Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-02-05

But the curious feature of the room, that
which gave it it's name, was the Tapestry.
Not an inch of the walls. was to be SEEM
they were hung completely with very an
cient and very faded Tapestry. There was
a story about this Tapestry. One Dame
Clifford, of long, long bygone days, had
worked it, with the help of her maidens.
She had come to an untimely end on the
very day on which the great work of her
life had been completed.
| 1t does not matter to this story what be-
came of the proud fair dame, but it was
her ghost which was said to haunt the wing,
and the Tapestry chamber in PARTICULAR
Warden, my maid, as she helped me to un
dress, looked quite pale with terror. ssThey
do say, ma'am, as Dame Glare Clifford ap-
pears with her head tucked under her arm.
and breads from the old Tapestry hanging
to her skeleton fingers. She's dressed in
gray silk, that don't rustic never a bit,
though It's SO thick it might stand all alone,
they do say. 'Tis awful lonesome for you,
madam, to sleep here alone, and I'll stay
with you with pleasure if it comes to that,
though my nerves amt none Of the strong
est.''
! | thanked Warden, however, and assured
her that was not in the least afraid; and
she, with well-relieved face, left me alone
heard her footsteps echoing down the
corridor-they died away. was now out
of reach of all human help, for in this dis
tant room, in this distant wing, no possible
sounds could reach any other inhabitants
of Aspen's Vale.
think | have implied that I was brave.
In my girl-hood, in my short married
life, even in the sad depression of my early
T 81
fear; nevertheless, When the last Of War
den's footsteps echoed out and died, and
that profound stiffness followed which can
be oppressive, had curious sensation.
did not call it fear, did not know it
for that grim and pale-faeed tyrant; but it
made me uncomfortable, and caused my
heart to beat irregularly.
The sensation was this-I felt that l avas
not alone.
Of course it was fancy; and what had
to do with fancy?
| determined to Danish this uncomforta-
bic feeling from my mind, and stirring the
fire to cheerful blaze, [ drew one of the
black oak chairs near it and sat down.
Warden had looked so pale and frighten-
ed before she left me, that out of consider
alton for her feelings had allowed her to
leave the jewels which I had worn that
evening on the dressing table.
There they lay, set of very valuable
brilliants. There was an old-fashioned
mirror over the mantlepiece, and as sat
by the fire saw the reflection of my dia-
monds in the glass. AS l noticed their.
sparkle, again that strange sensation re-
turned; this time more strongly, this time
with cold shiver. / ,cas not oione.
Who was in the Tapestry chamber?
Was it the ghost? Was that story true,
after all? OF course did not believe it.
I laughed aloud as the idea came to me.
felt that was getting quite silly and ner-
yous. There was nothing for me but to
get into bed as quickly as possible.
was about to rise from my easy-chair
and go over to the old-fashioned FOUR poster,
when again my attention was attracted to
the glass over my head 1t was hung III
such way to reveal a large portion of
the room, aud now Isaw, not the diamonds,
but-something else.
| In the folds of the dim and oldworld
| Tapestry I saw something move and glitter.
| [ looked again; there was no mistaking it
it was an Eye, a human eye, looking fix
edly at me through hole in the canvas.
Now l knew why felt that was not alone.
| There was SHINE one hidden behind the
Tapestry hangings and the wall of the
chamber. Some one-not a ghost. The
eve was human, or l had never looked on
human eye before. | was alone with a
thief perhaps with more, and gems of i'm
mense value lay within his reach. / was
absolutely alone; not soul could hear the
most agonized cry for help in this distant
room.
| Now knew-if I had ever doubted it
| before-that was very brave woman.
The imminence Of the peril steadied the
nerves which few minutes before were
beginning strangely to culver! neither
started nor exclaimed. felt that / had in
no way betrayed my knowledge to my ter
rible guest. sat perfectly still, thinking
out the situation and my chances of escape
| Nothing but consummate GOODNESS could
win the victory resolved to be very cool.
| With fervent and passionate cry to One
above for -succor, rose from my chair and,
going to the dressing-table, I slipped sew
eral costly rings off my fingers. l left
them scattered carelessly about. Idenuded
myself of all but nv wedding-ring.
Then put the extinguishers on the can
dles-they were wax, and stood in massive
silver candlesticks The room, however,
was still brilliant with the light of the fire
on the hearth.
I got into bed, laid my head on the pill
| low, and closed my eyes.
| 1t might have beenten minutes-it seemed
more like an hour to my strained senses
before I heard the faintest movement
Then I discovered little rustic behind the
Tapestry, anG a man got out. When he
did so / opened my eyes wide; at that dis
tance he could not possibly see whether
they were open or shut. He was a power
full man, of great height and breadth. He
had black beard, and quantity of black
hair. noticed his features, which were
tolerably regular.
/ also noticed another popularity:
amongst his raven locks was one perfectly
whlue One rather thick lock was flung
back off his forehead-so white was it that
the freight instantly revealed it to me.
The man did not glance toward the bed;
he went straight, with no particular quiet
step, to the dressing table. closed my
eyes now, but heard him taking UP my
trinkets and dro ping them again. Then
| he approached the bedside. l felt him
come close; I felt his breath as he bent over
me. l was lying on my side, my eyes were
shut. I was breathing gently.
| He went away again; he returned to the
dressing-table heard him rather noisily
strike match, then with a lighted candle
in his hand he once more approached the
bed. This time he bent very low indeed,
and I felt the heat Of the fame as he pass
ed it softly before my closed eyes. l lay
still, however; not movement, not hur-
ried breath, betrayed me.
/ heard him give short satisfied sigh.
Again, candle in hand, he returned to the
dressing-table. Once more l heard the
clinking sound of my trinkets as they fell
through his fingers.
There was pause, and then-for no
reason that I could ever explain--he left
the trinKets untouched on the table, and
went to the door.
He opened the door and went out. Ibid
not know what he went for-perhaps to
fetch companion, certainly to return-but
I did know that my opportunity had come.
In an instant, quicker than thought, l
had started from my teigned slumbers;
was at the door; had bolted and locked it.
There were several bolts to this old fashion
ed door; there were even chains.
drew every bolt; l made every rusty
chain secure. was not an instant too
soon. | had scarcely fastened the last
chain, with fingers that trembled, before
the thi f returned.