The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-04-21

After this everything progressed as
it should till the end Of tho piece; but
ut its very termination a sad catastrophe
occurred. The stick of wood that sup
ported the curtain at the top gave way
and fell with crash upon the piano,
which was placed in the proper posi-
ton for an orchestra. PAYNE Wilkin-
son was knocked over backward, and
when lifted up had a dark wound upon
his forehead, whence the blood was
flowing profusely.
l had just left the stage with Lucy
Freye. and we were in the adjoining
room-our green-room we heard
the crash. Madge Holton rushed in
the next moment and said that the
curtain had fallen, and MIR. Wilkinson
was hurt. Lucy was about TO dart
out of the door, when she stopped,
turned pale as death, tottered and faint
ed in my arms as prettily as if it had
been part of the play!
threw some water in her face and
fastened to tell Madgeto be d screet.
"There is something wrong with the
poor child here" said /. tapping my
chest on the left side, land it won't do
to have her laughed at 1t would kill
her."
"What, does she love Wilkinson?''
"Don't ask questions. She tainted
because he was hurt, and that is more
than YOU would do if l were killed."
Very likely, sir. Hush-she is
coming to herself"
We saw Lucy safely through her
fainting fit and then investigated the
extent of the pianist's injuries. He
was hurt but little, as the curtain had
prevented the beam from falling very
heavily; and Paul, Selling on the cir
cumstance with professional avidity,
made him appear in tableau got up
on the spur Of the moment. With the
blood-stainei cloth still about his fore
head, a gold-lac jacket. high boots
and musSe ct. he made a splendid Dying
Brigand; and Sallie Creamer, with her
hair down her back, and an ebony
crucifix in her hand, was excellent az
his despairing wife. There was one
little absurdity about the picture. how
ever. for the dying brigand caught the
whispered words Of two young village
maidens in the front row of seats:
Isn't he handsome?''
"Oh, splendidr'
The result was a blush such as verv
few dying men could muster.
The events of the evening proved
most conclusivelv. to those who knew
the position of affairs. that Lucy Freye
was only waiting for Payne Wilkinson
to speak the first word, and that PAYNE
was only waiting to be sure that she
would listen to It. The thousand and
one little signs of affection that lovers
unconsciously betray had escaped him
on every occasion that had brought
them together; and we, who soberly
talked the matter over, agreed that If
anything could occur to expose their
feelings mutually, it would be a god
send to both.
am perfectly well aware that it was
none of our business. knew that we
had no right to mention their feelings
or to suggest any different course than
the one they pursued. l acknowledge
that we were very culpable in this, rs
well as in our subsequent behavior-in-
deed, so entirely am l convinced that
we acted wrongly that do not intend
to make the slightest apology or excuse.
l only invite the utmost condemnation
OF the reader, and sum up my reply into
eight simple words:
"What are you going to do about it?''
We all sat at breakfast. few morn
ings after the play, and Wilkinson de-
scribed Il singular noise he had heard
during the night.
1t was the ghost, without doubt, ~
said John Legion; II used to hear it
very often walking about upstairs.
Don't you recollect, George, the night
when we heard it together?'
nodded assent.
1.-The story goes" continued Legion,
"that the first owner of the house was
a woman, whose husband ill-treated her
until she died. She died. they say, in
the west chamber, where Paul sleeps
Paul made gesture of alarm" and
is fond of taking posthumous walks
through the whole of the second story.
My wife here believes the house to be
really haunted; but then, you know, a
ghost makes house respectable, and
these women are great sticklers for re-
spectability."
"Why, never heard of any ghosts
mere, SAID Lucy Freye.
mo; you are so timid, my dear, that
! have never mentioned it before to
YOU"
"But seriously" said PAYNE, 81 did
actually hear steps in nv room in the
hall-steps like bare feet. apparently,
and distinct enough to wake me up"
Il have often heard steps in the
lall above" said 1; ..but wooden
houses are apt to be full of odd
noises"
"Has this ghost been SEEM" asked
some one.
Il don't know about that. l think
Mrs. Stapleton once saw something
white up there-didn't you Mrs. S.?h
said Mrs. Legion.
ayes. l thought did,"
1.-The story says that the ghost can
be seen at any time when it IS heard,''
continued Legion; land if were super.
stitious, might confess to having seen
something little strange myself
"Why. how romantic!'' exclaimed
PAYNE. Il did not expect the luxury
of haunted house when I came here.
l must fathom this mystery.
The night following this converse
ton we retired somewhat early; but
the house was alarmed, little afte,
midnight, by the pianist. who knocked
at all the doors, AMI desired us to assist
him in securing the ghost. He had
been awakened by footsteps, and had
imagined that he distinguished white
figure going up the hall when he looked
out of his door. Nobody else had
heard any noise whatever, and all
search was fruitless. Much discussion
ensued. at breakfast, as to the pos.
sihility of such phenomena, ard many
grave theories were advanced in ex-
PLANTATION of the mystery. 1t was set
tied. beyond doubt, that all the doors
and windows of the lower floor were
fastened; that the servants had all gone
to bed. and slept soundly; that nobody
but Payne had heard or seen anything,
and that he had certainly heard distinc,
footsteps. He was not perfectly sure
that he had seen the ghost. As he
looked out of his door, he fancied that