Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-11-15


ever died In the room r inquited
Charles Bathurst, who listened
opened -moutIled.
sAh IL would be interestin4 io
know that. said the professor, hD
seemed perfectly aggrieved by Nlie
story.
The old housekeeper mi&ht
know. She has lived with he
Crowests all her life. Ifshe ha I'D
gone 10 bed we will ask her fo
step In said Mr. Palmer, rims
the bell.
A few minutes later the oil "
was clrtseying in the d0orw II. /.
rather abashed by the comm s.sv
and coughing atfhe tobacco slns. 1.
The professor Immediately assai
her with questions. tackled her.
to use her own expression, with
the object of proving that the story
was a complete myth. But the
housekeeper stood upon her digni-
~ and, as she evidently regarded
the haunted chamber as n sort of
a family distinction, she did her
best TO maintain its character.
She was forced to admit. however.
that no one had ever died there
within her recollection: that she
had neEer seen a ghost nor been
witness to any supernatural event
IN connection with the room. and
finally, she was brought to confess
that the room was unaceountably
damp, which was the chief reason
OF its not having been utilized.
There is no mystery whatever.
you see, said the professor, address
sing the company when the house
keeper had left the room. This is
an instance of how ghosts are Gre
ated. A room is shut up for sani-
tary reasons. It remains closed
for a year or two, and then some
idler begins to wag his tongue and
gives wind TO cock-and- bull sto-
ry, which soon develops into q le-
gend. ! hope this will be the last
we shall hear of there being a
haunted room at Crowest. You
ought to make one of the servants
sleep there, Palmer, and so put an
end 10 this nonsense
i should never get a servant to
sleep in the room,' said. Mr.. Pal
mer, unless, at all events, some
one would sleep there first, so as
to break the spell. / really don't
think it is worth while making a
fuss about
Perhaps the professor would
like to try the experiment. sug-
gested one of the company. signif-
icantly.
i would, without hesitation, said
the professor, with evident SINGER
ity, only l confess that at my age,
even in the cause of civilization
and the enlightenment OF my fell
low creatures, shrink from sleep
ing in damp rom. Rheumatism
makes a man coward in such
case
i will sleep there. By Jove
| should like to- cried young Ba-
thurst, eagerly. I'd give anything
to see ghost. I've never had a
real adventure in my life, and this
will be something 10 talk about at
mess, at all events
Pooh Nonsense. my bow said
IMr. Palmer, laughing like the resi-.
az the young fellows eagerness.
what is the good! Besides, you
are going a way Tomorrow
We'll, | can sleep there tonight.
Do let me, Mr.. Palmer; please dor
urged the lad, who seemed de-
lighted at the prospect
but remember the damp. You
Will catch your death of cold OBJ
jected his host.
i can have a fire. / suppose? /?
Besides, what is a cold p said the
boy, with sovereign contempt.
Well, yoH can do as You like, of
course, and l will have the room
prepared atonce,' said Mr.. Palmer.
reluctantly, for his hospitable soul
was yexed at the idea of a guest
passing an uncomfortable night,
even atlhis own request. There
can be no real risk. You are not
even the heir Of the Crowests.n
No such luck said the boy i
wish / were.'
Besides, the story is a vulgar
superstition,' added the professor,
convineingly.
The order to prepare The room
was given, and caused some little
excitement among the servants.
But inasmuch as the apartment
had been occasionally entered In
the day time, and its evil reputa-
ton was only vaguely known, the
housekeeper was easily pnrsuaded
to prepare a bed in il for MF. Bat
hurst. A cheering wood IRE blaz-
ed In the old-fashioned fire place,
and the strange apartment looked
inviting enough when the guests
bade the young officer goodnight
at the door. He could find moth
ing in the aspect of the room cal
culatcd 90 inspire alarm. he took
the precantion. however, upon
turning into bed to place nn&ex
his gill0w a neat little revoIver.
which as newly fledged officer he
carried about him as part Of his
personal luggage. Being thorough
" tired out with the exertlOns Of
the day, he soon became drOwsy.
and, in a remarkably short space