Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-09-03

" as It IS now, tWO-tnlrdS Of 1t IS badly dismantled and out of repair, leaving four rooms in one end above and be- low that are habitable. In these rooms Mrs. Wayland and her daughter lived. 1nquiring my way to the place, l learned from several mouths that the unoccupied part of the house was cer- tainly haunted. I was told of cries and shrieks that had proceeded from the upper stories on windy nights; of the rattling of chains, and noise of pis- tol-shots and clashing cutlasscs that had been heard from there by bela:ed and terrified passers. Itwas generally thought (among the people who be- lieved these things at alp that the sea- captain who built the house was a buccaneer, and that the spirit of him. self and his crew had occasional posses sion of the place.
 found the little family of tho de- ceased mate poor and in distress. The earnings of poor Wayland had for years gone to satisfy the creditors of other days; they were in arrears for rent, and were threatened with expul- sion from the old house. In a fit of anger at the landlord I purchased the place outright, giving for it twice as much as it was worth. As delicately as l could l relieved the widow and child. They were grateful, of course; the widow, consumptive for years, was sinking under the blow of her hus- bands death. The daughter was just half my age. l became interested in her, and before long persuaded myself that wanted to marry her. A week before her mother died we were made man and wife. I repaired the old house, and it has been our home since, though there are still many rooms in it unfit to be occupied. When I talked with my wife about the place she told me that neither she nor her mother be- lieved in ghosts, but that they had heard some very strange noises at night in the other part of the house, and that her mother had moro than once gone into mysteries over them.
 This, with what l had heard from others, gave me my clew to my future course.
 In my brief stays in Provincetown between voyages I have skillfully given out hints that I believed that the spirit of the old pirate, Lobdell, roamed through the house on stormy nights. l have really enjoyed seeing the shud- derings and pale faces that my stories on this subject have caused. When I have been asked how I could live in such place, have replied that had it on my hands and nobody would buy it. This has satisfied people.
 In such community, made up there is of course much ssupcrs tition These tales about the Eobdell place were generally believed because people were ready to believe them.
 But why did wish to give my own property so bad a reputation?
 Simply because I had made a treas ure-housc of the cellar under the un- used part, and nothing was so well calculated to protect it as these re- ports. The place is stunned. Thero is not the least danger from robbers
 Down in the old damp cellar, where l suppose no foot but mine has passed fer fifty years, 1 found cxcavated q great hole, and in it chest. Over the opening is a stone slab, so heavy that it has tried my strength severely of late years to raise and lower it. Over the slab is piled a lot of mildewed can- vas, rotting blanks, and worthless cordage, stored here by Captain Lob- dell himself. The great deep chest is full of stout bags of gold, with a few of silver. Year by year have added to the store, for twenty years-till it now holds full fifty thousand dollars.
 It is rather strange, but perfectly true, that found this place of con- cealment there, chest, slab, and all, just as have used it. l suppose the old buccancer made much use of it in his lifetime.
 My visits to the old cellar have al- ways been made in the dead of night, or at times when my wife and daughter were away. There is not anything certain in this world; but among the few things that are certain, I believe you may put down the fact that the hiding-place of my treasure is not sus- pected.
 Ireturn to my wife and daughter. Nellie is my only child. I have told you that l have them both. She is all that fond father could wish; and her mothcr-God bless hcr!-she has shown me how noble and good q woman can be. It's little time have spent with them ashore for the last twenty years; but think both would say that have been a kind husband and father; that l have looked we'll after their comfort, and always pro- vided them with money.
 Sometimes Helen has visited her mothers relatives in Boston, where, as understand you, you met her.
 I'm talking to you, MT. Crawford as though should be in another world twenty-four hours hence. You'll marry Nellie. l want you to trust her, as I have never trusted her and her