Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-10-08

Omlttlng TO say that the name of the
farm mentioned is Netherield Hollow
because | do noI wish that she should
nave any dreary associations with the
village where we lived SO many years,
and where, strange TO say, Russell
Browne contemplates taking another
house when they are married.
Il was only ten wears old when it hap.
pened," l begin; ''you were a little
child, and our father was still alive. II
was he that took me to the farm one
wlntry afternoon, and left me outside
while he went to speak with the man
who lived there-his tenant. He said
he should be only few moments; but
he was away 50 long that became rest
less, and wandered round the house,
looking into the windows to see if |
could find him. | was about to turn
back discouraged, when a wide-open
window caught my eye, and | made
towards II at once. The room belong
ing TO it looked SO dismal and dark that
my first thought was that | would
rather be outside than IN there then
L saw a small fire burning in low old
fashioned CRATE, and, although il was
nearly cut, | could not resist stepping
III TO warm my hands. Not till 1 had
crossed the threshold did / observe
that L was not alone. A woman was
seated on a high-backed chair, between
door that stood ajar and the window.
Her eyes were closed, and the hair was
blown back from her thin white face
by the draught, while now and then
her lips moved, and she began talking
10 herself i'll low mournful KEY"
stop moment for breath, and am
half startled by the rapt attention Nav
is giving TO my story. Her eyes are
fixed on my mouth. as though she
would hear the words before they are
spoken.
Are you frightened Shall | stop?"
[ ask, little anxiously.
mo, no-go on" she answers impa-
tiently. Il want to hear it ALL"
And half unwlllingly continue
AT first l thought she was asleep, but,
after few minutes scrutiny, l saw she
was in pain, such fearful cOntortions
passed over her face, while her eyelids
twitched continually. Presently |
summoned up courage TO pluck her by
the sleeve, when suddenly she caught
my arm and cried out
''Child, have you come to save me
He is mesmerlsing me to death, | tell
you; he is mesmerislng me TO death =
Before 1 could answer, | heard
another voice behind me which com.
manded silence; and, turning round,
| saw glaring in at the door a dark
wicked-looking face, close shaven and
with short black hair. Only one word
the man spoke. and that i'll low, almost
soothing tones, but my arm was re-
leased at once, and the woman shrank
back in mortal terror on her chair. As
for me. a scare came over me; and,
with piercing shrek, dashed through
the window, leaving the miserable wo-
man alone with the man. | did not
stop tlll l reached home. and there my
story was received with little laugh
ter and more discredit. They said |
had been dreaming; but knew | was
awake, and felt sure the woman was in
real need of help. l have never forgot
ten her face, and l think | should re-
member his"
"All alone in the freight ~
1t is Russell Browne who las entered,
and now stands beside US, laughing at
our fright. May IS soonest reassured,
and hides an April face of smiles and
tears on his shoulder.
Never before have / noticed how
dark RnsSel is, and what a sinister look
GENES into his eyes at times; and now,
taken in conjunction with the story |
have told and the fact that he too is a
mesmerist, Il can only shudder and bury
my face in my hands.
"Why, Magdalen, you are more
frightened at your own story than 1
was ~ laughs May lightly.
HAS Magdalen been telling ghost
stories ?" asks Russell, twirling his long
black whiskers and looking up with
fainteSt interest.
1t was true story was telling" l
remark gravely.
'And we have not heard the end yet. |
did the woman really die r'
Yes, she died fortnight later"
"And you believe -"
81 believe she was murdered, foully,
cruelty murdered" answer, with an
that surprises myself.
"And some day feel sure that the man
who did it will he found and brought |
to justice"
"Your sister is getting quite blood
thirsty" says Russell, with a sneer. |
turning his face from me and addressing |
MAY. what is it all about 2"
s'Do not tell him, May ~ | implOre |
somehow feeling strange |
reluctance that he should hear the story. |
"Do not tell him. 1t was all my fancy;
| dare say"
May smiles, and says no more on the |
subject but Russell Brownies eyes |
meet mine scowlingly; and for the first |
time feel as if | had reason for my |
dislike"
We are all in church together as the |
first rays pierce through the clouds and |
enter the large stained windows; but, |
when | turn round cOntentedly to ad- |
mire the scattered colored lights, | see |
they have produced weird effect.
On Russell Browns s face they lie like |
a pale-blue shadow, giving him SO hag-
gard and evil an appearance that / turn
away in disgust, only to meet a still |
more uncanny sight. Ny sisters head |
is bent over her book as she is joining
in the responses, serenely unconscious
that she is bathed in such a sea OF red |
light that for a moment fancy it must |
be blood, and that somehow she is
wounded. Then gradually it fades
away, leaving only narrow streak
across her white forehead, and two |
larger splashes on her left shoulder aud
right arm. L shiyer conyulsiyely and |
close my eyes. When [ open them
again, the colOrs are not 10 be seen. |
May is looking at me wonderingly, and
Russell leans over to ask me il am ill. |
Forcing a smile, L assure them of my |
perfect health. We lunch together /; /
and, when the meal is over, the carriage |
comes to take me TO Esher, the neigh |
boring town, where my fathers sister
has lived since we all left the home
county.
Are you coming, May 2" L ask, as |
she fingers behind moment.
]