New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-12-23
OUT OF THE DEPTHS.

OunQ Gne DfeaKIaSG UaDle aJ EVerCOna
Frange.
sA long, low, wainscoted room, with
eep bay windows, looking out on a
mooth velvety lawn which sloped
fadually away to, and was bounded
", q splendid avenue of chestnuts
sading to the lodge gates.
ALTHOUGH the trees had lost their
oliage and the ground was covered
9ith1 foar frost, every thing looked
cheerful and comfortable and redolent
Pf genuine old English hospital
ty, from the fat robin, now
mass of fluff and feathers,
Who was lazily perched outside on
the deep ledge OF the window, having
Fegaled himself sufficiently on his daily
meal Of bread crumbs, to the interior
pf the room, the fire blazing in the
wide, old-fashioned CRATE, before which
the old house-dog stretched himself,
and occasionally summoned up sufi-
Ecient energy to rub his nose with his
[orepaw; while my aunt's bright face
beamed on all as she poured out the
tea, and at times joined in our lively
chatter.
We were, I remember, busily discuss
ing the arrival of certain guests who
were expected in the course of the fol-
lowing fortnight to visit the Grange,
and the conversation turned on a
suEect which then appeared trivial
e9xh. Who was to occupy the Red
"Put me there, Aunt Eleanor" I
said; mo one has better right to my
old play room than have myself; and
you know was never afraid OF bogies
or ghosts, witches or warlocks; so it
is not likely I shall begin now"
My uncle looked up from his paper
and gave me an approving smile as |
said these words. knew he held in
1great contempt all foolish fears re-
|garding the world Of spirits; but Aunt
Eleanor, thought, seemed rather
grave, and she hesitated for moment
before she answered.
st1tWell, Nellie dear, like you, ] am no
believer in-or, at any rate, have no
dread Of ghosts; and when I first came
here often slept in that room with
|out being frightened or having my rest
disturbed by supernatural visitors.
People in former times have COM
|plained, and the servants, as you
know, are always talking about it, so
Ihave never liked to offer the room
to any visitor. Indeed it is some
years since we have had the house so
full as to require it."
"Well, now, auntie, the caseis alter
ed. really wish to sleep there, and
we shall be such a large party. You
wiA absolutely want my present
apAE tment for some old dowager OF
other; SO let me have my own way,
and will try at any rate to exist in
the ghosts quarters
every well, DEAR said my aunt;
cit shall be as You wish; "and She add
ed, laughing, as she rose to leave the
room, "For the present, at any rate,
you may consider yourself mistress
of the ghosts domain"
Nellie, how can you be so foolish?"
said my consin Edith, as soon as the
door had closed on her mother and
the children, and Sir John having
to attend to some magisterial bust.
ness in the neighboring town, wefound
ourselves lett to our own devices.
II never say much before mamma"
continued Edith, "because she only
laughs and tells me not to be super
stitious; but do give up the idea Of 60
ing to that horrid part OF the house,
ard share my room instead"
s a'My dear Edith" I replied, "my
mind is quite made up; besides, I
have now character for bravery to
uphold; and to tell you the truth, the
spirit of adventure has so completely
seized upon me that | actually feel
quite a longing to take possession OF
my new abode"
n My cousin used every endeavor to per-
euade me to giveup my purpose, but in
vain. listened, it is true to all her argu-
ments but being very y oung, high-spirit-
ed and Ifear rather wilful, I was deter
mined to show myself no coward by
sleeping in the haunted room.
Before / proceed further with my
Tory / suppose ought to give my
yreaders a glance at my dramatis per-
sBOne.
First, as to myself, Eleanor, or as
vas usually called, "Nellie," Charter
,. | can hardly imagine now that I
Inn the same Nellie Charteris-the
2ight-hearted merry girl OF more than
@orty years ago.
Il Itseems rather as if I was writing
the history of dear friend, of one
Hong since dead. And, indeed,
such is the case; the Nellie Charters of
chose days is dead-has been dead
many, many years; and it is but
Bhadow OF that bright face, but the
8aded resemblance of those laughing
hazel eyes now see when look in the
glass and wonder tomyself.. "Did the
events l am now about to relate ever
really happen to me and can it be
possible for one person to live as it
we're doublelife.
i My mother died when I was but
hild, leaving no other children, and
rom the time leftschool kept house
pr my father, who was a barrister.