The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-10-11
NUMBER 36.


creaked on its worn hinges and swung
inward noisily.
There was futtering and scurrying
across the floor and from the walls
about me, and a damp, musty odor
greeted my nostrils. 1t was well for
me that my hostess insisted on my TAX
ing my small travelling sachel, which
lnow held in my hand, for in It's differ
ent compartments were things needful
in an emergency. A small night lamp.
matches, a small flask of liquor, a
guide book, needle case, thread,
scissors and a thimble, and a good
lunch. Thankfully I pressed the
clasp, opened the sachel and found a,
match.
As / struck it the great door swung
heavily to with a sharp bang. The
lock clicked, but 1 thought nothing OF
1t then. heard a snort of surprise
from 'Dick," =" and then / hlrriedly lit
my lamp and held it above my head.
What vast, grand old room! Rare
old tapestries hung from the walls,
festooned in their moldy draperies
with cobwebs and dust Here and there
paintings in massive gilded, tarnished
frames hung upon the walls, with
dust and mold so thick upon the faces
thereon none might tell the features.
The foer was of tessellated marble,
whose beautiful mosaic was nearly
hidden by the ravages of time and
dust
Huge pieces offurniture were placed
in admirable confusion about the room,
and velvet rugs OF a now indistinct
pattern covered the floor in front of
each chair or couch.
The windows were curtainless, but
solid wooden shutters. iron-bound,
kept out all prying eyes. Placing my
lamp (Which gave but little light in
these huge dimensions) upon the tall
lacquered mantel-piece, Hooked at my
watch. Seven o'clock / had no
thought of fear, but feeling of awe
crept over me as the moldy tapestries
waved to and fro, without a rustic,
probably from broken spot in the
masonry of the great walls, where,
too, a piteous moaning of the wind
kept crying.
Calmly, amidst the dead and gone
"Brau-Wylleens" looking down upon
me, able, no doubt, to see through
dust-covered eyes, l sat down on one
of the massive chairs and ate my lunch.
for was desperately hungry. Though
not lacking in ideality or romance, it
was an excellent time to be practical,
and to appease an appetite was good
strengthener of the nerves. You see,
was just the least afraid | should be
afraid.
My repast over, took my lamp once
more in my hand, and as l did so a
creaking board somewhere made me
start, and then thought heard foot
steps
Trembling slightly, and the least in
dignant without knowing why, hasti-
/ ly crossed the wide room and entered
garret hall Undecided. stood for
an instant listening. This room was
mostly bare, and SO full Of dark shad-
ows / quickly left it
Turning to go out, found the door
/ would not open. Again and again /
tried it, but in vain. Suddenly again
/ l heard Dick snort, then champ his
bits and paw the ground, and step.
( He, too, evidently heard or saw some
! thing to frighten or annoy. 1 must
/ get back to him-but how.
A winding staircase next met my
J eye, and, trying to be brave, L began
J ascending the steps. Again the sound
! of footsteps How foolish and nerv-
Gus l was becoming. Reaching the
/ top, long, narrow corridor opened
before me, and as L advanced another
| door near suddenly closed.
But on 1 went, peering into rooms
and halls, quaint closets and cup
boards, with a firm determination to
do or die. / felt my courage rise and
began to reason with myself. 1t was
the wind, and the rats, and bats,
and scratching of boughs and leaves
! against the window-shutters and roof
whence came the noise which my
nerves had conjured up into whisper
ing voices and footsteps. Unaccus-
toned to the unusual exertion of rid
ing so far and tramping about, l grew
| very weary
Couches stood almost everywhere,
! as if the former inmates of the old
house were only too fond of leisure and
reclining. With my handkerchief
brushed the cobwebs and dust from
one that had once been a thing OF
beauty, in its rich crimson satin COW
ering and heavy golden cords ard
tazse,s. now so soiled and tarnished.
Gratefully l sank down upon it after
! placing shawl over ii, albeit the
green mold and its odor were very
suggestive of a tomb.
Somehow amid all this gloom and
desolation l grew singularly calm,
when raising my eyes | met two dark,
i s,,1l
into mine from an opening in the floor
overhead.
L did not start or cry aloud, and as if
impelled by an unseen force, L raised
my hand and beckoned to the form.
1t Itquickly vanished, and soon after
a slight girlish figure, with long light
hair all unbound, with a darkly beau
tiful face and graceful form clad in lus-
terless black silk, made in the fashion
of our great grandmothers. stood be-
side me.
l sat up and took the small white
hand she extended towards me into
my own and chafed it, for it felt cold
Clearing my voice, L asked: ''What
is it and who are you?''
The slight form OF the girl. for she
was scarcely moro than that, shivered,
and her dark eyes sought the corner
of the gloomy room with furtive ap,
prehension.
''Do not fear" l said. bravely
Nothing shall harm you," and yet l.
too, was quaking with a startled.
nervous tremor sadly akin to fear.
Apparently reassured, she gave {
: deep sigh as though OF relief anC
dropped on her knees at my feet.
mo, mol" 1 said, mot there; 81
: here by my side,' and moving along