Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-05

mirrors producing tin figures which have
ffiGhtened 20 many; but the brain that de-
signed this means has not stopped here.
Mr.. Johnston assures me that he more
than once saw the spirit of Davis wife.
We must discover how that was possible.
am convinced that the unfortunate lady
will be made to appear to us very soon.
If she does, we must be ready to receive
her. Charlie, You and Edward slip quietly
into the breakfast room to sleep, but see
that you sleep lightly. If You hear the
cellar door open, keep quiet; but after the
ghost has passed up stairs secure the door
and steal after her. Mollie and will be
ready to receive her up stairs"
Night came; my programme was car
ried out to the letter, and to my intense
satisfaction the spirit of Mrs. Davis ap-
peared.
IcannOt even now repress shudder as
recall the figure which stood in the little
blue room that night confess my hair
stood on end then and my blood turned
cold. 1t was the figure of tall woman
dressed in white, with CHASTITY cut across
her throat. which gaped fearfully in the
the gaslight of that scintillating little
room. never wish to see a look more
horrible than glowed in her wild black
ewes.
Knowing as 1 did that the boys had cut
off retreat, whispered to Mollie-
Don't be frightened; it's only woman
masquerading." ,.,|
IL sprang from my bed-the figure did
not stir. Of course the real cnlprit was
not in the blue room, but in the parlor.
and any attempt to seize her ON my part
would be useless. l rushed into the hal
and shouted: boys, catch her -
In the flash of an eve something more
tangible than air sounded from below.
The haunter knew the house better than
we, and would have escaped US after all If
Edward had not sprung down the stairs.
stationed himself at the cellar door. and
seized her Just as she came down the SER
wants staircase, Charlie and 1 were al
most instantly on the spot, and brave Mol
lie was not far behind.
1t approved to be young and handsome
woman-in short, just whom expected
Mrs. Madden.
Beaten in her hideous game, exposed,
disgraced, she never for one moment lost
her courage.
49, she said in broken English, $50
the game is up. You are brave men-I
wish Madden was as brave, I'd not have
failed. You. madam" to MOllie. ''are
the only woman. have seen who is not a
cowardly fool''
In the morning we sent for Mr.. John
ston and MIR. Madden. The unfortunate
husband crouched and begged like SPAN
iel; but his wife showed no sign of con-
triton.
AT first MIR. johnson was determined to
let the law have its way but at last con-
sented to let the matter drop, upon Mr..
Madden's taking solemn vow to leave
the place and modest him no more.
In another week nearly every mirror
had been taken from the house. Some
were concave hence the size of the fig
ures. But the greatest discovery was the
rejecting glasses in the ceiling, that were
not hardly to be seen, but which aided
much in producing the illusions which had
driven II tenants from the house, and re-
duced it to one-half its value.
Mr. johnson was as good as his word.
For five years lived in his house with
Mollie and the little ones, Edward and
Charlie-five quiet, peaceful years-and
Mr.. johnson tells me that he still considers
himself my debtor, since my discovery
not only restored his property to its real
value, but his wife to health and his boy
to courage.