Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-08-12
aiirmativs when she asked me if rested


 up the dark, lonely stair-cases, through the hollow-echoing corridors, and into the most important apartments of the hall
 Tho rooms were just as Sir Rupert left them, tho housekeeper said, with the excep. tion, of course, of growing old from neglect and the accumulation of dust which was ruining the silken curtains, damask hang ings and once bright-hued carpets. "It is sucn pity" said to Peggy, "that these must be doomed to dcsolate decay" "Yis," she answered, as ran my hand over the narrow gold-striped and gray sat in of the upholstered furniture, and found it full of ruinous breaks "Oh! wis, bu, who's goin' to dust this foine furniture for nothln', ma'am, but only to see the ex quoisitc patherns?"
 dld not reply to her negative question, for l knew she was right, and could bu, have said, ''n 70 onc," at best.
 ''There was taste hcrc," l said, looking about me, and making note of tho re fine ment in detail languaged forth in the fault less appointment of each stately looking but silent apartment.
 "Ah yes; an' tho misthress had illigan, taste to be shure, ma'am, nn' the lollses O her was not to be found in many a days roidc."
 After ascending two flights of stairs we came to Sir Rupert's apartments
 Away off up here, tobe out O tho way ov the rabblc,' he said," prefaced Clarkson as sine put her hand on tho door handle
 This suite of rooms overlooked the park and once beautiful lawn. And caught glimpses of an artificial lake in the distance stretching its sl:ining length beyond the lawn and around the park like silver crescent.
 "All ov these were perfectly iligant ir dNlo v1,<f said with a sigh as she shook the dust from the curtains and interpreted my far-away gaze.
 parted the crimson silk hangings as stood in the deep double window, with it's narrow panes catching the afternoon glow and looked long and silently away over the deserted park, where the brown leaves went scurrying hithcr and thither in the autumn wind. Then my eyes rested once more on tho artificial lake, and a sweet sad memory caElc back to me; the mcmor1 of a row on it's clear surface once, witt Lady Pcrcival, in fairer days, and the brightness of that carc-frcc and happy hour came back like q wave of light, only to render the desolate trans sformation of tho present almost unbcarable. l shuddered and glanced at Clarkson as I clutched the silken folds of fading crimson and turned away.
 'An' do ye's moinde ov the iligant days gone by, ma'am.' questioned she, diyining the cause of my ill-concealed emotion.
 "Yes, Clarkson, I mind" 1 answered dropping tho folds of the curtain, whicl seemed to burn into my hand, and coming down the dreary years to Sir Rupcrt's las, lonely days.
 "Doubtless he stood here, gazing out, per haps, and breathing maledictions on the ~S l~,1 geance on the head of luckless guestss" said, inquiringly, to Peggy, who had lief, the window and had gone over to q curious ly-inlaid cabinet on the opposite side of the room.
 But she vouchsafed no reply, simply mak ing the sign of the cross and looking super stitiously around tho room. Then, as if tc avoid my gaze, she dropped her eyes to the tesselated rug at her feet
 After spending the greater part of the day on tho upper floors, speculating and dreaming in the long-silent rooms anG holloW-echoing corridors, we came to the main staircase, leading down to the contra hall below. Wo had gone upstairs from tho first floor by sort of winding stairs opening out of the cheery- looking brealsfas, room. This room, the only really pleasant apartment to my mind in tho Hall, had its share of tragical memories also, after all its softened air.
 But to return to the main staircase, witl it's heavy shining balustradc of polished oak, to which we had come. Tho momen we set foot on tho first step, i'll descending 2 Clar rkson made the sign of the cross, and turning to me. whispered half-audibly:
 ''This is the identical 1loight of stheps tho master descinded just aforc he fell ane died a struggi,.' i'll the hall!'
 ''Indeed!' 1 ejaculated, feeling as if ] were close on the promised mystery as ] followed on down the "idintical t1oight"
 Once ill the spacious central hall, Peggy moved tragically aside, and pointing to q door at tho loft, continued in her stage whisper to make further developments by saying: "An' shure, ma'am, tho masthul was trying to rache that samc door whcr he fell right here," pointing to 6 particular place on the mosaic work of the floor ''an' he died, puir man, 'thout ivcr knowin ov any ov us."
 She ended with Q deep sigh and mos doleful shake of her white cap -rutilcs; anG had my littlo stock of courage given out, she doubtless, would have frightened the life outNsf me with her strange witch like move ments and mysterious airs.
 ''Let mo go in therc," said. presently pointing to the door at tho left which the hands of tho expiring Sir Rupert failed tc reach.
 II hardly bel.vo ye know what ye are askin' ov mo, mo Leddy. Faith, ma am, an that's the dhrawin room, where the dead masthur lay!'
 ''No matter" 1 answered, calmly enough "he isn't there now"
 "Oime not so shure ov it, ma'am; the spirit ov i'm, ye know" She looked Ut me q moment and then continued: s.Oimo will in to show you the drawing groom, mi'am but it's getting to be tay-tomc, am, at this toime ov day, ye must rcnilmber, it's moighty gloomy in thcre."
 "Well," said l, beginning to grow uneasy myself, "to morrow will do as well"
 "Yes," she assentcd, seemingly much Ye lievcd, ian thin ye'd have to sec the gal lery, too, maam, with it's foine paintings shure; every wan secs tho gallery, ma am ,
 This settled it, and we soon passed from tho deep shadows of the central hall out through an open court, and back cncc more into tho cozy servants quarters. Hero we found old Ancil Clarkson sitting by the fire with mug of beer for company, and wait ing for tho prospective ''tay" Peggy had ir view.
 The next day Clarkson took large brass key from ring in the wall, and unlocking the Hateful drawing room door, bade me enter.
 It was Q spacious apartment, elegantly