The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-12-21
A DEMONS WORK.

-
The Experiences OF Mr.. Hamilton
ana HIS Young Wife in a Haunted
House.
l have never felt like speaking of
those strange Incidents" said Paul Ma
comber as he lit the lamp in his cottage
by the sea, where he and two friends
were spending a long vacation, sand I
never shall feel like it,"
but Paul was there ghost in the
business?" One of his companions asked.
I'VE have heard all manners of stories
about you and the performances in that
OLD barn OF a house," he added with a
laugh.
Yes, and probably many things that
were not particularly to my credit" the
host rem trked. "But 1 don't believe
any man witch an ounce OF chivalry, to
say nothing about human sympathy,
could have done any differently from
what dill, 1t was a bad place for a fell
low, I'll admit, and 1 wish to heaven l
could have Ike It out of it. l was a hap
Ply go-lucky devil before that, but since
well, since
Don't set yourself up for a misan-
thrope, Paul" one of his frienus inter-
rupted; "a fellow who has preserved his
reputation for telling the best story All d
has ambition enough 10 beat everybody
else fishing is certainly net without his
pleasures"
~ wonder how n of you would feel
if you had oeen through what | have"
There was a singular S eculation in
Paul M~acomber's tone and 9 certain
drearine,s which correspondent we'll with
"Well, tell US first and then we'll tell
you," was the light reply.
81 will only make one stipulation"
said Paul, as he put some driftwood on
the fire. II don't care what you think
or what you say to each other, but Won
shall not ridicu!e or doubt my story to
my face"
why. Paul. l would trust the evidence
of your senses as quickly as | would nv
own" said II of the gentlemen.
THAT'S easy to say now" was the
quiet answer, but wait and see. l don't
know" he continued. show much Clarke
Hamilton had heard about the reputa-
ton of this house when he took his
young wife to live in it, but | am sure he
knew something. 1t was more like a
castle than q house. and the rent was a
nominal affair, which, l judge, he paid
or d,dn't pay, as he felt disposed. We
met at Il friends house in New Haven.
He was bright and entertaining, and
from his apparent popularity Isupposed
of Il nabob. There was some talk at the
dinner table about the house which he
had taken aS a residence and which was
situated in the suburbs OF the city"
"Of course, no one is superstitious
enough in this party to believe in
haunted hous -" Hamilton remarked
in the course of conversation. Every
body said no, of course, but one guest
suggested that ladies are sometimes
nervous about such matters" ooh, nv
wife doesn't know anything about it,
Gnd she isn't one of the nervous kind.
anyway" Hamilton replied. Alter this
Hamilton rather followed me up. We
played billiards together a few times
and We drove together, and g. last / ac-
copied an invitation to dine At his house
l give you my word of honor, bows, lha,
the :repu alton OF the place eve en-.
tered my head till | had been there al
least half an hour; but l had no soone,
crossed the threshold than an indie
scribable feeling of terror came over
me-. ! think | can say that l was never
,fraid in my life"
What we're you afraid OF" one of the
gentleman inquired.
lyon may well ask. Nothing that I
could see or feel, but l was as perfectly
conscious Of something behind me as /
am conscious o that you two boys are
in this slanty. l tell you there Was no
connection between what l had heard
IF the house INC this diaholical sensa.
ton" AS one Of his companions seemed
about to make a remark: "The house
was tastefully furnished, but not IN q
style to indicate any great wealth. !
did not meet Mrs. Hamilton until I was
presented to her in the dinning room.
L ON what her husband had said of
her from time to time l had
formed an idea of a large, rather
coarse, practical waman, who was
ut home in housekeeping and cared
nothing for society. Imagine my sur
prise to tind a tiny, delicate creature,
with great brown eyas and acomplexion
of childish fairness. She seemed to
have made a hasty toilet, for her hair
was a bit of blue ribbon tied near the
end, Her dress was a rich black silk,
with high ruff and full lace in the sleeves,
quite out OF character with the long braid
and generally childish appearance of the
hostess, Still I never cav a prettier or
o%uainter picture. The dinner was a
good one and decently served, but l was
sure that the waitress was the cook III a
clean apron. She was dismissed when
desert was brought or and then il
seemed a little more social, though there
was an evident restraint over all Of us.
II don't think the servant had been
gone more than five minutes when
there was the sound of heavy footsteps
in the chamber directly over our heads.
To make & noise like that a man would
lave to have soles an inch thick and
cast.iron heels.
"What is Mary doing up stairs?" Ham
ilton asked, with an expression Of conn
tenance which showed that he could be
sS1eI ON OCCASION. Mrs. Hamilton rams
tho bell. The servant appeared imme-
MYou may bring more coffee, Mary"
she said. So here was Mary, and there
was the noise still going on. This was
the lsdy's only answer to her husband.
II was certainly better than words.
ooh. / know what It is. "said Hamils
ton, Immediately recovering himself,
.'Its those heavy shutters banging back
ward and forward. They must have
had a prison or q lunatic asylum in
mind when they constructed this house.