Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-05-20

Cne uOOr, In answer to Its small Dell, WHICH
we rang.
They looked puzzled at seeing us so soor
after the loud summons, knowing that the
great bell hung at the park gate.
Gervase detained Mrs. King to show hel
the key in his hand.
4 have locked the gate, you see. The
young country lasses down here are very
handsome; don't think we want them IL
here.'
'Oh, sir! No, indeed' said she.
Then let them ring till they are tired, he
replied.
The bell had not rung again; only that
one mysterious peal; and we heard no more
of it.
Mrs. King soon sent in an excellent sup.
warmed by the good fires her husband had
made.
At ten o'clock we retired.
Our first night in a haunted house was a
night of serene and undisturbed repose.
The following day was again grey and
gloomy, but we managed to get out between
Its showers and look about us.
1t was beautiful place, in spite of all
the dullness and silence that Overshadowed
it.
Towards evening the clouds cleared away,
giving place to lovely moonlight night.
Nothing uncanny disturbed US through
that day or through the night.
Gervase locked his revolver away in a
drawer.
Hilda laughed the ghosts to scorn.
Can speak to you, if you please, Miss
Kate?'
1t was on the second morning after break
fast that this request came to me from Mrs.
King.
followed her to the kitchen.
King was in the garden, digging up vege-
tables.
She wanted to complain to me that some
one had entered the previous evening in
spite Of the locked gates.
There were two of them, Miss Kate, she
said, half mournfully, half ffearfully, 'wrapt
in long Disgusting cloaks, and pacing up
and down yonder, outside this window
Wicked, designing creatures, Pounds and
pounds of my savings have l lost through
Johnny's business misfortunes, and I for
gave it; but to stand by and see him run af-
ter like this is more than poor woman can
stand.
But think you must be Mistaken
returned, revolving possibilities and impos-
sibilities over in my mind. Nobody could
get in
Miss Kate, saw them; watched them;
she said, impressively; the night was as
light as day. When young women are that
forward thai they'll come dangling after a
handsome man at any price, its mott locked
gate that will keep 'em away. l did hope
for peace here; but you see how soon they
have found him out! Two curious looking
figures it was, mincing about there on the
lawn in the moonlight, the one taller than
the other, and their ugly black cloaks and
hoods covering their shawls and petticoats
from the head to the heels
l did not like it.
Johnny's charms would never induce pre-
viously unknown girls to pace the damp
grass on a cold spring night, however bright
might be the moonbeams.
Besides, how could they get into the park
The large gates were fast, and there was
absolutely no other way of entrance what
ever.
Evening came.
determined to watch.
Saying nothing about it, l stole out to the
terrace.
Who were these disguised people?
The moon again shone full in dark-blue
sky, and the stars were bright.
A chill wind blew over the lake, presag
ing storm.
The light from the parlor windows
streamed across my path as paced up and
down.
AS came and went, I saw Gervase and
Hilda reading in the warmth of the pariol
fire.
Through the uncurtained easement of the
kitchen could also see our servants.
Eliza King was doing something at the
table.
John was reading aloud to her from a
weekly newspaper they had brought from
London.
Suddenly saw in the kitchen tall, in
distinct figure muffled completely iu long
black cloak.
Its face was entirely hidden under the
hood.
1t stood behind Eliza
She started, and looked over her should
er.
Then the figure glided towards her hus-
band.
The paper dropped from hisshand.
With an uneasy glance around he drew
his chair nearer to his wife and to the fire,
picked up the paper, and then went on
reading.
The figure disappeared.
my short-sighted eyes have played an
other trick, said to myself, trying to reas-
sure my beating heart.
Bat as 1 turned to resume my walk, the
figure stood beside me!
Once, in mid-ocean, the ship in which l
sailed was enveloped by an intense and ter
rible cold, and the sailors said with truth)
that an iceberg was drawing near US.
Just such a mortal chill, like the cold of
the dead in their lonely graves emana ted
from the object at my side!
A vault-like odor filled the air.
l stood motionless-unable to cry, Or call
for Gervase-feeling only that my heart
would certainly stop beating if the figure
stirred.
And, while 1 gazed, helplessly, the thing
was gone!
| scarcely knew how I gained the parlor
I fancied something entered with me and
passed in as l opened the door.
said nothing about it to Gervase and
Hilda.
Great gusts of wind began to wall and
and moan across the lake.
The branches of the trees below the ter
race clashed together in fury.
The deep set windows of our sitting room
shook in their frames as if an unseen hand
we're trying to drive them IN.
But the room was very cheerful.
Sir Rufus Saxon had left good stores OF
fuel for his tenants.
Dry clumps of wood mixed with blocks
of coal burnt upon the hearth, and the
flames blazed halfway up the chimney.
There was not shady corner in all the
room.
'We are living rent free in the midst of
mystery, romance, antiquity, and beauty,
observed Gervase, closing his book, and we
ought to make capital out of it. Kate, if
you can conjure up Christmas story in
one volume, Hilda and will illustrate it,
and we will share the profit equally. And
if nothing short of a ghost will suit the pub
lie, let us invent one.'
As he spoke I saw the dark, shrouded
figure standing behind his chair.
The air became laden with that strange
odor, and the deathly chill seemed to fill the
room.
Gervase looked around nervously, as if he
expected to see something.
Shuddering all over, he pulled his chair
sharply further away from the wall, and
looked behind it before he sat down on it
again.