Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-07-29

we We're all at that happiest time o
HE, between seventeen and twenty-five
We were all old friends. had known on,
| another from childhood. and were in tn,
widest spirits: many innocent firta
lions were being carried on, with mCct
discussion about orr partners for thu
forthcoming ball. and we were, indeed
q very happy party, whilst Mr.. and Mrs
Franks were kind and iadulgen: to {
fault TO young people.
IL was large. rambling old house
the rooms opening one out of the other
with unexpected doors in the walls, con
cealed by beng papered. leading W
narrow staircases to other rooms never
inhabited, Eirdly ever entered. Foul
bedrooms opened one into the other in
this way, large and curlousiy shaped
and In these four rooms all we girls were
located--Seyen of Us. 1t was a narrow
wing of the house, some of the windows
facing the lawns and strawberries, some
overlooking courtyard, into which
opened the kitchen and the dairy. Ny
readers must forgive me If this desclip.
ton seems tedious, but it is necessary
IN order better to understand the rest OF
my story.
The night of the ball arrived; as many
as two hundred members of the sur.
rounding families. from far and near
came: the arrangements were perfect
and dancing was kept up with much
spirit to very late, or rather to a very
early hour. will remember that we saw
the last of the guests off in broad day
light and that some of Us preferred hav-
ing tea and A stroll In the garden in the
lovely morning air, to seeking our beds
at all. We were a very popular Set of
young people, and bail succeeded ball
In the neighborheod, all given in our
honor; and our kind host and hostess in
sisted upon our ;prOlonging our visit to
participate III ali the gayetie5 OF the
season.
1t was the evening preceding one on
which q ball was to be given about five
miles distant: II dress maker was to
come III the evening to look at our dress
es. and by putting new bows and flow
ers, to freShen them up for the occasion.
We had just finished dinner, at about s
O'Clock, and were chatting over dessert.
when Il servant came to tell Nora and
Bah that Miss Sexby was ready to try
on their dresses. They Immediately
went to her, and in few minutes fol-
lowed them up stairs, to see what they
were having done. 1t was a wide, hand
some staircase, terminating in Il long
corridor. off which opened most of the
principal bedrooms, halfway up, at the
turn of the stairs, was high painted
window.
Invent up in the dark. and was sur
prised to see, standing by the window, a
M n, apparently in uniform, with /.
Shnrt mil <,lnnL rcl.
over one shoulder. As l went on this
figure seemed to vanish, and distinctly
heard the shutting and opening of two
doors at the end of the corridor. leading
into some of the vacant rooms. thought
it might possibly be trick played ON
me by some Of the young Iuen in the
house. so returned to see who was alb
sent, but they were all there, in the din
ing room. Il procured a candle, and
again went up to the girls, making no
remark on wha. had seen until the
dressmaker had gone, when l told Nora.
She turned quite pale, made me repeat
my story. and then told US she had seen
the same figure, in the same position.
and in the same place. Of course. we
were much laughed at, and no one would
believe Il word of our story.
We went to bed early that night, hav-
ing late hours In prospect for tho NOR
row. We girls were all talking and
laughing in the first of the four rooms |
have already described. In the midst of
our merriment there came suddenly a
crash, so loud and fearful that We
thought every plate and dish in the
was followed by the sound Of heavy
,ka1 ola 80
across the stone yard, and a long piteous
up in his kennel just outside the dairy
another. The noise had been heard in
all parts of the house; for MIR. and Mrs.
Franks came to our door to know what
was the matter. and we heard the young
men and the servants moving. As no
reason could be assigned for the distur-
bance, it was suggested tha3 Harry and
Bah, with one of the men-servantS.
should go down and sec what had caused
SO much noise. They were gone some
time, but could throw no light upon the
mystery when they returned. Nothing
was broken, nothing even displaced; but
Leo seemed much terrified, and reluc-
tant to be left in bis kennel. We all tried
to be brave, and separated to our differ
tnt rooms.
The next night was the ball at Yoking,
and we did not return until day was
breaking: we were all too weary to talk
ABOUT the previous night'ssdventure.
The following night, at about twelve
O'Clock, We were all aroused by the same
mysterious crashing sound, a still more
decided dragging of chains, mixed with
piercing shrieks, and howl upon howl
from Leo. We were terribly alarmed:
Nora tainted dead away; we called loud
ly to the boys and pale and trembling.
no one would venture upon a second
visit of inspection. 1t was impossible to
return to our beds, and we waited i'm
patiently for daylight. The subject was
much discussed in the morning, and Mr..
Franks determined that some means
should be taken to find o2t who or what
was causing so much alarm and discom-
fort. 1t was at last resolved that the
gardener should that night keep watch
in the kitchen, that be should have a
gun ready loaded, which he was to fire
if IN need OF assistance; he was strong.
powerful man, and laughed NJ the idea
of any mystery, but thought there might
be tramps about who for some reason
were trying to alarm the family. We
were all SO nervous that, when night
came, for oae fatty refused to go alone
to my room: which was the last of the
four have mentioned: so we girls deci-
ded to sit mp together until after the
hour at which we had been disturbed on
the two previous occasions. AS the hour
approached we were joined by other
members Of the family; it seemed that
all were feeling restless and uneasy, and
not without reason.
Just as the clocks were pointing to
midnight the most unearthly scream
rang through the air, the same dragging
of chains. and the piteous howls of our
poor dog. II was too much to bear, and
those who were braves: and strongest
amongst us had enough to do in attend
ING to those who were utterly Frustrated
by al Urn. We listened, aud expected
the agreed-on sign from the gardener;
but rs all Was again quiet. We imagined
he had not found 1t necessary to sum-
mon help.
At daylight the servants, with Mr..
Franks and Harry, At once sought the
gardener TO hear his report of the night.
They found in the yard. still chained to
-. Lou.al tho dosv 3aa1f And in the