The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-02-26

md purchased grand Stsinway pi-
mo. He employed a cook and nur-
'ery- maid, then sent for his sister to
preside over his establishment She
:ame at once.
Miss Butterfield was no longer
young, but she talked and dressed like
q lady who had been accustomed to
good society. She played some ac-
for church music and
songs, but lacked Alice's nice touch
for the piano and knowledge of in
strumental music, as we'll as her in
nate delicacy and fine culture. Still
we rather liked her, and tried to make
the young English lady feel at home,
her reserve Of manner re-
PEELED our well meant overtures of |
friendship
I About fortnight after Elizabeth
Butterfeld's arrival. both she and her
brother were startled in the dead of
the night by hearing some one play
ing on the new piano. The style of
the nocturnal musician was not only
brilliant. but was Enthusiastically like |
that of the late Mrs Butterfeld. In
music Of a high order
portions of celebrated operas, noe
turnes, and classical compositions
which are rarely heard in an inland
town like Thistledown. The sweet |
notes trembled all through the house,
clear and wonderfully pure.
Brother and sister rushed downstairs
and stared at each other in alarm II
thought it was you, Elizabeth" said
Mr.. Butterfeld. And | thought it !
was you, brother, but wondered how
you had learned to play so well since
you left England. But how did the
musician get in? l have the keys to
the parlor in my pocket, up stairs"
Her brother tried the parlor door. 1t
was locked, as his sister had said. st
is very strange" he whispered, in an
awe-struck manner. Run and bring
the key. We will solve this mystery
at once"
When they opened the door. they
found that the instrument was being
played by invisible fingers, for the
music still continued, although the
music stool was empty, and they were
the only visible occupants of the
room. They listened in alarm-look-
ed at each other, with terror-stricken
faces, until the music ceased. Then
Mr.. Butterfield asked:
'Can you play any of those pieces?"
mo, Cornelius. never learned
any difficult instrumental compost
tions, you know. I only play accom-
paniments," was the answer. They
looked in and under the piano, in ev-
ery room in the house; examined the
windows and outbuildings-but no
one was to be found. They even took
off the lid of the piano, to see if a
mouse could have set it to playing.
and looked everywhere, and searched
everywhere in vain for the performer.
The next night it was the same; and
SO on, for several nights in succession,
Neighbors were called in and declared
that the parlor was haunted. The
servants also heard the music and left
the house in fear. Still, the grand
new Steinway awoke them nightly
with its dulcet tones. The keys could
be seen moving up and down, while
march and opera followed each other
in quick succession-nows swelling like
martial music, grand and glorious;
again, dying away to whisper; then
rising like storm or battle.
''The first intimation we had Of
their parlor being haunted, was when
its owner asked Mr.. Doree IT his piano
ever got out of order, and played Of its
own accord? When answered in the
he told US why he asked the
question. He ACKNOWLEDGED that he
was greatly puzzled, but said he could
give no solution to the mystery. He
remarked that, The keys were certain
ly played upon by invisible fingers.
The strangest part of the affair is,
that my sister nor myself are able to
play this class Of music, which we
recognize as the work of the best au-
thors-the old masters. The servants
are not able to tell one note from an
other, either; while our neighbors are
unable to whistle single bar of it.
let alone playing it. Besides this,
there is not another instrument within
two or three blocks of us. My sister
thought some one had hidden a music
box in the pinao, but we have taken
it all apart, had it tuned anew, and
every closet and place in the
whole house; but found nothing: 1t
plays Beethoven's Sonata, and Weber's
last waltz, beautifully, besides some
pieces which [ have only heard my
ate wife play on her fathers grand
Dinao.
"Well'' I said it is clear that the
house is haunted. 1t would hardly be
safe for you, if you were living in the
age. He laughed rath-
n nerveously, and said goodnight.
He told my husbands partner the
ame story. All the servants and
leighbors declared that his dead wife
lad come back to punish him for not
,uying her a piano, while the more
malicious gossips Of the town declared
hat there must have been foul play
n the matter of the late Mrs. Butter
ield' S death. There was talk Of lynch
ng the widower, of disinterring his
,oor wife's remains, and everybody
vas for avenging her wrongs, when
le suddenly closed his house, sold his
fleets, including the haunted instru-
nent, and sent his sister back to Eng
and.
"Well does the pinao still entertain
IS new owner?"
Oh, no. That is the oldest part of
be whole story. The lady who now
WINS it, has never been disturbed with
s nocturnal music. The ghost has
topped playing. No invisible spirit
ow touches the keys. Both herself
nd daughters play very badly. If
oor Alice did return, she did so to
unish her husband, alone. He is still
oarding at the hotel uptown. Some