The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-12-11
ann naturally strong minded, an

/ said to myself: II shall find out the
secret. The first link of the chain is be-
tween my fingers. never before heard Of
! ghosts tramping bits out of their drapery
and no doubt the ghost 1 saw had been
nearly as much afraid as myself when l SC
suddenly approached it, and had not got
away without a little furry. This accounts
too," 1 thought, ''for the resistance which
1 felt to my hand when 1 first laid hold Of
the window curtains.
1 was more than ever persuaded that a
trick was being played on me. did not
feel, however, as if 1 could sleep in the
room that uight. If my visitor was, as I
suspected, mortal like myself, there was
no saying what he or she might be induced
to attempt, should the desire of revenge
prompt second visit. My life was not
safe in such circumstances, when barred
window and locked door were not sufi-
sient to protect me from intrusion. re-
4olved for that night to occupy the bed
room where my two eldest children slept,
which 1 could reach without disturbing the
rest of the house.
1 was about to take up my candle and
go, when 1 imagined I heard sound be-
hind me. In my state of nervousness, L
started, and had almost dropped the candle.
1 looked towards the window; but the
curtains hung motionless, and were parted
as had left them.
A thought struck me. If my visitor
were to return after I had retired, how
should I know? pondered the matter a
little, and then proceeded to action.
Trickery must in this case be met by
trickery. I went to my workbox, took out
reel of thread, and drew on few yards:
There were curtain fasteners on each side
of the window, about two feet from the
floor; and between these l stretched and
made fast the length of thread, SO that no
one could enter the room from the window
recess in the course of the night without
unconsciously breaking the frail barrier L
had erected. This would afford me suf-
fcient proof as to whether the privacy of
my sleeping room had again been invaded.
Taking up my candle and the bit of cloth,
1 then passed quietly out, locking the
door of the room, and carrying the key
with me. I felt myself stronger in the
presence of my children, and soon managed
to fall asleep.
CHAPTER IL.
My first quest next morning on leaving
the apartment where l had slept, was for
the purpose of ascertaining whether my
bedroom had been again entered after had
left it on the previous evening. | unlock
ed the door and cautiously looked in.
Enough light came through between the
drawn curtains to show me that the room
was apparently as left it. l advanced to
the window and found the thread there,
nnbfoEen, and evidently untouched.
must confess 1 felt somewhat disappointed
My fears had probably exaggerated my
conception of the danger, and had antici
pated second visit as more than probable
After thinking, however, 1 came to the con.
clusion that it was better as it was. Had
my strange visitor for any purpose entered
my room a second time, and found that
had quilted it, the effect might have the
reverse of favorable to discovery of the
trickery, which discovery could best be
forwarded by my making as little chang'
in my usual habits as possible. 1t was moi
improbable, seeing that no suspicion hat
been aroused by the knowledge that had
changed my sleeping apartment, that thu
"ghost" might be emboldened to pay me {
visit on the following night; and by thai
time hoped to be able to arrange for thu
interception of my strange visitor, and the
detection of the trick.
In the course of the morning | haC
made up my mind how should proceed
Mrs. Weevil generally left after baeakfas
on her errands to the neighboring villag'
or elsewhere, not generally returning for
few hours; and 1 thought this good tim'
to obtain an interview with Andrew, tn,
old gardener, who, saw, was engaged il
trimming the walks in front of the door
I had no doubt now that what l had seel
had been also appearing to the servant
who had SO suddenly departed on tn
previous evening; and 1 had no doubt als'
that Andrew knew the whole story abou
the ghost having been seen again in tn
house opened the parlor window ant
spoke with him over the balcony. ''Wil
you come upstairs, Andrew? | shoul'
like to speak to you"
He stood for moment in hesitation
scratching his head. think ne woul
have preferred anything to entering m,
house at that moment, but evidently he di
not see his way to refusing. A few me
ments later he was in the drawing room.
"Andrew," 1 began, with some inten
tional solemnity of manner, ''you see tn
position 1 am in" His expression Indicate
that he considered the position an exceed
ingly unpleasant one. "The story has go
about" I went on f'that this house
haunted" He turned pale. "You thin
it is haunted?" I asked, looking at hin
fxedly.
He hesitated for few moments, shool
his head slowly, and succeeded finally il
saying: "W'at is folks to think, maam?
II acknowledge" I answered, ''that tn
thing has queer look. When people ap
pear, and vanish as suddenly as they camt
it is difficult to think of them as creature
| e III - LI..I lsl-o ,rro1,-ao ~