The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-11-10
Select STORY.
THE EAST WING.

From the AfgOftdHf.
| here relate the story of a dream and
its effect. The cause will probably be ac-
counted for in years to come, when dreams
will be considered rational subject Of
conversation It may be read with inter
est by those who frequented San francisco
society in early days, as the actors were
movers in the little circle that then existed
The house in which the events took
place stands on the north side of Clay
Street Hill. Since | lived there (ten years
ago. the place has been remodeled; but IN
those days it was dreary looking edifce,
and the street was cut through to only a
block beyond, and was unpayed, which
made it very rocky and rough looking for
a place which was considered quite fine
for those days. Moreover, the house had
been standing there fifteen years when !
went into it, making it seem quite like an
old family residence. So no one thought
it at all strange that there should be both
a ghost and a history connected with it.
As | said before, after [ left the whole
place was remodeled, and, / should have
added, particularly the east wing. This
part of the house once had windows, and
was entirely covered with running vines,
and almost hidden by the broad spreading
branches of an old tree-a tree you would
expect to see in graveyard, sheltering a
tomb, but certainly not in the garden OF a
family residence. And, indeed, it used to
seem to me as if the eccentric person who
lived there had chosen to attach to his
home the last resting place of the family
bones
To me, at least, who knows the history
of the place, and had even been one of the
actors who have given the neighborhood a
dark reputation, this corner of the house
is tomb, and can never be made to look
like anything else.
Before going further must state some
uninteresting events in my own life, the
most painful of which was the sudden and
mysterious disappearance of my mother
before l was yet two years old. My faith
er's life seemed ruined by this loss, and,
regardless of the fact that his only child
would be left alone if he did not try to live
for her, he seemed willing to die, and can
only remember him as an invalid for whom
I felt some awe and a great deal of respect:
and whom never for a moment, even after
his death, could possibly disobey.
The house in which | lived was some
distance over the sand hills from the one
of which write; but from my nursery
window I could see distinctly the old Clay
Street barn-as l then delighted to call it
And when became weary of Watching the
bay, or the ships sailing through the Gold
en- Gate, or the fog, which, to nay imagina
tive mind, seemed like some huge genit
that would at last take me up and along
with it, | would turn my eyes to the ole
house on the hill, and weave strange stories
to myself about the dark corners and weirC
rooms which felt sure formed its interior
It's owner, John Finger, was weekly
visitor at our home, and was, with the ex
ception of Briggs, my fathers lawyer anc
my subsequent guardian, the only person
who ever sat at table with us in my faith
er's house. From childhood l felt an in
stinctive fear of this person, and, much tt
my fathers disgust, | always insisted upor
running away whenever he appeared.
can remember yet the awful thoughts
that used to come to me whenever, while
standing at my window hugging my doll
I would see him come out and shut the
door behind him. 1t was the particular
manner in which he did this that frighten
ed me, for it always seemed to me tha
something or some one held it on the IN
side, for he would frequently reopen it ant
shut it again, as if he were angry. Blu
perhaps the door was heavy or [ fanciful
but l always held my doll little closer
and would whisper:
oI'd rather be carried off by the fos
than be shut up in that house -wenldn1
you, dear ?"
As | became older, the fear actually
grew upon me that some time, in some in
explicable manner, | should wake up ano
find myself shut in behind that heavy door
and, at last, when my father died and lef
In his will the wish that | should marry
Mr.. Finger, it seemed quite natural to thinl
of him as my husband, though the idei
was as horrible as ever.
On my seventeeth birthday, my guardian
came to me, and said
"Alice, my child, it is quite time for yol
to begin to think of your marriage. Shal
we set the fifteenth of November for tn
wedding day."
[ said eyes" in my usual quiet way, an(
then was again alone with my Thoughts
and fears. As the day drew near became
more reconciled, perhaps owing to the fac
that being woman, could not feel in
different toward an event which woul,
bring me so many new dresses and bonnets
and our old home really seemed quite gay
with all its furniture draped in bright col
ored articles of clothing, which were throw
upon any convenient chair and table durin;
the exciting hours of packing
Still, when the morning actually arrived
/ awoke, feeling very solemn and yer.
lonely, and was more glad than sorry t
hear the rain falling upon the leaves of
tree near my window. | arose, and afte
breakfast which was too frightened t
eat, went with Briggs and a servant t
church, where l met and married Johl
Finger. And the only part of the servic
I remember, and which will always seem
me portion of the marriage ceremony,