The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-04-08

addressed to her. She tore it open,
and in a tone trembling with excite
ment, read as follows:
My DEAR DAuGHTEE:--Iou know l have
often promised to tell you the mystery OF
this closet when am on my death bed. As
I grow older begin to fear that will die
suddenly and not be able to tell you fully
about this skeleton, so have concluded to
write you letter and explain ALL know
that when I'm buried You will come to the
closet some day and see my letter.
was the child of wealthy parents. My
father died and left my mother and myself
alone in the world. When I was twenty
years old met Cecil E!lingham, who was
many years my senior, buta a more brilliant
or high-toned man never lived. He had
beauty that was more than human, 1t was
ange,ical His profession was the law, and
he had no relatives He told me that he
loved me- and replied that it was mutual,
but did not tell him all I worshipped
him. My mother died at this time. Cecil
took great interest in America and pro-
posed that We sell our property. get married,
and sail for the United States agreed. Ce
ell was taken suddenly i'll, and all that love
and money could do for him was done, but
he died.
Oh, my daughter, my daughter, You can't
imagine the bitter anguish that fills my
heart as write these words. I employed a
skillful physician to dissect my beloved. I
had the bones carefully cleaned and packed
in box. I then sold my property and
sailed for this country, for I didn't care to
live in England any longer. l brought Ce-
ellis bones with me, and when I reached
New York I made arrangements to have
them fixed together with wire. They were
arranged so that if you stepped on one
wire the skeletons jaws would move. Ii
you trod On another one the arms would
embrace you. then had alnusic box made
which, after being wound once, would play
funeral hymn several times. This music
box played only when you stepped on GER
tain wire or pressed it with your haLd.
1 left New York, came to this town, and
bought this house. When purchased it
had this closet made, and.I sent to New
York for the music box and Cecirs skele-
ton. With my own hands I fixed them in
the closet. I made solemn VOW that no
one in my lifetime but myself should open
this closet. had a brass lock and key made
for it, and I wore the key on string aroInd d
my neck. After had lived here awhile Mr..
TraverS asked me to marry him. l told him
I loved one who was dead, but I wonld try
and make him good wife. If l married
him, however, there was one thing he must
promise, and that was he must never ask
me to let him look in the closet, about which
he had heard people talking, for even at
that time people were discussing this secret
place.
He cheerfuily made the promise, and We
were married. Charles was pure man,
and he was a kind husband to me, but
could not love him as did Cecil--no, not
one Eundredth part as much. You We're
born during the third year of our marriage.
Charles lived but four years, and during his
lifetime very seldom visited the skeleton
of nv beloved. Before married Charles,
sErsa v-.>Haiollv since his death, I have often
visited Cecil's bones. I have heard his jaws
moving, and although it was nothing but
dry bones,knocking together, it almost seem,
ed to ne that the dead was talking to NE
from. the spirit land. AS have listened to
the solemn music, and felt the bony arms
of the skeleton around me, a feeling of pc.
culiar happiness came over me. How often
Lave kissed the edges Of those holes in his
SKULL where once his brilliant eyes sparkied.
1 could write more, my daughter, you know
all now. remain your affectionate moth
er, HARRIET NJ. TRAvEEs.
Mrs. Griffith threw down the letter
and burst into a food of hysterical
tears. Mr.. Griffith locked the closet
door, and taking the hands Of his
wife and daughter, led them from the
room. The mystery was solved now.
It made a considerable stir, as every
body talked about it. AIr. Griffith
had the skeleton buried, and employ
ed skillful workmen to remove all
signs of the closet.
Better would it have been for Ow-
en- GrihitA's falnilyif the mystery had
never been solved. The fright expe-
rienced that night by little Mary made
her subject to convulsions, and she
soon after died. Her death was a Sc
we're blow to her parents, for she was
their only child.
MCDONALD FURa1AN.
Ramsey, Sumter county, S. C.
BUCKLEN'S ARNICA SALvE.
The best salve in the world for cuts,