Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-24
THE BLUE ROOM

-F ..Hr.HT-. .f-LLEl ON Lu- l1LNuC9 vi AAAA T
Dr. was mild summer evening, still, +
- mn Of strange, mysterious sounds; +
tr. -.r breeze tl0ated into the doors, I
f-5--r- with it the heavy fragrance Of I
IL. flowers. In the gathering dusk the /
members of the group could scarcely see I
each other.
Conversation languished, passing from
srHfaef 90 subject; no one seemed inclined
s.. enter upon a lengthy discussion.
suddenly one of the party began 10 re-
r.-a am anecdOte Of "a ghost he had seen
5r am evening like this. The plan was
successful. Several tales followed, but
rhe Young daughter Of the house, Anna,
continued TO ask for more. 1t was so
amusing 10 hear these marvellous stories,
imagine the white and black spectres
moving nOiselessly in dense shadow or
dazzling moonlight. feel a strange horror
chill her blood, and then lean against her
mother, finding safety in her embrace.
She could not endure candidate HOlsts
way OF taking these stories; his scorntul
comments tore ugly rents in the dreamy
veil in which she wrapped herself.
He was a medical student and had wit
messed many similar things IN the hos
pItai. IL was owing 70 sickness acting
upon different individuals. Either the
patient. when his Imagination was eX-
cited, mistOOk a towel on which the moon
was shining for a phantom and the shrek
fr- uf the wind I'm old houses for ghOstly
cries and the clank Of chains, or the
whole affair was pure hallucinatiOn. A
person IN healthy, normal condition
never saw ghosts.
The whole party opposed his view.
There was surely some truth at the bot
tou gf all these tales. There were a
thousand things which could not be ex-
planned by natural causes.
Anna was warmly seconded by HOlst's
Younger brother, Victor, who had arrived
at tile house with him that morning,
though he was Influenced more by cOUrte-
ST. CD the pretty young girl than because
lie really felt any fear of ghosts. He could
.tNeJrtO have his brother appear to place
lImseLfin such contemptuoUs opposition
90 pair Of such beautiful bright eyes, so
DE fought "a stout battle against his own
convictions.
-Tle history Of such things,' said the
candidate, lis contrary TO sound sense
and reason. They are miserable relics Of
Che darkness OF the middle ages, which
can only check progress. 1t would be an
utterly idiOtic proceeding for dead
folk 90 walk abroad and terrify the
LIVING. Tradition carries such tales from
generation TO generation, and, If not sub
i..teL Co severe scientific criticism, they
retain their vitality and are believed. 1t
Is the same kind Of superstition as that
which makes simple folk afraid 10 sit
thirteen at table. In nine cases out Of ten
nothing happens, and there isn't even one
person who thinks of the matter. In the
tenth. perhaps, one of the company dies,
which lis certainly in accordance with the
course of nature. Instantly il is said:
You remember; you remember, we sat
thirteen at table that day. So the super
stitiOn obtains nOurishment for a long
time. No, thank God, the fresh breeze OF
knowledge will sweep away all such
things like dank unwhOlesOme f0gs."
Yes. we old people must pardOued,"
the mistress Of the house gently inter-
posed; ''We dent come 50 much in con-
tact with the fresh breeze Of science as
perhaps we oUght. We live, they saw,
wholly in tradition, aud this thrives no.
where so well as i'm an old manor like
this. It is very difficult to release our
selves from the ideas i'm which we were
reared aud which our ancestors believed.
I ann far from being what is called super
stiti0us; / have never been in contact
with these strange spirits-yet not for all
the world would l sleep in the blue cham
Uer."
The blue chambers' cried the whole
party In tones Of establishment.
Yes, we have here. as in 50 many old
manor houses, a room that is said 10 be
haunted. Many hundred wears ago a man
ghosts have taken possession Of it. The
servants talk Of strange sounds and
sights; none Of them like 70 pass it after
dark"
81 was sitting thinking that I should be
delighted 20 occupy a real haunted cham
H-r,' said Hoist quietly. 1t is a sin TO
have % remain unused forever. Perhaps
can help dispel this foolish supersti-
ton. iIr / am convinced / shall sleep I'M
dIs-lrHed.'
AT first the mistress of the house would
not listen 20 such a plan, but, when the
whole party urged and Anna clasped her
arms beseechingly around her neck, she
az last yielded.
Anna thought the scheme wonderfully
interesting.
lit is really terrible that Won dare
venture, candidate HOlst,@ she said,
"aut hope you will look really fright
eneI when you come TO breakfast in the
morning"
After supper The whole party went to
ile 'llue chamber" which meantime
had been put in order to receive the
guest. Livery corner was examined with
Tie utmost care.
The atmosphere was somewhat Oppres-
st'e though the windows were now open.
lle room was seldom ventilated. and the
-ali-mHIldy air took the liberty Of settling
ll l-l furniture and curtains. 1t had
evidently always borne the name OF the
'olIl chamber" although the thick car
pen was now faded. The furniture was
very luty, but what articles remained
We're oId-fashiOned. While time had
transformed everything else in the ancient
manor making the stiff carved chairs
give wa TO comfortable armchairs and
-- .-l clImuey-pieces 20 tile-stOves, this
--.- see led TO have preserved its former
appearance. 1t was delivered over to the
spirits 0f She past; no one had attempted
Y Ola- !. into the present. An article
s-t. dlj net contribute least in enabling
u -i retain IS ancient character was the
L--e eNgE.sitelY carved fOur-pOst BED
e-edl' "LieL occupied a large portion Of
--= room, The apartment was the last in
e-- wing OF TIE manor, looking out upon
rs grove. but 50 near the ground that a
.. 10y the display of some little agili- i
" might climE up.
nc ls not impossible" said Hoist, after {
d thorough examination OF the chamber, /
--+- me nocturnal noises mentioned {
't nave seen made by vagasOnds, who l
.-.- themselves here for a comfortable ]
-.--- rest. Victor, do me the favor 10 T.
~! pistols; they are in my travelling
guy don't leddle with the trig- I
--aa--ley are l0aLsI.n
victor went awa- with n light and 1
som after brought the pistoIs To his 4
--..-ei' HE latter gsimed them freshly,
table -''iN -L0H ON NC
Vow, good night, ladies and gentle
-r i W1h You all as comfortable rest /
= expect 20 have MYSELF
19'd night. wicked frea-thinker," said
una lat admiringly, Il hope you will
t--eFent opinions in the morning"
rs --eJ an Eent out. Victor whispered
F. anna; I'm answer for it that he shall
o5 thoroughly frightened"
me i-e door was locked. and candidate
1--s- remained acne in the blue cham
5s me sound Of footsteps aud voices
-i,e away; he listened at the door, but
yong 70 the window, he stood there a
minutes looking at the grove. The
-lSlt breeze stirred the leaves and /
l-t.--es. Only the nearest trees could .
---Iil distinguished. Beyond all was
49, lmpeuetrable darkness. for there
..-i.neI moon nor stars in the sky.
really very rare to be free from
- l.-i Luna, said he; ''she is So fond
~ '-.-t udlng and playing the spy on sensi-
~ 1-A' spite Of drawn curtains. For
1e- THIS is an UncOmmonly comfort