Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-02-16
MY ADVENTURE IN GERMANY.

MY ADVENTURE IN GERMANY.
Travelling in a diligence from Got
tingen to Leipzig, my attention WA
arrested by the singular. ancien
appearance of four story dwelling
standing quite distance from tn,
street, and seeming to be uninhabite,l
L was on a tour of adventure, an,
attended only by my little maid Liza
Giving a signal for the driver to stop
motioned Liza to follow me after
alighted. Ever prompt to obey my
orders, she was in a moment beside
me, and the old diligence went rat
tllng on its way to Leipzig.
Liza" I said, Two will go anG
explore the contents of yonder Ole
house, and then have ample time tt
reach Leipzig before night by the
next coach"
True replied Liza. "But, Miss
Olivia, suppose the house is haunted
or it may be inhabited by vicious
people, and"
"That'll do. Liza: no more objec
tons. I'm bound to go"
And on we went, until We reached
the enormous old building. and after
some difficulty found an entrance.
The first room we entered was of
capaclous dimensions, with huge BAY
windows and chimney piece of
grotesque and costly workmanship.
which, like all other portions of the
house, bore marks of decay. The
ceilings We're also superbly carved
and must have once been elegant
From this room we wended our way
through the long halls, up the broad
stairway, and through diver, looms
OF various sizes. Some of the rooms
were furnished with quaint antique
furniture, while others were devoid
of furniture or ornament.
We fingered some time in room
on the third floor overlooking the
front portico. the walls of which were
decorated with several portraits, also
two or three faded and Worn oil paint
ings Of Swiss scenery. Why the
family portraits should be suffered to
hang there to decay was a source of
wonder to Liza and me.
We had now surveyed tho whole,
as we thought, and were about to
start to meet the afternoon stage for
Leipzig. when we were startled by
hearing the key turn in the lock of
the door. l Immediately sprang to
the door and tried to open it. but to
no purpose; we were held fast. Liza
was terrified. and begged piteously
to be released from our prison; but
no one answered. although we heard
footsteps and a demoniacal laugh in
the adjoining room. l opened a win
dow, and was half a mind to Jump to
the ground, but / knew if l did it
would be instant death to me, so |
sat down on an old sofa and beck
oned Liza to do likewise, really turn
ing comforter to the poor frightened
girl.
I'VE can do nothing for ourselves.
Liza" | said, ''but / think whoever
fastened us in this room will release
us. So keep up your spirits. dear
girl; we shall see Leipzig before
to morrow night"
In this soothing way l continued
to talk to Liza, until l was inclined
to believe what 1 was saying myself.
and l really laughed as 1 thought of
our odd position.
AS night came on, however, ] grew
hungry and impatient, and sincerely
wished had never seen the inside of
the huge old edifice that imprisoned
me. 1t was nearly morning before
either of Us closed our eyes in sleep.
Even if our minds had been free from
anxiety, We could not have slept for
the unearthly noises without. Such
groaning and screaming had never
heard before.
Truly, Liza, you were right when
you suggested that this house might
be haunted" L said. Il will never
say again do not believe the weird
old tales 1 have read of places like
this"
Liza did not reply; she had tainted:
her hands We're icy cold, and I feared
that she was dead from fright.
In such horrible place as this"
thought l, land alone with the deadw
Oh, what agony pierced my soul
as l sat chatting Liza's cold hands.
imploring her to speak once more TO
me. The night was dark: there was
no moon, and the few stars that were
visible gave faint light-just sulfi
cient to expose the deathly face of
my poor maid. She must have re
manned in this state almost an hour:
then at the booming of cannon in
the courtyard She made Il slight,
hysterical move In the course Of a
half-hour more Liza had recovered
her senses. and We sat condoling our
situation till at last we both fell
asleep. When we awoke the sun was
up, and all around lis was still as Il
church yard-nO sound save the
plaintive song of 4 bird that perched
itself on the portico as if to look upon
our misery, was heard. l arose and
Went to the door. trying with all my
might to open it: but it would not
yield.
Liza" | said. I'VE cannot remain