Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-03-08

H<&Aiefiece, and IN vain my pulses stroye
10 beat in unison with both; when suddensy
sound could not understand smote my
ears nock-knock-knocki
If had been in bed should undoubted-
iy have put my head under the clothes; as
il was. my hearing seemed to grow doubly
acute, and sat bolt upright to listen. Had
then possessed dozen ears should have
listened with them al.
After q time, hearing no further sound,
crept TO the foot Of the stairs. Could Mrs.
Fairfax have been kuockingi If 30.
ought to 90 to her; but if on the contrary
she were asleep i should be wrong to dis
turbher. -..,s
What ought to do2 No sound whstever
csme>to me nov, but the even tick, tick,
tick of hat old clock in the kitchen; so
with quiet footsteps returned to my easy
chair beside the dining room FIRE.
Halfpast eleven had struck out from the
village church tower. had heard it borne
upon the frosty night air, and / had heard
il echoed in my own kitchen
"How distinctly that clock does tick to.
night" thought, yet | had never noticed
the TACT before; nothing else broke the 81
lence, and both silence and tick became
Painful to me. bore it till quarter to
Twelve; then the desire to scream grew upon
me, yet could rot tell why, for was not
in my own home, sitting by my own bright
FIRE awaiting the return of my own husband
It was simply absurd to imagine that there
could be the faintest possible cause for ner-
vouspess.
"Twelye o'clock! When viii Walter be
backT' Stroke By stroke. the hour was
tolled out, the again those mysterious sounds
I had heard before-knock, knock
Ny heart gave great bound, sense Of
fear parslyzed me, and then determined to
combat it.
/ braced my nerves and rose-rose and
walked with firm steps but beating heart
into the passage; once more listened at
the foot of the stairs, at the patients door,
but there was no sound.
Then descended and searched the Etch-
en-, but there was nothing unusual to be seen
there; the cat lay before the dying embers,
and the old clock licked on monotonously;
even went into the scullery, but there too,
silence reigned, and not thing was out OF
place listened at the outside door which
led into the yard, and could hear the snore
of the dog in his kennel as he lay dreaming
of his last days sport, or his much enjoyed
bones; with this exception al was still IN the
yard.
Perhaps after all, my motherin-law was
i'll; and assembled the stairs again and
again listened at her door. was afraid
to disturb her, for l knew how much my
husband had wished that she should sleep.
OF u. l.. II 10 ohn n
me and spoke:
LILLY, is anything the mstterT
So opened her door and went in. She
had not slept since had left her, but had
bsen tossing about with pain, she told me;
and she, too, had heard those mysterious
sounds and wanted me to explain them.
That could not do; but / gave her her
medicine and smoothed her pillows, and
after while she turned her face again to
the wall and gently closed her door, and
left her once more alone.
Yet sgain | cat down by the fire, and the
kitchen clock announced quarter past
twelve: what occurred after that | can
scarcely tell you, for the next thing | heard
wnsss fearful crash! l thought the very
walls of the house must have given way,
and then, oh, what an awful stiffness fol-
lowed.
1t was impossible to bear it alone, my heart
beat as if it would burst, and with one wild
cry I rushed up the stairs and into the sick
womsns room, without single thought as
to the consequences.
There sat Mrs. Fairfax bolt uprightin bed,
suddenly aroused from sleep-sleep which
was of such value to her-with her eyes
starting almost from their sockets.
"Iily, what is itH' she gasped.
Her fear steadied mine 81 do not know,
mother" / replied, "but it cannot be any
thing very dreadful, and Walter will soon
be home"
my dear" she returned, "the kitchen wall
has certainly fallen in
"Oh no, mother, it has not, went in there
Just now, and it was all right"
She pondered for while, then in an swed
voice she said: Lily, have offer heard that
the Gray House is haunted, and have
laughed at the idea. have lived here thirty
years, and have never heard anything I'M
Ill tonight. 1t sounded like the clanking
of a chain, and seemed to be under my
head My dear, maniacs do sometimes es.
cape; think you had better lock the door.
But when looked there was no key
So We sat together clssping each other IS
hands until the sound of horses hoofs
struck upon our ears.
Then did not wait for my husband to
ring, but | rushed down the stairs, few
through the kitchen, opened the scullery
door, and flung myself into his arms, just
as he dismounted.
"Oh, walterl Walter! thank God you have
come cried, and burst into food Of
tears.
Little woman, what is the matterY he
asked gravely, as he clssped me in his
arms
"Oh, 1 don't know tbs someshing dread
fulr
For a moment he held me from him, and
saw in the moonlight that he paled.
Lilly, is it my mother2 is she worseY
mol / hope not only frightened, /
think"
He kept hold of me with one hand, and
with the other rang the bell for Martin.
"Win you go in, darling" he asked, you
will catch cold if you remain out here.
No, no! let me stay with you" l plead
ed: II am afraid to go in.
He looked at my white face with wonder,
as l stood with the moons rays shining full
upon me- and said no more.
When the lad came down he asked quietly;
ais everything right
"Quite right, sill"
mo CALLS
NO sir"
He handed Martin the bride and spoke
to him once more:
Don't forget to lock the doors"
NO, sill"
Then he led me in, and when we reached
the dining room ne looked at me.
We'll, darling, what is itY' he said.
"Walter," l replied grsvely, this house
is haunted"
as that alp he returned, and his hearty
laugh well-nigh dispelled my fears though at
the same time it somewhat aroused my tenn
per.