Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-01-11

AN> LUG. ne uaO D0eu IOuuu, ny
a party of terrified negroes, dead in his
ped, and the brother to whom the prop
erty belonged had closed the house and
gone North to live.
Why did he not rent it ?" I asked.
Because the will distinctly provided
that no one but member of the family
should ever live there"
"Why?"
I'VE never knew. The will was made
during the war, and your uncle and 1
have always believed reason would
have been given, and good one, if he
had lived till after the war closed"
Why all this should have come to me
and brought back the past so wildly, 1
could not understand, and was vainly
trying to trace back the train of thought
that could have led % it, when my mail
was handed to me. Carelessly turning
over the letters, saw one that attracted
my attention, and opening it, found that
my uncle had died at the North and that
was now the owner of the home with
the winding stairs.
It was several weeks after this before
was able to settle down and look the
future in the face again. I had been
North to attend my uncle's funeral
and to settle up his estate. Everything
he had after paying his debts was left to
me. 1t was not much, but now that 1
was back in my Office and could look
into the matter, knew it was enough
to warrant me in telling the woman I
loved that could give her comfort
able home. Indeed had told her, and
we had arranged to 60 that very day to
look at the house with the winding
stairs. had told Annie all the stories
1 had heard to prove that the house
was haunted and had read her paper
found among my late uncle's effects in
which he said that something mysteri-
GUS was certainly connected with the
winding stairs and he trusted it would
be solved in time, but that he had not
the courage to do it, as it had first been
brought to his notice at the time his
dead brother lay in the house. Annie
pronounced the whole thing the effect
of morbid excitement and imagination,
and assured me she was curious to ex-
anime the place for herself. seriously
objected at first, for, although am not
superstitious, felt there was already
enough mystery connected with the
place to make one feel uncomfortable,
to say the least, if at all inclined to be
nervous.
1t was one of those afternoons when
the sun plays species of hide and seek
game, but as we approached the house,
he was out in full force and gave look
of quiet and repose to everything about
it.
"It is grand old place." said Annie,
lightly, and certainly it was, with its
giant oaks on the lawn stretching their
branches protectingly towards the
house, whose wide verandas supported
by tall pillars gave it an imposing ap-
pearance. As the first door swung back
and grated on its rusty hinges, we en-
tered the hall, closely followed by the
sun.
Room after room we entered, opening
windows and shutters to let Gods sun
shine in once more, and everywhere we
saw massive, carved furniture and old
pictures showing that the house was
once an elegant home. At last, how
ever, the lower portion of the house had
been examined and it was time to go up
the winding stairs. I looked at Annie
to see if she hesitated and then, Won
dering what strange, mysterious thing
could happen to us, started up, Annie
directly behind me. When I was about
half way up, the most horrible sounds
greeted us. It was, as the old woman
said, as though whole host Of demons
were groaning and crashing their teeth,
and the sound seemed to envelope us.
They were horrible, and were enough
to make the stoutest heart quail, for
they seemed to increase after they had
once commenced. I turned to Annie
as quickly as l could. ana, seeing ny
her face that she was likely to faint, put
my arm about her to support her as 1
seated her on lower step, for the
sounds ceased as we stepped back.
ado you mind waiting for me down
stairs?" asked, while examine into
this, or would you prefer to havesme
wait and cone out another timer"
"No, am going up stairs with you,'
Eshe said bravely. II am ashamedo OF my
want of nerve just now.
As she spoke she leaned back and
rested one elbow on the step above her.
Instantly the horrible sounds were
heard again, but as Annie moved for
ward again they as suddenly ceased.
"You had better let me take you
; down." I said quickly, as l saw her face
, lose it's color again.
.No." she said in a half subdued