Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-07
A STRANGE PHOTOGRAPH.

profoundly do not know how long-but
was awakened by sense Of not being
alone; q watched, startled feeling ss o
white, swift moving object passed along
the tapestried wall opposite me and disap-
peared. sprang up, and. lighting my
lamp, threw the rays from strong Argand
burner through the room. lifted the
tapestry. Nothing but oak panels. solid
and substantial enough, under my close
gaze | could think of nothing which,
moving outside, might have produced this
effect within, and. try as would, could
offer no solution Of the odd apparition.
had come to Penarse for twenty-fou
hours, with my old schoolmate, Reynolds
Herholf, who, by marriage with its young
Spanish mistress, lately orphaned, had
become its master.
| always rather fancied mysteries.
liked fathoming them. / considered my
self first class amateur detective. Twas
in good spirits-''a vague looking forward
to some pleasantness "-as Invent down to
breakfast
| made no mention of my little expert
Hnce during the night to my host, but 1
accepted the renewed invitation that
would lengthen the twenty-four hours to
week.
When night came the house was full
of guests, and 1t was late before tho
building was quiet. | leaped easily to
the ground, from the balcony below my
window, and trusted to the lessons my
limbs had learned in boyhood to get back
again.
The lights were not vet all out, so l sat
down to wait under the shadow of o
friendly maple. AS l sat, | observed
dark figure moving slowly along the
southern wall.
"Ah! my friend of last night" said in
my own mind, expecting every minute to
see magic lantern" performance. l
watched it closely. l could but dimly
discern the outline, as it stood death
still, the head thrown slightly back,
as if the eyes were watching closely some
point above them. Something white
hoated slowly down from an upper win
dow. A zephyr caught it; it rose again,
and then descended obliquely. l could
see it nova bit Of white papcr-at my
feet. heard low, muttered curse az
the man CROPPED about on hands and
knees in the darkness. Again and again
he searched, but in vain [ was on the
point Of announcing myself and offering
him his billet doux, as l conceived 1t to
be, when tho sweet notes OF mocking
bird fell on nv ear-So wonderfully clear,
so perfectly initiated. as to command my
profound establishment and induce my
silence. Three times he repeated the
warbling notes, anG then moved swiftly
again to the wall Mirabilo dictu! again
white messenger foated down. He
seized it, and disappeared in tie darkness.
"a maid and her lover said, in con-
IS, ,rcs4 i 1aI
to light my lantern and try my effects"
tho filny, translucent vision Of the
night before than my yellow, shapeless
glare.
blew out the candle and stood looking
into the darkness of my room. Hal By
Jove, there it went againl The perfect
outline of slim, white. human figure
Before nv ewes 1t had appeared and disap-
peared. / could not tell whence it had
come or whittier it had gone. I climbed
room thoroughly, but without forming
the smallest solution to my odd vision.
The note had picked up was, after all.
no love letter-a BIT Of waste paper-and
ran as follows:
Must not look back Of Elizabeth's reign to
SEQ chimncys in use.
YOU can imagine that
White walls in those days were
Hollow mockeries indeedi A
Twelve foot room would be a
Midnight dungeon.
was soon sleeping soundly, and only
Weakened in time to prepare for q luxuri-
Gus 10 o'clock breakfast. Twas unusually
impressed by Herholfs haggard appear
ance. He assured me that he was well,
but to ME he looked feeble and worn. l
wondered that had not observed it more
on the day of my arrival.
A couple Of days passed, and once again
had seen my strange visitor.
Tho figure that had seen on the Sec
ond evening. from my seat under the
maple, l had seen several times since.
Sometimes it disappeared in the wall Of
the house; sometimes 1t came out of the
WALL There must be secret door, but /
could not find it; and why pair of SER
wants should choose midnight and mys-
terry for courtship. if such it was, could
not understand.
had unraveled the cipher of the note I
had found. and by taking the first word
of each line, read: Il must see you.
White Hollow, twelve, midnight"
/ sat, Is had grown to be my custom,
ncder the dark maple. It was midnight
and past. Tbs wall as usual yielded its
hgure. This time, without doubt,
wonan's- She moved swiftly down the
garden walk End out of sight. I took
ny place IS nearly ss possible where !
bad hrst -sesa her. and waited. An hour
had passed before ! again heard the faint
brushing Of her gown against the shrub
berys Ehe. followed the wall, from its
south corner, close under the shadow of
the dark gray stone. The point where q
jutting angle made almost blackness was
reached, and. by swift movement, which
rane the nearest possible to being too
late. contrived to insert twig between
the edges Of spring door as the wonsn's
figure dissolved into darkness. Iapplied
my ear to the narrow opening, and could
bear quick footsteps along stone Goor.
At length oil was silent, and I entered.
Tho door swung noiselessly on its hinges
and closed bchind me. found ute.
darkness and q damp oder for CON.
nsny felt my vay slowly and cautiously.
Occasionally tbs gallery widened some
whct. but usually II was barely wife
enough Tor me 70 Walk comfortably.
There were frequent turns. and twice
assembled narrow stairways, and at length
reached the terminus Of the gallery on
what seemed the second floor of the build.
ing. i struck q match-I had but two
and must be careful of them-but there
was nothing to sec. Only the narrow
walls OF Il Secret passagel No door to be
seen. retraced my steps. but the en-
trance had vanished There was but .