West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-01-11
BEHIND THE TAPESTRY.

The first part of the strange story
which am about to tell happened some
ten years ago.
Ten years ago was i'm the first sorrow
Of my widowhood. Twas childlcsS. too;
aud when the grave closed over my hus-
band thought that there was no place
left for me i'm the world.
was rich. young; and my friends
ana my own reelection in the glass told
me ! was beautiful
Oh course had many acquaintance:
what rich young widow has not? But
2cquaint3nccS and friends differ widely
did not care for the people who flat
.cred aud made much of me, but I
turned, even in the first DAYS Of my
trouble. 10 one friend
She, too, was young and beautiful.
We were school-fcllows; we were en-
Gagged nj the same time; we were mar
liod in the same month of the same
year.
During the three years OF NV married
lie we had seen little of each other, but
when my husband died, and Mary Cliff
lord wrote 10 me tcnderly out of her full
heart, | answered back her love.
She asked me TO stay with her, and /
went.
in her beautiful home! The house and
place were called Aspen's Vale. The
house was many centuries old. Its archi-
lecture was remarkable; its rooms
curious. i was a rambling old place.
and of course it had ghost 1t stood
IN the midst Of very lovely grounds.
overlooking wood and river Altogether
II was one of the shOw-places in -
Shire.
stayed with the Cliffords for couple
Of months. During this time the house
was quiet. visitors few-thev eschewed
company for my sake.
At the end OF two months left them.
oomtorted and helped. and with many
promises of return by-and-by.
Circumstances, however. too varied
and too many 10 mention prevented
that second visit taking place for a
couple OF years. AT the end of that
time great longing came over me to
see Mary Clifford again. / must write
10 her. and propose visit. / did so.
By return of post L got short but
Characteristic reply:
DEAREST HONOR:' or course long 10 500
you hut unfortunately, the house Is fun
Large as II Is, 1t Is crainmed from cellar 10
Gttc; "
My dear, don't want 20 refuse YOU. lido
lohg 10 see YOU. VIII you sleep in the tapes
y uf.f
I'M anybody else there, but don't think You.
Honor VIII be afraid OF the ghost If the
sapo,lry-IooIn WI 90, come, and a thousand
loving friend,
MARY CLIFFORD"
10 this letter | made short answer:
g. do not believe in the ghost. The
tapesiry-room Will do beautifully. Tx
pect me tomorrow
The next evening / arrived at Aspen's
Vale in time for dinner. The tapestry
room looked charming. fell in love
with 1t on the spot, and vowed lauph-
ingly that the ghost and / would make
friends.
Ny maid. however. looked crave over
my testing remarks; it was plain that
she believed in supernatural visitations.
Gayety OF heart, however. was over
me. ] could not resist the cheerful in
1uence Of my old friends COMPANY. 7
felt happier than i had done since nv
husband death. and, after a very de-
hghiiul evening, retired TO my room.
feeling brave enough TO encounter any
number Of ghosts that might choose 10
visit me.
The tapestry was quite awav
from the rest of the house-it was AZ the
extreme end Of n wing
Noothcr bedrooms were i'm this WING.
There were q smOking-room. morning
room ana little Oriel chamber. which
Ir- CLIFFORD in her early married life
Iad curion-iy fitted up for herself but
now seldom occupied. Neither did she
believe iu the ghost, but She confessed
that this little Oricl chamber had On
srr.c feel.
The morning-rOom opposite, cheerful
aIh I4.I'E enough was unused fs