The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-07-17
MAPLEWOOD MYSTERY.

ANAA IL ~ " w - ~ A - a - - -
1t was called the Maplewood. There
were one hundred and fifty acres in
the estate-one hundred acres Of
land and fifty acres of water; and
this water was in beautiful lake,
upon the northern shore of which,
on a.gentle slope, backed by forest
of huge rock-maples, stood the man
sion.
Capt. Ralph Severns had lived in
the mansion until he died. He had
never married-or, at least, he had
never had a wife in this county
and the only members of his house
hold whom hehad admitted to share
at all in his companionship had been
Seth and Hester Dabney-man and
wife-the two servants who had been
with him in the beginning, and who
had remained to the end.
Upon his death-bed, contrary to
general expectation, Capt. Ralph
Severns had remembered a sister
whom he had notseen for years, and
to this sister and her heirs he had
willed his estate. This sister, then
a widow, and named Atherton, had
come to Maplewood, bringing with
her an only daughter. But Mrs.
Atherton did not remain at Maple
wood, a month. She got frightened
at strange things which happened
there, and moved away; and ere
long she died.
And so Maplewood came to be the
property of Lille Atherton, the
widows daughter But Lille would
not go there to live. She let old
Seth Hester Dabney hold the place
in charge, directing Seth to find good
tenants ifhe possibly could. Parties
came and hired the mansion; but
they did not remain. And other
parties came-for in all the country
around there was not more charm
ing spot-but these other parties
were driven out, as the first had been.
Capt. Ralph Severns had been
dead three years, and full score of
people had tried to live at Maple
wood, and had failed, when my at
tention was attracted by the beauties
of the place. l had just come home
from sea, and had promised my wife
that l would try and settle down
and become a sober landsman. My
wife and Lille Atherton were bosom
friends, and it was partly through
this friendship for the young heiress
for Lille was only nineteen-that
1 was led to Maplewood; but hav-
ing once seen the place, and admir-
ed the beauties of its surroundings,
l was anxious to make it my home.
Lille shook her head and advis-
ed me not to go. She was eager to
find a good tenant, as the valuable
estate was at present simply an in
cumbrance upon her hands, but she
would not have my wife subjected
to the horrors of the great mansion
And then she told me, candidly, that
it was haunted. She had herself
seen and heard the most frightful
things there, as had all who had
attempted to live beneath the roof.
But l was determined to make the
trial. And after due deliberation
and discussion, my wife, who had
great faith in my courage and PROV
ess, consented to go with me.
And so, with letter from Lille
we presented ourselves at Maple
wood.
I found Seth Dabney.tso be a mar
Of sixty Or thereabouts, and his wlli
of the same age. They were meel
and humble, and seemed very anx
ious to serve me. In fact, Seth was
altogether too meek. He was al
old sea-dog; and if Capt. Ralph hat
ever been pirate, as had been whis
pered since his death, it was moi
hard for me to believe that Seth Dab
ney had been his "best bower. y
Seth's face was never made for thu
face of a meek and humble man
He had evidently schooled himsel
into the character His face was
cunning and sinister.
Besides Seth and Hester, l founC
dwelling at Maplewood Peter Dab
ney and his wife. Peter was youn,
man of five-and-twenty, a son of Seth
and Hester, and his wife was an in
nocent looking woman, with the ap-
pearance of household drudge.
Old Dabney shook his head witt
mysterious solemnity when l tolC
him Ihad hired the place, and sale
he hoped | might be able to dc
what others had not done.
l asked Seth how he and his wifi,
had managed to remain there; anc
he replied that he had bound him
self by solemn oath to Capt. Rabbi