The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-06-25
ROOM WITH THE STAIRCASE.
BY ELEANOR coRBEr.

ROOM With THE STAIRCASE,
BY ELEANOR coRBET.
In the fall of 1884, my husband and
l were making "trip through the north
ern part of North Carolina. in search
of long missing relative, for whom Il
considerable legacy, was waiting;
which legacy, in case of his death, with
out heirs, would fall to us, as next of
kin. A clew to his whereabouts had
been hard to obtain. and when ut last
it was found. the following of it kept
us zigzaging 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 a 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 informa-
ton, when in endeavoring to follow di-
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 little, and seemed quite tired
out. 1t was dark and chilly, too. be-
ing now the last of October, and thore
was rising wind, moaning and whist
ling about our ears, and plainly warm
ing us to seek shelter before the night
should be upon lis. We drove along in
silence. looking eagerly for some signs
OF human habitatiOn, and feeling as
though fire and food were 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 Il little
way ahead. we caught the welcome
glimmer of lighted windows, and in a
few minutes more, Fred drew rein in
front OF large, weathcr-bcaten,w wooden
house. which seemed to promise shelter
and warmth. atleast. And his promise
was more than fulfilled, when We made
our presence and our wants known, for
We were received with as much hospi-
tality Us though we had been invited
guests, or friends of long standing.
Strangers were evidently a rarity in
this section of country, and were well
come diversion from the monotony of
everyday life. We had arrived very
OPPORTUNITY, just in time for the even
ing meal i'll the great roomy kitchen,
which seemed to be the headquarters
and gcneralrepsGxvOus ef the farmers
large family. Here we We're hidden to
draw up and partalle of the bountcous
and appetizing supper, and when that
vas over, we excrtcd ourselves to make
che next hour 81 pleasant one for our
entertainers, by giving them news of
she outside world, and such gossip Of
The country side rs We had picked up
n our late wanderings. But the hearty
neal and the increasing heat of the
ire. joined to the fatigue of our long
;rive, soon combined 10 make nue. very
trowsy; and seeing this. my husband
requested that we might DO allowed
Q retire, though it was not yet nine
o'clock.
"Put u.s." said Fred, "wherevcr 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
uiry's here with all her family, and so
&c haven't but one empty room left,
and that's III the corner which gets the
northwest winds. But it's got u good
scd-two on 'em, for that matter, soye
can take your cll'icc.'' And with this
tho farmer handed lis tallow candle,
and with another in his own hand, led
the way upstairs, and. turning into o
narrow interesting hall, with doors on
each side, he unlocked the one belong
ing to the corner room.
Up to this moment. everything con-
pected 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 q different atmos-
phere enveloped us. This, however,
was rather felt than seen, for at first
view there was nothing unusual, except
flight Of seven or eight steps. running
down to closed door, apparently on a
level with tho floor OF living rooms
which we had just quilted. We both
turned to the farmer, with questioning
looks. and were answered by hearty
ooh, you needn't be skecred o. that
door. 1t opens on to the end of the hall
downstairs. close to the side door of
the piazza, but that's locked, and this
you see, is bolted on this side and hasn't
been opened this dozen years. Well,
Ill leave you this candle. too, in case
you want to keep a light burning, aud
/ hope you'll sleep we'll"
He stepped outside, and Fred closed
and locked the door after him, and we
turned to take more comprehensive
view of our temporary abode. 1t was
quite a large room with two windows.
at the right side; the end facing the
door was 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.
posito the further window, was " door.
presumably of n closet, the rest IF wall
being unbroken; and in the end, where
we had entered, was the staircase, the
hall door, and in the corner to the
right of this. the other bed, also with
its headboard against the wall. There
was no carpet on the floor, only rugs
laid at the beds side. and in front Of
the washstand; shades of dark green
paper screened the upper halves Of the
windows, and tho wall paper was of a
sickly. greenish-gray tint, while the
furniture was of the plainest descrip-
tion: A most uninviting room, indeed,
and as I took in its different features,
was conscious of feeling Of the ut
most distaste. which became stronger
every moment.
There was damp chilliness creep.
ing about, and q faint, musty odor,
! which I had not noticed at first: and
that al airnasa with ,ta lnak,, ,,nno..