Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-12-05
Haunted by a Live Ghost.

Haunted by a Live Ghost.
1t was dreary place. My heart wen
down amazingly when L came In sigh
of II. Across the road below the cliffs
the sea moaned in heartbreaking mon
otone, and no other dwelling broke tn
long sweep of wildly romantic landscape
1t was ruinous old stone mansion, with
q broken shutter Tapping here and there
and damp green moss encroachlng upoI
the gray walls. A grove OF hemlock'
surrounded it, and perpetual twilight
brooded at the narrow windows, while
the wind, which seemed ever to haun
the sombre trees, wal ed to the beat o.
the waves below. But l was young anC
healthy and happy, and moreover de.
pendent upon my own exertions for my
daily bread. was about to apply here
in answer to an advertisement for q
"youne and pleasant and intelligent per
son to attend an invalid" and l rallied
nv sinking courage, as l assembled the
prsss-eroWn drive which led to the front
ent, zee. 81 hope the inmates are more
prospe. as than would seem from the
outside appearances" was by mental
comment, "else l shall not be Oversure
ofmy wages"
/ raised the old.fashioned rocker
carved to initiate dragons head, and q
hollow rat a-tat woke hundred echoes.
Presently quick, firm step came along
the passage, the door was opened, and
beheld very handsome man, but 80
fiendishly handsome that my heart sank
once again into my boots. Tall and ele-
CANT in figure; scrupulously dressed in
black; white hands, with a handsome
ring on one finger; white face made
winter by the contrast Of the jet-black
locks framing it, the long black mus
tache dropping overthe smiling lips, and
the great, glitteripg black eyes, which l
felt were taking in every detail of my
dress, face and figure. l made known
my business in somewhat faltering tones,
and the gentleman, with great courtesy,
ushered me into the presence of little
lady, whom l rightly conjecture was his
wife.
My heart went out to her at once-she
was go frail and sweet-looking, with big
blue eyes, a quantity of golden brown
hair, ard gentle, tremulous lips. The
room she occupied-a sort of boudoir
opening from an inner chamber-was
comfortably even luxuriously furnished
aud she wore q handsome wrapper of
of pale-blue cashmere, heavily faced
with satin. Evidently these people pos
sessed all the comforts that money could
procure, despite the ruinous condition of
the exterior of their dwelling. To be
brief, after few questions put by the
gentleman with the most exquisite po-
likeness, was engaged as Mrs. Rosen-
berg's attendant and companion, at q
salary that seemed to me munifcent,
part of which was paid me in advance,
with the request that should be prompt
ly there on the following day, ready to
begin my duties.
Surely was in luck now, l thought,
crushing the crisp bank-notes into my
shabby little purse, as turned my face
once more towards the city. But there
was an uneasy feeling IN my h 'art when
L recalled the handsome, sinister face
of MIR. Rosenberg, and the half-fright-
ened, appealing look of his fair little
wife. However, l took up my abode
there the next day.
My own apartments were q coy little
chamber, and sitting room adjoining
and just across the hall from Mrs Rosen-
berg's rooms. The only servants about
the house were negro woman and
surley-browed Welshman who scarcely
ever spoke. Before 1 had been there
three months 1 should have left, had
not a deep affection and pity for my
lovely charge taken root in my my
heart. A strange horror lurked about
the old place. seemed to be living in
a sort OF nightmare. The smiling, sneer-
ing courtesy of the master; the fright
,ned, delicate, nervous little wife, who
lad incomprehensible fits of weeping;
he eyil-looking Welshman, and the
gloomy eyed, mysterious, black serving
women all eeemed strange and unnat-
lral characters to me.
Mrs. Rosenberg seemed mortally afraid
# her husband. / used to hear her ad,
ressing passionate appeals to him, and
he mans voice in return was ALWAYS
uiet and low, but with certain devilish
neer running through it that made my
cart hot within me. I could guess at
he import of these conversations. They
'ere carried on after had retired to my
ooms, where only the sound of their
oices reached me. In my presence Mr..
rosenberg was model of coujugal ten.
erness and courtesy. and mis- wife q
lere passive image of endurance.
heard queer noises about the house
nd mentioned the fact to the negress
ne day.
Reckon it's de win or de sea-" she ,
answered.
1t doesn't seem. like that, Dinah,"I :
She turned her great dusky ewes upon ;
10 with q look that sent a nervous
lrlll through my veins.
Den it's los soul crying, honey"
Nonsense!"I laughed, trying to shake t
the effect of her look and words.
Lis, she said, shaking her head +
'lemnly. I've done listened some C
ghts ter dat sobbln', siehin', mutterin'. p
Il pears like I'd 60 mad. tink, chile, b
8 yere HOUSE is haunted" u
/ Went away, half provoked at myself C
r being disturbed by her words. One r
", some unaccouutable impulse urged b
9 to mention the sounds to Mr.. Roeen-
,rg, adding, with a careless laugh.
Inah thinks the place is haunted" I
all never fol get the curious look in his i
lack eyes as the. flashed over my face ,