Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-14
An ADIRONDACK MYSTERY
Is there then no death for word once


& Is there then no death for word once
spoken;
Written 90 tables never brOkenY
DO pictures Of all the ages live
Oh natures infinite negative2-- Whittier.
1t was very prosaic ruin, the crumb-
n ling foundation walls Of what had once
q been a largo dwelling, In u clearing in the
midst OF the great Adirondack wilderness
q miles away from any house. Meadows
soped down the mountain side to a dis
81 tincuyely beautiful lake, even in region
81 famed for its lovely mountain tarns, and
q beside it, though in September, hay
makers were curing the scanty mountain
Il harvest. the ruin has a history how
q eyer' said the legal friend who brought
n ittomy notice; and on our return to the
city he introduced me to Judge --, one
Of the most honorable and efficient
magistrates on the city bench, the pres
ent owner of the estate, who favored
me with this most strange eYentful his
tory.
Its early history" he began, ~ possess
only in fragments. Itwas built probably
seyenty-iive years ago by Philip khyn-
wood, mem Der Of one of our Oldest and
Wealthiest New York families, whose
possessions in the neighborhoOd covered
several square miles. / acquired it some
twenty years ago. The simple account
my first visit with a view TO purchas-
Ing, together with the experiences there
q one summer of myself and family, will
form The strangest tale you ever listened
TO- To begin with my first visit. We left
a the New York Central (Nan, the owner,
IA and at Amsterdam, and after travelling
u all day over the divide and along the
81 banks Of the romantic Sacondaga drew up
81 al shutdown at Rhineands. l will not
N - :
III up nom it, since you are familiar with
81 he region, but / thought it then, as ] do
now, one of the loVeliest and most in
M terestDg hooks in the North Woods. Van
bad man in charge, and there were cat.
n Tie and sheep scattered picturesquey
over the four hundred acres Of clearing.
III The house without looked very much as
It does now, but confess the interior sur
prised me. The building, you are aware,
is TWO stories and an attic, fOrty-twO feet
vide by thirty deep. Through the centre
ran wide hall, on which the drawing
room and parlOrs opened. This hall had "A
Mwide-cushiOned settee near the doors, aud
0 Its walls were hung with portraits OF
Knights Of Malta, said to have been chiefs
T Of the order; the pictures, it was said,
painted from life. The paTlOTs Were
richly but strangely furnished. The car
pet was OF 4 soft neutral color. The stiff
e M
cushioned in red. as was an ancient sofa
e whose rich deep pillows were tempGngly
Mdsplayed; but the feature Of the room
Was large mahogany sidebOard in a cor
ner, richly carved and cleaning with
silver. The curtains throughout the
louse were really tapestry, Of curious
design, evidently from Saracen looms;
and wherever 1t was necessary to loop
them deers' antlers were employed for the
- m ~ pp
1e parlor walls, and | asked my friend TO
explain their presence there. That
hakes curious stOrY,' said he; they
were the prOpertyOt mysterious German
aIon, who appeared here some ears
sl'er the original proprietor left the place.
purchased il, furnished 1t In the manner
you have seen, and, after living here
quietly some ten years, disappeared as
MMyaerlOusly as he came. But come into
we chambers. These were all on tue
second floor, and as they figure largely in
mat follows, you must allow me briel
prescription. There were three front
VnamDers, OHe on the right of the hall
and two on the left, and an equal number
2 me rear, one being at the end OF the
Iall, which we called the ballroom.
nese We're furnished quite as richly as
we parlors; the beds struck one for their
Extreme width and for the rich silken
n ahopies, Of the same stutfs as the
lpestrles that enclosed them. ! should
ave stated that on the curtains tap
u Nulee, and cushions were the richly
50 SAuroluered arms the Maltese cross, the
Is united hood, and other symbols OF the
rs lder Of st. John.
We had dinner that night worthy OF
mountains-trOut fresh from the
, nooA, yenison, lamb, peas, and crisp let
J from the garden. Afterwards we
loAed on the porch, and saw moon and
Ns Climb up over the mountains and
iVf themselves In the lake below.
leu Jhe time for chamber lights came,
al remarked that the maid would show
my room. AS for myself said he
alghtiy embarrassed air, i always
Il lls parlOr lounge 1 followed the
V INTO one Of those great front cham
- ciept into the huge canopied bed
elept Ike Rip Van Wrinkle AL night,
m o.siep hearing a mouse squeak. Next
Hlnk came down late. Van was in
Htakiast-rOom; the waitress was be-
At arm; man-seryant opened the
N All scanned my countenance GU
Ay' How did you sleepY Van
oed' 'Capitally,' / replied, where
No. AN expression passed over their
- lhat puzzled me all day; IL was the
cations.
Nell staid several days; we hunted,
"A lIe..,, oroye through the woodpaih TO the
te' and ! was 80 well pleased with
p,aee that told Van as we drove
ara would buy IL. 'Did you hear
Nm@ either night you slept IN that
NC answered. irrclevautly. mo-
He, h., 'WhyP DO you know he re-
VII ~ mat noithor nor any other person
I'M, mousse would have occupied the
a,t ~ did for dozen Ralnelandsg
coiN it,. tere 0nce-bah, such noises and
q vi rta' h my room al night. Why, the
y rn,',ts down stairs sat up the night
Nomeg, expecting you to rush In any
rs W.; YAM said I, won interest me, but
dNN aoE ~ ol're Joking, or else you want y
D. ~ ui the sale.' Il assure you irs
hov INN truth; he replied, 'and you
apvs want 70 SELF 'rhen,' said !,