and / hui
ried her in the house. A couple of he
colored servants, the house-maid an
old hopsekeeper, were there, and sh
soon recovered from her panic and bt
came almost as lively as ever.
The house fastens as securely as
JAIL" she said. ''and If Max shoul
came home, he has his pass-key. r
keep Mima-the maid-rin my room t,
night If you should get frightene.
Mag don't look so insuIted you Ca
run down the corridor, and my room
at the end, you know. Come. and |,
me show you how to unfasten the do,
from the outside. It's new-fashione
spring, and If you don't know IL
secret. you never could get in. and
you should be frightened, I'd nev,
have the courage to get up and ope
it for you."
l laughed. but she dragged me III
stairs, and to crafty her / mastere
the secret Of the wonderful spring.
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