Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-04-07
Margaret nodded.

~
"No, not at all"
so, but you will. You don't
think the castle was haunted, eh ?"
ssCertainly not" answered Mar
garet, with still more decided en-
| phasis.
80, but it was. This castle is
out; all my governesses 60" said
the wierd little woman, nodding
her head :nysteriously.
Margaret was so confused and as
tonished by the calm assurance of
this assertion that she could think
of no commonplace that was strong
enough for contradiction, and half
afraid of her eerie companion, she
asked: "When do you go to bed,
my lady ?"
"When / am sleepy. / am not
sleepy tonight. Last night heard
some one walking about in the next
room at this time. l want to see if
they come back again."
'Fhey? Whom do you mean?
81 don't know, do you? Alison
says they are my ancestors. What
are ancestors ?''
AT this time creeping feeling of
fear that she could not quite con-
troll took possession of Margaret.
She glanced cautiously behind and
around her; even the strange shapes
that the spider-like legs of the fur
| niture took in the dim corners of the
large room filled her with vague,
unreasonable terror.
so, you are frightened ~ said the
child, in voice that was halfscorn-
full, half indignant.
This imputation Margaret stoutly
denied !; but in spite OF all her ef-
forts to appear indifferent, she per-
ceiVed that the keen mental sight
of her pupil had measured her
weakness, and despised her for it.
"TOuch the bell"
Margaret obeyed, and almost
Immediately an old woman ap-
peared.
"You may put me to bed now,
Alison. / am very much disap-
pointed" and, with the shadow of a
courtesy, she disappeared with her
attendant through one of the many
doors communicating with the par
lor in which they were sitting.
1t was not very pleasant Begin
ming, but better came of it than
Margaret hoped for. The dreamy,
superstitious child found kindred
spirit in her teacher. They soon
fell into a course of reading which
was as new and fascinating to Mar
garet as to the child. The library
was transacted for weird stories and
poems, and the little lady delighted
| in nothing so much as in hearing
her gOVerneSS read or recite such
morsels of haunted literature as the
"Ancient Mariner"
One night they had stood at the
window watching the great waves
of rising storm lash themselves
into foam and spray among the
T0UKs. The wind walled pitifully
the rain beat against the window
pane; it was dreary night.
"Come and read me about the
| Ancient Mariner again." SAID Julia,
seating herself upon the rug, and
clasping her hands around her
small knees. Margaret, nothing
10th, commenced in a low, meas
ured tone the WondrouS poem; but
feeling the child's eyes thrilling
! her into genuine belief of the
whole ghost story, she gradually
dropped her voice till its whispers
frightened even herself.
Suddenly she became aware of a
draught of colder air, and the next
moment of an influence altogether
strange and unfamiliar. The child
opened wider her great dark eyes,
and slightly nodded at Margaret.
In few moments her lips parted,
and she said, slowly: "LoOk up"
Margaret obeyed her mechanical
ly, and saW-yeS, she was sure she
saw-a wild white face peering in
at them, as lost spirit might gaze
lOngingly into some paradise he
could not enter.
$50 on! go on! You must go
on J"
Margaret, obedient to the child's
stronger will, finished the poem.
"DO you believe in the Castle of
Otranto' now?"
"No think not"
But from this time forward Mar
garet was kept in a constant and
restless uncertainty. The strangest
things were continually happening.
If she left book that she had been
reading open at one place the mark
would be removed to some other
part that generally in some way or
other referred to conversation
which she had believed to have
only been heard by Julia. The
chiId's clothing was changed and
removed, her curtains parted. and
their usual sitting-rOoms fitting
footsteps were often distinctly audi
BILE.
Nor was Margaret personally free
from annoyance. During her walks
with Lady Julia she was often GER
tain that the materials of her work.
basket had been re-arranged, and
on one occasion letter which she
was writing to her brother was
taken away, and during her alb
sence the following day mysterious
ly restored.
She began now to strongly sus-
pect human agency in all these an
noyances, and a dreadful fear
entered her heart; perhaps, for
some wicked reason or other, the
people around the little Julia were
desirOus of utterly unnerving and
destroying the child's mental pow
ers. 1t was possible that such a
wicked design accomplished might
place the inheritancein other hands.
She had, indeed, nothing on which
to base SO dreadful a supposition
but it was the only one she could
imagine that would account for a
series of events which, if supernatu-
raj, were strangely puerile, and
seemingly deficient in purpose.
"But if there is any conspiracy
against this innocent child L shall
discover it," she said almost angri-
ly. And forthwith dismissing all
idea OF supernatural influences or
interference, she set herself, with a
patient will, the task of meeting
this disturbing ghost, whoever or
whatever it may be.
Possibly ner purpose was OWNED
for no sooner had she made this res
olution than all annoyance disap-
peared. Week after week went
peaceably away, and their lives
passed in dream of strange peace,
filled with all the weird images
that poets for many century had
conjured up.
Early in the spring Julia had
dangerous fever and Margaret drew
very near the child in this crisis.
AS soon as it was possible to move
her, the east wing was deserted for