Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-24

travellers. which these knight.-errant OF trade
are very anious 10 avoid paying. Hence 10 ID
that they Try 10 arrange u 10 show their goods
20 the local merchants In private and secret
way. This long room. with its long table, To-
Gated IN aremote part Of the building. 20 which,
being a public house, there il general and
ready access. Is exactly the thing suited for
their purpose. Tho proprietor OF the hotel
more than winks at IL. as IL brinss A great deal
OF custom 20 his establishment. and hence the
incentNe 70 invent reasons for the existence in
this spot Of the table. Good night, It's late,
and time for us both 10 be in bed"
IL nds late. The sound OF footsteps and the
buzz OF conversation. which usually attend q
public house, had died away. Quiet had -toleo
over even the noise OF hotel life. But was
destined TO have vet another visitor. Apologies
ing for the lateness OF the call nv saving he
had not learned was in town until he was ON
his way home, he proceeded 20 Law before me
the business that had induced him 70 pres IN
so near midnight He then rose 20 depart, and
casting a significant glance around the room
he said: Il wish you . sound sleep and pleasant
long table,"
answered. had heard much OF the various
services assigned 10 the table, but nothing that
nv dreams.
Well" he rejoined. mo doubt Won are q
man OF strong nerve: but. as little super-titious
as am. would not like 20 pass The night h
TINS ROOM especially alone"
How soy" asked. what IA the MEANING Al
all this? Tell me; insist"
We'll. said he, after something of n psuse.
VII you must know II. for YOU do not neem vet
10 have been told the truth; Il il this. DurinS
the winter just passed q mysterious disease has
prevailed IN this town. Many OF our most
prominent citizens were attacked nv IA ana
not a few OF them were carried of fts svmn-
toms entirely puzzled our physicians. ana All
thelr EFFORTS 70 arrest ITS progress, or 20 save
their patients, were in vain. Consultations
were held and advice sought from distance,
but without avail. Some of the transient guesta
at this house succumbed 20 the fatal scourve
and at first this long table became the reposi-
tory on which their remains were laid until
communication could be had with their friends
Ne to their interment. But at length, il was
suggested, that dissection Of the bodies of its
victims might reveal the nature OF the maiady.
The hostility OF the people in general 10 such .
proceeding, especially IN the country ia we'll
known. IL done at all, IL had 10 be done in
secret. and nowhere in a neighborhood. where
II is difficult to conceal anything, could this be
80 well secured in this room. way back in
the upmost story Of the hotel. Now Won know
the true use Of the long table," Saving this
he hurried of, after the clock had struck the
hour of II.
BY this time nv imagination. IL not INV fesrs.
began to be highly excited. NV first idea was
TO hunt mp the landlord and make him give
me another room, as n would be impossible for
me to spend the night In that one. But every
body in the house seemed 10 have retired; the
lights were out; deathlike silence prevailed;
and did not know where 20 look FOR him in
I the dark or whom 10 ask 10 direct me. Besides,
l was tired and greatly in need of rest. 10
I threw myself on the bed and tried 10 get 20
sleep, and Notwithstanding the fearful story I
had just listened 10, nature overcsme my e.-
1 cited feelings. and before long I sank into a
| doze. Though troubled and fitful nv repose
! and disturbed by awful dreams. 1 slumbered
! on in fashion, until was at length half
awakened by a sound like the rustling of a
loose robe or woman's dress. I opened nv
eyes to behold what appeared 10 be slender
figure, fitting around the room, clad in
the conventional white ghostly drapery:
At length, thought l. with all
my contempt for spiritual apparitions,
am come 10 experience the reality Of what
have always been SO incredulous A veritable
phantom htly revisits the haunts where 90
many human bodies have been subjected 20
the ruthless stab Of the dissecting knife. I
made desperate attempt 20 keep quiet. but at
length, despite all my efforts at repression. a
cry Of horror burst from my lips II was
echoed by scream from the spectral form,
which now stood up,
..Not like thin ghost or di-embodied creatures
But with lie bones, and flesh, and limbs, and fea-
"oh. sir" it finally exclaimed. Il beg your
pardon, sir but did not know anybody was in
the room. They did not tell me- got up
early, as always do on ironing DAYS, 10 get
ahead with my work before breakfast and an
that Is the table we keep for doing our ironing
on. came in here with my basket Of clothes,
and did not know anybody was here. beg
your pardon, sir! Please excuse me-"
And so, at last, was revealed the mystery o6
| "the long table"