Sun River sun., 1884-02-21
for several nights alone.

thoroughly ny dayiSnt It was
large two-story frame building, with
n double vcranda running the entire
length Of the front. An upper and
lower hall ran through the middle,
with a staircase whose landing was
just opposite the front door. This 1
especially examined, as it was the
principal seat of tho disturbances;
but, like every other part Of the house
could throw no light on the mystery.
Having carefully locked every door
and fastened every. blind and window,
I seate1 myself on the cool veEnda
to enjoy moonrise and a quiet smoke.
It was probably 10 o'clock, and I
was just growing drowsy, when the
sound Of door opening and closing
caught my ear. It was upstairs; and
then came the sound Of light footsteps
in tho upper hall. I unlocked the
front door, cooked my pistol, and
waited. The steps began to descend,
and when they ncarcd the foot Of the
stairs, opened tic door, and few
feet from me stood tall, slender wo-
man, in pure white, with flowing dark
hair. BY the bright moonlight I
could distinguish every feature plain
ly. Hiding my pistol I said politely:
madam, what do you wantF'
She made no reply, but glidcd to-
ward the back hall door, beckoning
me to follow. Reaching it she stopped
and making gcsturs as for me to
open it, was whittier for the
life Of me I couldn't tell. I unlocked
the door and looked out, but saw moth
ing but wced-grown, neglected back
yard. Locking the door, lit my Ian
torn and searched the house through,
but found no clue to the woman's en-
trance or disappearance. / returned
to my seat on the porch and waited
again.
In about half an hour I heard the
descending footsteps again. This
time it seemed to me accompanied by
little child. 1 quickly opened the
door, and there stood the same lady
alone.
Madam" I said stcrnly, will you
please explain this strange conductF'
She silently glided to that buck hall
door, beckoning me to follow. This
time she seemed to glide through it,
so suddenly did she disappear After
another fruitless search l returned to
my post in great pcrplexity.
What did this strange, silent crea-
turc want me to do? Evidently she
was lunatic. But the mystery was,
whore did she go! Inow lighted my
lantern, and, placing it on the floor,
seated myself just in front of the
staircase landing. In an hour or so
the "woman in white again descend
cd tho stair this time wringing her
hands as though in great agony. l
confronted her with u drawn revolver.
"Madam,' I said, "tcll Your errand
OF l will shoot
She silently pointed to the back hall
door. Taking sure aim, / fired at
her right arm. The smoke cleared
ard she stood untouched. Aiming nj
her right shoulder, I fired again, with
the same effect. felt piqued at these
harmless shots, for it was one thing
on which l prided myself. Again
fired, and this time straight ut he,
heart. But horrors! / saw the splin
tors fly from the coiied wall just be
hind her, and she stood untouched.
A cold perspiration bedewed IN.
forehead, and for the first time in my
life I trcmbled with fear. Neycrthe
less, I firod again with like result
With rush as of winds, the being was
within foot OF me, and such unenlth
ly screams l hope never to hear again
Her eyes seemed to burn to my verJ
soul; and yet she seemed but shad
owa mist-whon close tom Ihaye
u faint recollection of stumbling dowI
the steps, and somehow cropping my
way to my friends house. In The
morning I related my adventure t.
him, and that day left the town.
pass, and I again visit the place, anG
meet my old friend.
"you should havccome just little
earlier, D." he said, "and taken par,
in the sequel to your adventure AT tht
haunted house"
''Has the ghost been haunting ii al
these years?' l asked.
ooh, no; for years there has beer
perfect quiet, and the place is owned
by one of our best citizens. One
morning, not long ago, Mr.. L., the
owner, arose to find u small, newl,
dug grave just in front of that fatefliI
back hall door. The digger Of it has
never been discovered, but on Digging
deeper Il tiny skeleton was found
How it came there, and who it was, il
all o mystery"
"Hhat is the supposition?" ?" I asked
.'s5ome think the little child of Mrs
B met with foul play after her death
~