Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-09-19
NO. 80.


thing. Anyway, she did not stay long
with me that evening, but, after few re-
marks, she went yawning of TO her own
room.
II was next door to mine.
Once again | found myself alone in the
haunted room. But this time was re-
solved not to think about 1t. / was
nervous, aud | knew that the-more my
mind dwelt upon the matter, the more
nervous should become, and so l hustled
energetically about the room, heaped
Goals upon the fire, which, had the season
had its due, ought to have been conspicu
Gus by its absence, and began to un-
dress.
l had not mentioned anything about
it to Molly. Talking about it would only
have made 1t worse, aud Molly would
probably only have laughed at me had 1
done so, for since she was not going to
sleep in the haunted room herself, she
would certainly have been disposed to
treat the ghost question lightly.
A tap at my door, and Marsden, our
maid, entered the room. "I shall not
want anything tonight, Marsden," ex.
claimed, upon seeing her.
"If you will excuse my doing so, l
wish to say few words to you, my lady,"
she replied, in a rather nervous manner.
"There are some terrible tales going
down in the housekeeper's room, my
lady, about this room," she said, in
mysterious whisper.
"Thank you, Marsdeu, I know oil
about 1t, though. Hauntcd2" l replied,
with would-be indifference.
"Yes. my lady, terribly haunted, be-
lieve, and, not feeling quite happy about
your ladyship's sleeping here, took the
liberty OF looking about the room little
this evening.
"Thank you again, NIarsden, for
thinking of me. Well, and what have
you discoveredl" l returned lightly.
"This, my lady," she replied quietly,
drawing aside curtain as she spoke, and
disclosing behind it small paneled
door.
AIS it cupboardl" l inquired.
"No, my lady," she replied, opening
the door and revealing small, narrow,
extremely steep, winding fight Of stairs.
~ don't know where it leads to-" she
continued solemnly, "but l don't like
the looks of it,"
As a matter of fact, no more did I.
"Wc will lock this door, Marsden," re-
turned with decision.
There is neither key nor bolt, your
ladyship," she exclaimed protestingly.
And, seeing that she was right in this,
was forced 10 hide my fears. and, feign-
ing indifference, to put an end to the
matter by dismissing her. But no sooner
had she left me than l seized candle
stick and hurried into Molly's room. |
had given up all idea ofsleeping alone in
the Warneford Abbey haunted room.
Molly already was sleeping soundly,
but without moments consideration
woke her.
"What is it, deall" she inquired
drowsily.
"Wake up, Molly, I want to talk to
you," replied briskly, sitting down on
the foot OF her bed. "Can l sleep in
here with youi"
my dear Florence, just look at the
bed" she exclaimed, sitting up as she
spoke, and bestowing an indignant glance
upon me.
at is certainly rather small" replied
dolefully.
"Small ildced it is. l assure you
it is nearly half yard too short, and
as to turning over In it, 1t Is sheer i'm,
possibility" she returned testify.
"Oh, am so glad!" l exclaimed, and
meant what said.
"Gladi" she repeated.
every glad; because l have a huge
double bed in my room, and want you
to share IL with me"
"But, my dear, amso sleepy, and
know you will talk all night"
"No, indeed I will not, Molly" I as
sured her "You must come; really.
The room is haunted"
"Hauntedl"
| icoi hauuteu' mhy HIS BlNcu m'
the haunted room, and do really no
like it."
II will come, Florence, she agreed a
once. 81 call this too bad OF Mary
We can both sleep in here, and, o
course, you can not sleep alone there"
And, without further delay, she pu
on her dressing gown and followed IN,
into my room. 1t soon became eviden
to me that she looked upon the forth
coming night as rather exciting adven
ture, and that upon the whole, she wa
prepared to smile upon me for havin,
sought her protection.
Just as she was getting into bed, he
attention was attracted by my friend, tn
bedstead, and shc peered curiously at
for several minutes in her ear-sightei
way.
"I call that distinctly nasty" she ~
marked, with would-be gayety. ~ won
der II one can sleep comfortably in tina
bed3"
"Shall we try3" returned, suiting m
tone to hers, and before long we boil
had our heads on the pillows, and silenc
reigned in the haunted room.
So complete was tho silence that
believed Molly to have gone to sleep al
most Immediately. l was rather restles
myself, but was just doing off at las.
when Molly turned over 20 violently tw
or three times that she left me absolutel
without bedclothes. was obliged 4
demonstrate, although reluctant to do s
because of her good nature in comm
: into my haunted room with me.
"You pulled all the bedclothes ol
when you turned over the last time
dear" protested, gently. ~ reali
should not have disturbed you about it