Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-11-21
Saint Narg's Beacon.
Revealed In A Vision.

Back from q road leading out Of
H stands an old, deserted house
Of the style bni!t when honest work
was to be had for, though a century
and more Of age, its frame is st2nch.
lie roof sound, and its heavy doors fit
their castings. 1t stands in q hollow
place that has become msrshy and
that gives snstsnance to a heavy
growth Of weeds. The trees that
stand about ii are thick and dark,
and the ccuntryman jogging home at
night speeds bis step when be passes
; this house. 90 still and lonely, staring
at him through a dozen unglszed
windows. An eccentric character
named Barclay lived there a. late as
1867. but he disappeared suddenly,
and the house remained unoceupied
for after bic disappearance queer sto.
5riss began 10 he told of the place,
and people were found who declared
that they had seen lights glintine
about the premises at half.past one in
the morning and heard uncanny
noises.
Resolved TO investigate the truth oil
these reports set forth one evening
to pass a night in the old mansion.
Frogs were piping in the distance and
fire. flies sparkled among the bushes,
the stars shoDe family, and the sir
had hardly perceptible movement
it was a still, muggy summer evening.
A walk Of couple Of miles brought
me to the place, and an unpleasant
thrill traversed my spine as / opened
the creaking gate and passed up the
avenue of trees, for / could have
sworn that heard soft steps behind
me, and once / felt puff of air like
q cold breath, on my cheek. ALI was
silent as ! pushed open the front door.
The air of the house was close and
musty, as if decay had set in among
its timbers, and as if vapors from it's
damp cellar found difficult outlet.
lit dark lantern and visited every
room and cupboard, without discover
ing anything remarkable. Dust lay
thick on everything, cobwebs hung
from the ceiling, and in one room q
bat startled me by squeaking and
whirriDg out through an empty win.
dow. The interior Of the house had
been but little marked and injured,
but in a bedroom on the upper feor
/ noticed that several bricks had teen
pried out of the bottom of the fire.
place with such force that two oil
them were broken. Bending over to
note the extent Of the damage again
heard soft step behind ne, but turn.
ing the rays Of my lantern in that
direction saw nothing. Yet, stay
What was that on the floor where the
football had sounded? I brushed
away the dust with my handkerchief
and dark stain appeared. Paint OF
varnish might have been spilled there
at some time.
An old box 10 the room afforded
me seat, and placing it in a corner
leaned against the wall and awaited
developments. The frogs chirped
drowsily, the leaves family rustled,
once in while timber cracked, and
beetle droned by the window. Ire.
member yawning once or twice, and
thinking that my vigil was a pretty
stupid business, and that I should
have been better off in bed; then
fell asleep. awoke with a start.
The night was intensely dark and
still. 1t was clouding over, as if a
storm were coming, and occasional
CLEANS of lightning on the horizon
made faint illumination. I had
been awake but few moments when
| became conscious of a stealthv
movement and soft breathing.
reached for my lantern. 1t was ex.
tinguished. The movement and the
breathing came nearer, and by flicker
of distant lightning saw the forms
oil two men bent over the fireplace.
They appeared to be removing bricks,
one, as if in haste or impatience. tore
out a couple with such force that they
were broken. As if alarmed at the
noise they had mace, they crouched
low and listened. What need of this
caution for was the only other
person in the house. Hark what
was that2 A step was on the stair,
light CLEANED under the door, the
knob turned, and old Barclay enter.
edl
was amazed to discover him there
for / had supposed him to have been
absent for years. He must have been
living in seclusion. l fancied, and had