San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-06-22

into a small, uuDBcou'hho
by a single candle, which revealed u
man chained securely to the MOOR
bound hand AMI foot, and two others
Standing over him, enc holding some
heavy chains, while long, keen, cruel,
looking dagger cleaned IN the hand OF
the other. who, leaning over his victim
drove II three times in his heart, then
hastily unbound him, while the second
man secured the chains and weigats he
held 10 the body. They dragged him
ont Of the dungeon across the ball to o
window, lifted him over and released
their hold; and rs the body fell, the
heavy splash of waters mingled with
the changing chains. The evil looking
men turned away, secured the dungeon
door, and passed stealthily down the
stairs.
Nv power to follow had deserted me.
Ouiyering with horror, crouched close
TO the wall, and waited in the dark still.
ness for the day, which it seemed wonld
mover dawn. After what seemed weeks
of waiting, a few feeble rays OF morn.
ing light penetrated the darkness about
me. / never knew until then how to be
thankful for day.
I arose and looked about me, deter
mined to examine the place. 1t was, or
rather had been, q fine two story build
ing, richly and tastefully furnished,
built on the banks of river, with the
windows from the back opening over
the water. Viewed by the light OF day,
which exposes all defects, all was old.
The rich hangings were covered with
dust, worn and moth.eaten, the costly
old furniture black with dust and age.
Twisted the room in which 1 had
tried to pass the night, and where the
ghosts had paid me their visit, hoping
to find footsteps, for / am no believer
in the supernatural, and could 1 have
found footprints, would have believed
myself the victim of cruel practical
Joke. But there was no trace OF foot
prints except my own. =,
passed up the stairs, through the
hall to the door of the dungeon where
I had witnessed the murder. 1t was
locked. The hinges and lock were
rusty with age and disuse, and looked
as if they had not served the purpose
of man for score of years or more.
crossed the hall to the window, out
of which the phantems had thrust their
victim. 1t was closed, but the sill and
hall floor were stained with blood. That
was sufficient. I knew there had in
bygone days been some horrible tragedy
enacted here, and that had seen it re-
enacted by phantoms. :,
hastily caught my horse, mounted
and rode away, determined to make
some inquiries concerning this place.
After few hours ride I entered
small town, and stopped at an inn for
refreshments and what information l
could acquire relating to the place 1 had
left.
I learned from my host, a pleasant
old gentleman who delighted in relat-
ing the story to me, that twenty years
ago that was the finest place about, and
was owned by wealthy old gentleman
with two sons, both grown to the state
of manhood. They were wild, reckless
men, fond of the drinking saloon and
the gambling room, and being the old
sole heirs, at his death
would inherit all his vast wealth.
Growing tired waiting for the death
of their father, and their gaming debts
pressing heavily upon them, they i'm
prisoned their father, so as to use his
money more freely; but, fearing his
would be discovered and
they punished, determined to take his
life, and thereby rid themselves OF the
fear of the punishment which his dis
covery would bring to them.
On dark, stormy night he was
stabbed by the eldest, and his body
sunk by weights attached to it to the
bed of the river.
The perpetrators of this base crime
were detected and hanged.
Since then no one will take the
place, as it is haunted by the father and
sons, and whoever enters the house sees
the tragedy re-enacted by phantoms..
It had been twenty years since the
place had been honored by visitor,
until I stopped there. That was my
first acquaintance with supernatural
beings, and I do not care to cultivate 1t.