Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-05-17
Should | Have Spoken?


Col. Armitagc. to run down TO his
house, Medlicott Grange. in Berkshire,
for some hunting and couple of balls.
AS in those days ! waS-well some
years younger than / am now. and
(having but lately returned from India
on sick leave) very keen on all sorts OF
English amusements, | wrote off n hur-
ried note of acceptance aud speedily
followed it,
knew Mrs. Armitage slightly, and
was well acquainted with the Coloners
taste in champagne. besides which |
had met, not long before, and uncom-
monty pretty sister of his, whom !
thought it would be by no means I'M
pleasant TO meet again. so started of
in the best of spirits to catch the 43O
train at Paddngton.
/ calculated that run of two hours
would give me ample me for the three
miles drive and TO dress for dinner ut
s. However vain were my hopes,
there was break down on the line,
which kept me kicking my heels at
wretched junction for over an hour and
we only reached Estbury Station at 7
O'Clock. There was no help for it. l
dashed into the carriage sent to me,
and arrived at the Grange in as short n
time us Armitagc's steadi old coach
man would allow. but found my host
alone, awaiting me IN the hall, with
outstretchcd hand and genial wei
come.
knew that he was regular mar
tinct for punctuality, so was not sur
priscd when he hurried me up directly
to my room. with orders to dress sharp
1t was large, and well appointed
room, with bright fire and candles,
which looked very CHEEKY after my long
drive.
'All right, old char. I'll send Reg
gle up 10 show you the way down in
quarter of an hour,' were the Colo
mel last words, us he left me TO nv
toilet.
| dressed rapidly, but remembering
the long passages, unexpected steps. in
tricatc turningS and numerous stair
cases | had travCrSCd on my way up
waited for my promised conductor.
Suddenly the gong Numbered through
the house, and |, thinking was forgot
ten put out my candles and turned to
tie dOOr-when it was softlr opened,
and young man appeared, who beck
oncd to me.
| followed him into the passage.
which was rather dark, and began to
say something expressive of nv obliga-
ton TO him; but he siIcncCd me w tn n
wave of his hand. and preceded me,
with noiseleSs steps and averted face.
along the passage.
| thought this was odd, but my sur
prise increased when he took an abrupt
turn to the left which did not remcm-
Der, and we found ourselves in a long.
low, oak panoled corr dor. dimly light
ed by hanging lamp.
| began TO feel curious sensation
stealing over me, and underworld to
speak, but was withheld b. an undeiin-
cd feeling. so followed my guide in per-
feet silence TO to the end OF the CORR
dor He then passed through green
baize door, up flight of corkscrew
stars, and through another passage,
still feeling myself impeIed to follow.
till lie stopped, opened II door, and
stood back for me TO pass before him.
| had not seen b face before. but
bad observed he was rather above the
middle he ght. w tn good figure and
rather military gait; his ha'r Was fair
and cut very short.
Now. however. | saw his face: il
was ashy white. with such an express.
SION of horror AMI fear in his wide
open eyes rs froze my blood; | again
made an Intellectual attempt to speak to
him, bat he mot.Oncd me impcriouslv
to enter, and felt constrained TO
obey.
| found myself in an oddly shaped
room. only GIFTED by the pale RAYS OF
the winter moon, which shone in coIdlv
through the cnrtainlrss windows. Ii
was evidently an unused apartment.
Tor there was no carpet, and NV foot
steps sounded hollow on the boards.
Between the windows, half in shadow.
hall moonlight, stood large bed As
g'Zed upon it my eyes became gradu-
ally accustomed to The DIM light, and
observed with shudder that it was
drapeu with black and decorated with
tall black plumes, like those on u
hcarse, and that there was notion
less form extended upon it.
glanced around for my guide-he
was gone and the door was shut,
though had heard no sound
thrill of horror ran through nv
veins; felt an almost irrcsistb bic desire
to fight; but again the same inexplica-
bic force urged me ON, and approach
ed the bed IL Sow and trembling
steps.
There lay young. and as far as |
could see, beautiful girl dressed as
bride. i'll white satin and lace, wreath
OF orange Oh her head and the long,
white veil covering though not OBJ
sour ng her features; but oh! horror!
The front OF her dress and veil ali dab
bled and soaked blood, which /
could see flowed from IL deep open
cash in her while throat
My head swan and remembered no
more. Suddenly | felt cold
shock in my face and opened my ewes
to find myself on the ground W tn NV
head supported by my kind host, who
was looking down on me with anxiety
expressed in his face. As my bewilder.
ed senses reasserted themselves. | re :
membercd what had seen, and with
an exclamation sprang to my feet.
There was the same bed, but in the
bright light saw that it was without
the ghaslly appendages j had seen be-
fore, and was totally untenantcd. Col.
Armitagc began asking me some aues-
tons, but seeing that l was too much
dazed 10 answer, he took me bv the
arm half led me. half supported. for
i was still faint and giddy. back to my
own room. When there he put me
into an armchair give me glass of
water. and excla med: My dear fol-
low! What on earth is the matter with
youp We sent Reggie up for on, but
he came down saying you had gone.
We waited ten minutes then. thinking
you had lost your way. Instituted a
regular search and found YOU up in
the old turret chamber in u dead faint
on the foorr' ! pulled m self to-
gether and. as collectedy as | could.
told him what bad happened. He
listened with incredulity. aud then
a. A n