The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-06-25

view there Vas nothing unusual, except
a flight of seven or eight steps, running
down to a 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 hearty
ooh, you needn't be skeered o. that
door. 1t opens on to the end Of the ball
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,
| I'll leave you this candle, too, in case
you want to keep light burning, and
hope you'll sleep well. I"
| He stepped outside, and Fred closed
!, and locked the door after him, and we
tur,, ed to take more comprehensive
view OF our temporary abode. 1t was
quite Iars,e room with two windows,
at the right s,>de; the end facing the
door was blank wall, against which
stood the head of one IF the beds, the
foot of it projecting into the middle OF
the room. Over on the other side, op-
posite the further window, was door,
presumably of closet, the rest of wall
being unbroiSen; 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 the wall paper was OF
sickly, greenish-gray tint, while the
furniture was of the plainest descrip-
ton. "A most uninviting room, indeed,
and as | took in its different features,
was conscious of a feeling of the ut
most distaste, which became stronger
every moment.
There was damp chilliness creep
ing about, and a faint. musty odor.
which / had not noticed at first; and
that staircase, with It's dusty uncar-
peted steps, and the dark shadows lurk-
ing at its foot, gave me the horrors.
Fred" said |, "do go down there
and try if that door is bolted; don't
like the looks of it, =
Fred laughlngly obeyed, and report
ed that it 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. / 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 fora small stove lean
ing up in one corner. | closed and
locked that door also.
s.Well, Nettiepn said my husband,
already divested of coat and collar;
.'hadn't you better get ready for bede"
Fred" said | gravely, there's some
thing horrible about this room--I feel
it all over me-something creepy and
uncanny. Oh, you needn' 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
arms reach OF you this night.
why, little woman, what's come
over you? You don't often indulge in
nerves.
mo, 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't go to sleep first!''
We blew out one candle, and set the
other in the washbowl, across the
room, and tucked ourselves into the
bed I had selected. 1t was an old
fashioned feather bed, and so warm and !;
comfortable that my nervous misgiv-
ings soop faced out, and within half
hour, we were both fast asleep. and
slept soundly for what seemed a long
while. How long l do not know, but |
was suddenly awakened by a sensation
of cold, and reached down to draw up
another blanket, when heard the un-
mistakable sound of door gently shut,
and it was within the room!
A glance showed me that there was
no one at the hall door nor by the clos
ct, and the next instant sound arose
from the staircase; q slow heavy step,
mounting starr by stair. could not
turn my eyes away, though 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 fig
ure came into view. 1t was a short,
thickset man, apparently about sixty
years old, with iron-gray hair, heavy
eyebrows, and stern, beardless face
with cruel, sensual mouth. His dress
was of the fashion in vogue half CEN
tury ago, and he carried d hat and a
riding-whip in his hand. His face
wore an awful gray pallor. against
which deep scar on the cheek stood
out in livid Witness. and his eyes look
ed straight ahead in an unseeing gaze
which seemed all unconscious Of our
presence.
AS ne mounted the top step, long
quivering sigh breathed through the
room, and / squeezed closer to Fred