The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-05-27


indeed, my friend has no piano-in
fact, Miss Mayne, 1 thought that |
was listening to your playing every
night, for have heard what must be
the same piano"
Miss Mayne looked incredulous at
first, then utterly amazed.
~ do not understand" she said.
"Can it be that we are near enough to
hear this from any other house?"
She rose, and went to the window.
"No; it is impossible" as the window,
from which we could see some distance,
showed the nearest house to be sep
arated from us by the garden and a
street which ran at the bottom of it,
besides the whole length of another
garden and rambling old orchard.
els it possible" said, feeling as if
l saw glimmer of light on the ques-
ton, "that any of your household
walk in their sleep? We hear this
quite late; and it might be possible
people have done such strange things
III Sleep"
"Indeed, no." she said. II am
afraid that will not do as an explana-
tion. We have just now only one
ser ervant, whom / have known all my
life, and never knew of her doing
such a thing. Besides she is not mu-
sical," smiling as she said it. II can
answer for my aunt and myself, and
for full assurance-our piano is not
yet unlocked. Ihave the key" touch
ing her watch-chain. "Ihave been too
occupied with my aunt to touch it as
yet"
at is more than can understand"
said I, rising. sit must be accounted
for by some kind of echo. will write
to my friend Thompson about it. /
am only staying in his house for q
week or two, as you may know. l
called because / wished you to under
stand how gladly would put stop to
what annoys you, were able" She
gave me her hand on leaving, and l
thought hers one of those faces which
seem more beautiful as you know
them better.
wrote to Thompson, and got in a
day or two the following characteristic
note:
"Dear Wyndham-You must have
been asleep. People next door, too.
Never heard any piano, and l have
lived there fourteen years. The man
who was there before me is dead, SO
can't send you to him for information,
Glad Idon't hearlt. Can't bear music.
Delighted that you like the country.
Yours, "F. T."
1called at the end of the week, to
tell Miss Mayne the result ofmy letter.
The aunt was better and down stairs;
they gave me afternoon tea, and
came away thinking that the mystery,
as it still was, had at least obtained
for me two very pleasant acquaint-
ances.
But the unexplained music did not
pass from my mind; especially as l
heard it still, though not every eve
ming. am believer in what are
loosely called GHOSTS" and one day
when Mrs Morse was in talkative
mood, as she took away my tea, l
brought her conversation round to
the subject of haunted houses, hoping
that, if there were any tradition be-
longing to Thompson's house, she
would mention it.
After many stories which she took
pains to say she "should not think of
believing" she said: "This looks
likely house for such stories, but
have never heard, nor look to hear or
see anything, but some people are so
silly. There was a silly girl we had
here, housemaid, always fancying
she heard music at night, near her
room-she slept down stairs-and at
last she left through it, though /
couldn't tell master such tale, but
had to tell him something more sensi-
ble. Such nonsense! l used to tell
full of, for she was all for music-won-
derfully fond of it. Why couldn't she
mind her work and sleep at night with
out dreams, as honest people should?"
With this last moral sentiment Mrs.
Morse and the a-things clattered
away together. What she had said
was odd, thought. Certainly was
more than half inclined to account
for that piano as something supernat-
ural, but could not call next door
and say so. 1t would seem ridiculous,
and should certainly run the risk OF
being laughed at.
A few days later my holiday came to
an end, and l left the lovely country
with very pleasant memories OF
Thompson's old, and, as / began to
believe, haunted house. 1t did not
pass away from my memory during
sweet face OF Miss Ethel Mayne.
Ten years have gone since then.
Some success as an architect has come
to me, and / am married.
Last year, by one of those strange
chances which come in some men
lives, Thompson had very large es-
tate left him in the north of France.
He went over to make arrangements
for selling it, but liked the situation
SO much that he settled there, and
have bought his old house. have
thrown both houses into one, and
made several changes since the days
when ] first knew it. Amongst others,
we use as q drawing-room a large
room at the back overlooking the gar
den, which Thompson used as a lum-
ber-room, / think.
My wife and hope to spend many
summer months there.
Our stay this year had nearly come
to an end, when on one Sunday even
ing stayed uplate, smoking. Before
Iwent up stairs remembered that
my wife wanted book brought up,
and went into the drawing room to
fetch it, There was no light in the
room but the red glow of the fire we
had enjoyed that chilly evening, and
I was bending over the table to try
and find the book, when a slight move
ment made me look up, and standing
close by the plane, saw-I am very
sure of it--a slight girlish figure with a
tace ! shall never forget--it was so
terribly sad. Slowly she moved from
where she stood, and seemed to pass
me. stf.
She wore some kind OF clingine
brown dress. followed into the hall,
where seemed to see her 60. No one
was there. I reused my wife, and
together We searched the house
vainly, efcourse.
] was not in the leaat alarmed at
the time, beyond . slight shock on