Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-11-08
A MYSTERY SOLVED.
From the New York World.

va
Of land and fifty acres of water; and
this water was inga beautiful lake, upon
the northern shore of which, on a
gentle slope, backed by forest OF
naples, stood the mansion.
Capt. Ralph Severn had lived III the
mansion until he died. He had never
married-or at least he had never had
a wife in this country, and the only
members of his household when he had
admitted to share at all in his COmpan-
iOnship had been Seth and Hester Dab
ney-man and Wife-the two servants
who had been with him in the begin
ming, and who had remained to the
end
Upon his dcathbed contrary to gen-
erai expectation, Capt. Ralph Severn
had remembered a sister whom he had
not seen for wears, and to this sister and
her heirs he had wiled his estate. This
sister, then widow and named Ather-
ton, had come to Maplewood, bringing
with her an only daughter. But Mrs.
Anterior did not remain at Maplewood
a month. She got frightened at strange
things which had happened there and
moved away, and ere long afterWard she
died.
And so MapIewood came to be the
property of Lille Anterior the widow S
daughter. But Lille would not 60 there
to live She let old Seth and Hester
Dabney hold the place in charge, direct
ing Seth to find good tenants if he pos
sibiv could. Parties came ana hired
the mansion, but they did not re-
mann.
Capt. Ralph Severn had been dead
three years and nearly a score of people
had tried to live at Maplewood, and had
failed, whom my attention was attracted
by the beauties of the place. | had just
come home from sea, and had promised
my wife that | would try and settle
down and become sober landsman.
My wife and Lille Atherson were bosom
friends, and it was partly through this
friendship for the young heircss-for
Lille was only l9-that | was led to
Maplcwood; but having once seen the
place and admired the beauties of its
surroundings ! was anxious to make it
my home.
/ found Seth Dabney to be man OF
TO or Whereabouts, and his wife of the
same age. They were meek and hum
bic. and seemed very anxious to serve
me- In fact Seth was altogether too
meek. He was an old sea dog; and if
Capt Ralph had ever been q pirate, as
had been whispered since his death, it
was not hard for me to believe
that Seth Dabncy had been his accom-
phce.
On our first night at Mapewood we
kept up until rather late. 1t was al
most midnight, and my wife Molly
and myself worked at arranging our
library. The clock had just struck -
when Peters wife-her name was
Lucv-loolIed in and informed us that
the bedchamber was arranged. | was
hanging picture, and wished to finish
! hot I oft IT Mrll Ny'S a. nor
case was in small dressing room up
stairs, and she said she would run and
get it while | hung the picture. She
took Il lighted candle and went. | had
finished my work to my satisfaction and
had Just folded up my stepladder when
my wife came rushing in with her
candle eXtinguished, and as she
dropped her dressing case upon the
door | caught her in my arms. She was
pale and frightened, and looked over
her shoulder as though expecting that
something had followed her. AS soon
rs she could speak | heard her story.
She had gone to the dressing room
and got her case, and as she reached
the head of the broad staircase on her
return she had seen upon the landing
at her right female figure robed in
white, with blood upon its ashen face
aud with dabs of blood upon its snowy
drapory.
"Oh, it was dreadful - said my wife.
1.-THE specter waved its hand in threat
ening manner, and said to me, in an
wful whisper, Woman, there is curse
upon this house, and upon all who fol-
oW in the footsteps of Ralph Severn =
And then she pointed to gaping wound
upon her forehead, and with a cry Of
terror fled down the stairs"
Surely this was not a pleasant open
ing. but | urged it upon my wife that
she had not been hurt, and further
more that respectable ghost would
have appeared to me rather than to
her
1t was half an hour after midnight
when we retired. The chamber which
we had selected was the pleasantest
room in the mansion-a large square
room, with deep bay window looking
down upon the lake. The hangings
were of green velvet. heavily fringcd
with gold, and the curtains, though
slightly yellow from time. were clean
and of finest lace. | left small lamp
burning upon the dressing table, and
being very tired fell asleep soon after
touching the pillow.
How long | slept | cannot say. but it
could not have been an hour, when |
was awakened by my wife. who was
eltnglng to me in fright, and as awoke
| heard a low moaning sound as of
SOME one in deep distress, and present
ly a whisper as though the speaker
were close to my cara whisper awful
and dlstlnCt-and these were the words
that were spoken: "A curse there is
upon this house and upon ali who would