Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-17
A MYSTERIOUS DWELLING.


each other. On one side stood pictu-
rescue, CHEEKY habitatiOn, resOunding
with children's merry voices; on the
other a massive and gloomy dwelling,
whose narrow, hermetically-sealed WIN
dOws displayed a gOOdly array OF spiders
webs. The paint on its walls and on its
entrance door had long since disappeared.
The bronze handle and the iOn's-head
knOcker were covered with verdigris.
Although situated in the centre Of a bus
fling thOrOughfare- this house remained
silent as death. All through the day the
stiffness was unbrOken-nO signs of life
were visible within; but at night, when
all else was at rest, rumOr said that some
thing moved about its rooms,
At the back of the house a long building
jutted out into the garden. The upper
portion OF this Wing-the only part l could
see. in consequence Of an unusually high
wall which divided the two properties
was pierced by row Of large windows.
made up my mind that this had once been
ballroom, for when the sun shOne full
upon the dUsky windows silken draperies,
faded and threadbare. were distinctly
visible.
1t was commonly supposed that this
mysterious dwelling was inhabited by a
very old woman named Jansen, the widow
OF a wealthy merchant, who had been
dead many years. People believed in the
existence Of Madame Jansen, although no
one had ever seen her. More than once in
the early morning, before the wOrk-day
life had begun in the busy city, an old
woman who sold edibles at the street cor
ner had been seen to knock at the door of
the deserted house. On these occasions
the door opened on the chain, wrinkled
hand and arm prOtruded into the old
wOman's basket to take what was needed,
and then the arm was withdrawn, the
door closed softly, and all was silent as
before.
These rumOrs served to heighten the mys-
terry immensely. My vocation as notary
often took me among people who pro-
fessed to know great deal about Stewart
Jansen and his widow; and these stOutly
maintained that Madame Jansen was
dead, that she had only survived her hus-
band a few months, and that she lay
buried at his side. l once had occasion to
search the archives of the tribunal, In
nv search l stumbled across Madame
Jansen's will, duly signed and sealed
according to the legal formula. L saw at
a glance by this document that my sus-
DiciOns had been correct, and that
Madame Jansen was not only still living,
out had dealings with the outer world. 1t
was only by IDLE gossip that she had been
buried all these years.
According TO custom, my VIE and L
called on a Monsieur and Madame NOr-
bist. who lived on our right. Our con-
yersation seemed naturally to turn IN the
direction Of the occupant Of the house on
nv left: and, after saying that l cOnsid-
cred it unsOciable to avoid an unlnvltIng
looking dwelling, both my wife and my
self said that we intended to pay our
respects in that direction also. At these
words nv friends laughed in our faces.
'You Will never get in there" said
Monsieur NOTbist; ''fOr years, believe,
no one has crossed the threshold. The
old lady keeps house all by herself, no one
knows how: and even if you cOntriyed to
force an entrance, your pOhteness would
be i'll Tequited.'
sBut.' L observed, 81 am informed, on
unimpeachable authority, that she gives
a quarter of her fortune to the town and
the remainder to a local charity. Such
generosity raises her high IN my esteem;
she cannot be wholly unapprOach1ble-'
NV neighbor shook his head obviously.
THAT may be true - said he, at length,
esf0r she nad her hands tied by her hus-
bands will. But, after all, what is this
charity The object Of her generosity is
an institution which pauperizes and
makes worthless those who might other
wise become useful citizens. This richly
endowed charity is for old soldiers and
sailors. and the institution Is so shame
fully managed that it benefits only the
most idle and dissOlute. Its foundation
Is due 20 a brother and sister, who We're
both wealthy. The brother was retired
Major. and I never heard much good Of
him: the sister was a widow OF a sea
Captain. They had no children, and spent
the last few years Of their lives IN large
house situated on an eminence beyond
the North Gate. You may still see in
front of that house groups Of these pen
siOners. carOusing with shameless impu-
~ of n charity IN
which they have no just claim; and, if
YOU care to watch them, you VIII see
them drink and will hear them swear at
harmless folk in a manner which disgusts
all respectable people. 1t is TO such
crew that the bulk of YOUR neighbours
fortune is devoted"
l felt indignant at this waste OF pre-
clOus bounty. and only hoped that the
description was Overdrawn. At the same
time tie mysterious benefactress became
more aud more interesting 10 me, and
/ resolved TO make her acquaintance.
ssThe old lady must be a character,
indeed! 1 think we Will risk visit" said
l laughing.
1--WE wish you every success" said
Monsieur and Madame YOrbist, and so
we were not admitted. In response to
our knock the house door opened just far
enough 20 insert a hand, but there IL
stoned. held fast by the chain on the in
side. l tapped again, and heard the
echoes die away IN the long passages
lust as 1 was on the point OF knocking
for the third time, my wife checked me.
eDOn't YOU see that everybody is laugh
And. in truth, so it was. The passers-
nv seemingly enjoyed our discontinue,
and had many pleasant things 10 say to
each other at our expense.
The summer was drawing to a close.
Autumn had begun to whisper of the
dread things in store for US. One day my
wife and l went down into the garden 10
collect the apples, which lay scattered
about the grass. After time | set lad
der against a fruit-laden tree, which
proceeded 10 mount. while my wife stead
led with her foot and hand the somewhat
rickety cOntriVance. The tree stood
close beside the high wall Which sepa-
rated our garden from the Jansen prop
erty. Just as / was ascending, heard
noise as of 4 stone thrown against wall;
at the same moment our tortOlse-sheIl cat
came laundering helplessly down and
crOuched tremblingiV at our feet. was
so much surprised at signs Of life issuing
from a garden where hitherto silence had
only been broken by the faint rustling Of
leaves that 1 resolved to mount my ladder
high enough to look over the wall.
Never before had L seen such crop OF
tangled briars and weeds! Not a vestige
of either flowers or vegetables; not
trace Of a path anywherel Huge stones
lay scattered about just where they had
fallen. and the sOmbre foliage OF the
deadly nightshade predominated over all.
Above this wilderness few fruit trees
reared their heads, and 1 saw under one
OF them the crOuching figure Of diminu-
five woman. bent almost double. She
was dressed in an Old-fashiOned black silk
gown, worn and faded, while on her head
She wore LeghOrn hat, from which
white ostrich feather trailed dismally.
Tbe tangled weeds rose higher than her
knees and had some misgiyings lest she
would disappear altogether before l had
time TO catch a glimpse of her features.
suddenly she raised herself and seized a
basket fastened to a stick, which she had
probably dropped in order to stone my
cat.
Although the old woman seemed to
move with difficulty, she vigorously shook