The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-07-02
ROOM WITH The STAIRCASE,
BY ELEANOR CoEBEr.

~ BY ELEANOR COEBET.
In the fall c. 1884. my husband and
1 were making trip through the north
ern part of North Carolina. in search
OF long missing relative, for whom
considerable legacy. was waiting.
which legacy, III cascof his death, with
out heirs, would fall to us, as next of
kin. clew to his whereabouts had
been hard TO obtain, and when at last
1t was found, the following of it kept
us zigzaglng about from one little town
to another; and many of these being
miles from any railway, we had CON
sidered it advisable to possess ourselves
OF u horse and light buggy, and drive
ourselves wherever the trail might lead
us. In pursuance of this plan. we had
been on the road for many hours, and
had obtained some valuable informo-
tlon, when in cndeavorine to follow dj-
rections and take a short cut, we found
ourselves on lonely road, apparently
very far from the town we were aim
ing for, and our horse had begun to
limp a little, and seemed quite tired
out. 1t was dark and chilly, too, be-
ing now the last of October, and there
was rising wind. moaning and whist
ling about our ears, and plainly warm
ING us to seek shelter before the night
should be upon us. We drove along in
silence, looking eagerly for some Signs
OF human habitation, aud feeling as
though lire and food We're blessings not
properly appreciated heretofore.
AT length there was slight turn in
the long, straight road we had been
following for the last hour, and a little
way ahead, we caught the welcome
glimmcr of lighted windows, and in a
few minutes more, Fred drew rein in
front OF large, weather beaten, wooden
house, which seemed to promise shelter
and warmth. at least. Aud his promise
was more than fulfilled, when we made
our presence and our wants known, for
we We're received with as much hospi-
tallty as though we had been invited
guests. or friends of long standing
Strangers were evidently rarity IN
this section OF country. and We're a well
come diversion from the monotony of
everyday life. We had arrived very
opportunely. just i'll time for the even
ing meal in the great roomv kitchen,
which seemed to be the headquarters
and general rendezvous of the farmers
draw up and partakc of the bountcous
and appetizing supper, and when that
was over, we exerted ourselves to make
the next hour Il pleasant one for our
entertainers. by giving them news of
the outside world. and such gossip of
the country side as We had picked up
in our late wandcrings. But the hearty
meal and the increasing heat of the
fire, joined to the fatigue of our long
drive, soon combined to make ME very
drowsy; and seeing this, my husband
requested that we might be allowed
to retire, though it was not yet nine
o'clock.
'Put us" said Fred, wherever it
will least disturb yourselves. We shall
be thankful for bed, anywhere.
''Well! I'm afraid we can't give you
very warm room. You see, Sister AL
miry's here with all her family, and so
we haven't but one empty room left,
and that's in the corner which gets the
northwest winds. But it's got good
can take your ch'ice" And with this
the farmer handed us tallow candle,
and with another in his own hand, led
the way upstairs, and. turning into q
narrow intersecting hall, with doors on
each side, he unlocked The one belong
ing to the corner room.
Up to this moment, everything con-
nected with the house and its occu-
pants. had been of the most prosaic
and matter-of-fact description; but with
that opening of this locked door, all
this was changed. and different atmos-
pherc cnvclopcd us. This, however,
was rather felt than seen. for at first
view there was nothing unusual, except
fight of seven or eight steps, running
down to closed door. apparently on a
level with the floor of living rooms
which we had just Quilted We both
turned to the farmer, with questioning
looks, and were answered by a hearty
.Oh, YOU needn't be skeercd O that
door. 1t opens on to the end ofthc hall
uOWu-SlilIS. ClOSC w illC hlAsS Atooi VI
the piazza, but that's locked, and this
YOU see, is bolted on this side and hasn' t
bep opened this dozen years. Well.
l'lNkave you this candle. too, in case
yg sant t, to keep keep, Zig; liSht !, burning and
He stepped outside, and Fred closed
and locked the door after him. and we
turned to take more comprehensive
yis<pf our temporary abode. 1t was
q a large room with two windows.
,atE..Ae right side; the end facing the
door was n blank wall, against which
stood the head of one of the beds. the
foot of it projecting into the middle of
the room. Over on the other side, OPP
posite the further window, was door,
presumably of closet. the rest of wall
being unbrokcn; and in the end, where
we had entered, was the staircase. the
hall door, and in the corner to the