The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-07-02

i.' "CaaDoalu asS5atuSl lilc wall. 1nCrc
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 the wall paper was of a
slckly, greenish-gray tint, while the
furniture was of the plainest descrip-
ton. A most uninviting room, indeed,
and AS took in its different features, i
was conscious of a feeling of the ut
most distaste, which became stronger
every moment.
There was a damp chilliness Creep
ing about, and faint. musty odor.
which had not noticed ut first: and
that staircase, with Its dusty uncar-
peted steps, and the dark shadows lurk-
ing at its foot, gave me the horrors.
Fred s',id ], "do 90 down there
and try if that door is boltcd don't
like the looks of it
Fred laughlngly obeyed, and report
ed that 1t was not only bolted fast
enough. but that the bolt was so rusty
from disuse that it would not slip the
fraction of an inch. l crossed the
room, candle in hand, and opened the
other door. A mere shallow closet,
with high shelf and row of nails, and
empty, except for q small stove lean
ing up in one corner. closed and
locked that door also.
We'll, Nettie?' said my husband,
already divestcd of coat and collar;
"hadn you better get ready for bed?'
Fred" said ! gravcly, there's some
thing horrible about this room-I feel
1t all over me-something creepy an
uncannv. Oh, YOU needn't laugh, and
If you think you re going to have one
of these big beds all to yourself, you're
mistaken, for I'm not going to be out of
arm 5 reach of you this night"
why, little woman, what's come
over you' You don't often indulge in
nerves.
No, don't, but | can't help it now;
and oh, my dear. do let us take this
bed nearest the door and keep Your
candle burning all night, and mind YOU
don 60 TO sleep frsl!''
we blew out one candle, and set the
other in the washbowl. across the
room, and tucked ourselves into the
bed | had selected. 1t was an old
/, fashioned feather bed. and so warm and
comfortable that my nervous misgiv-
ings soon faded out, and within half
hour we were both fast asleep, an,,
slept soundly for what seemed a LON o
while. How long l do not know, but /
was suddenly awakened by sensation
OF cold, and reached down to draw ,lp
another blanket, when | heard the un-
mistakabe sound of a door gently Shut,
and it was within the room!
A glance showed me that there was
no one at the hail door nor by the clos
ct, and the next instant a sound arose
| from the staircase; slow heavy step,
mounting star by stair. | could not
turn my eyes away, thongh | was
trembling with fright, and my heart
was beating so could not speak: but
put out my hand and clutched Fred's
arm. and he awoke and sat silent, be-
side me, listening to those fearful steps.
They were more than halfway up now,
and head and shoulders arose above
the banisters. and then the whole iir-
ure came into view. 1t was a short,
thickset man. apparently about sixty
years old. with iron-gray hair, heavy
eyebrows. and a stern, beardless face
with cruel, sensual mouth. His dress
was of the fashion in vogue half a CEN
tury ago, and he carried Il hat and a
riding-whip in his hand. His face
wore an awful gray pallor, against
winch deep scar on the cheek stood
out in livid witness. and his eyes look
ed straight ahead in an unsecing gaze
which seemed all unconscious of our
| presence.
As he mounted the Top step. a long
quvcrlng sigh breathed through the
! room. and | squeezed closer to Fred
and grasped his hand tightly, yet could
not take my eyes away from our
| strange visitant, nor make motion to
leave the room. Fred. too. seemed to
| be under {: spell. and though not usual
| ly wanting in bravery, he made no
movement to drive away the intruder.
Together we sat there scarcely breath
ing, and watched, while. like one dis
/ traught. the figure paced the room. be-
tween staircase and window, sometimes
| pausing by the other bed. now shaking
| his cllnched list in the air. now clutch
ing with both hands ut his gray hair,
| grooming and signing, and with ever
moving lips, from which came no ar
ticnlate words to our strained ears.
| His decp-set eyes never tnrned upon
us; ii they had, l think the horror of
that craze would have driven me crazy
on the instant. AT length he dropped
upon the bed as though exhausted, and
after few moments. waiting. | was
about to whisper to Fred to get me out
of the room. when. with Il groan more
hollow and heart breaking than any
before, the flare sprung from the bed,
made but a Step to the window, and
/ threw himself out. 1t was all over in
a moment, and seemed to break the
spell which had held us motionless; and
with an exclamation, Fred dashed to-
ward the window. 1t was closed as
securely as before. and the outside
blinds were closed and fastened: and
when he turned to the bed where three
minutes before we had both seen a
heavy figure lying, 1T was smooth and
undented as though just made up.
With look of asben horror spread
ing over his face. my husband came and
| lifted me to the floor
Come" said he, ~'let us get away
from this accursed room"
We huddled on our clothes, slipped
out into the hall, and found our way
down to the kitchen. where the fire and
the homelv, everyday look of things
somewhat settled our nerves. And
here, couple of hours later, the farmer
and his wife found us, and listened to
our narrative. AS it progressed they
looked at each other with comprehcnd-
ing glances, and at the end the man
exclaimed:
well. ! swear! it's all true then.
about the ghost None of lis ever saw
him. and l didn't believe it, or
wouldn't have put strangers into that