Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-11-13

and l am persuaded that at the time
all Thought as l did. that never was n
gayer scene even at Glendowie never
a host or hostess more cordial, never n
merry eyeo heir more anxious to be
courteous TO all and more than cour-
teous 70 one. The music was a mar
vel for the country. Dance succeeded
dance The hour was late, but an
other waltz was begun. Then sud
denly -
And at once the music stopped and
the dancers were as still as stone fig
ures. 1t had been horrible, inhu-
man scream, so loud and schrill as to
tear way through all the walls of
the castle; scream not of pain, but
OF triumph. l think it must have
lasted half a minute, and then came
silence but still no one moved; We
waited as II after lightning for the
thunder.
The first person l saw was the earl.
His fac 10 was not white but gray. His
teeth were fixed and he was staring at
the door, waiting for 1t to open. Some
men fastened to the door and he cast
*.
But he never looked at them. The
heir l saw with his hands over his
face. Many of the men stepped in
front Of the women. There was no
whispering. think. We all turned
our eyes to the door.
Some ladies screamed Zone, / have
learned. swooned; but we gave her not
glance, } when the door opened. 1t
was only the African servant who en-
tered, D man most OF us had heard of
but few had seen. He made a sign to
the earl, who drew back from him and
then stepped forward. The heir hur-
ried to the door and some of us heard
this conversation:
q Not you father; me-"
Sta here, my son; l cntrea.,
comma md"
Both" said the servant authorita-
lively; and then they went out with
him and the door closed.
The dancing was resumed almost
Immediately. This is a strange thing
to tell Only woman could have
forced us to seem once more as we
were before that horrid cry; and the
woman was our hostess. As the door
closed. my eyes met her, and l saw
that she had been speaking to the mu-
sicians She was smiling graciously,
as II what had occurred had been but
an amusing interlude. l saw her take
her place beside her partner, and be-
gin the waltz again with the music.
All looked at her with amazement
dread. pity, suspicion, but they had to
dance. 'Does she know nothing% 1
asked myself, overhearing her laugh
ing merrily as she was whirled past
me. OR was this the woman's part in
the ira gedy while the men were doing
theirsP What were they doingp 1t
was W hispered in the ballroom that
they were in the open, looking for
something that had escaped from the
castle
An hour, l dare say, passed, and
neither the earl nor his son had re-
turned. The dancing went on, but it
had become an uncanny scene; every
one trying to read the others face, the
mon un uncomfortable, as if feeling that
they should be elsewhere, many of the
women craven, only the countess in
high spirits. By this time it was known
to all Of us that the door of the ball
room was locked on the outside.
Guests babe our hostess good night,
but could retire no further. One man
dared request her to bid the servants
unlock the door, and she smiled and
asked him for the next waltz.
About two o'clock in the morning
many Of us heard childs scream,
that ca me, we thought from the hall
of the castle. A moment afterward
we again heard it-this time from the
shrubbery. l saw the countess shake
with fear at last but only for mo-
ment Already she was reckoning to
the musicians to continue playing.
One OF the guests stopped them by
raising his hand; he was the child's
father.
You must bid your servants unbar
that DOOR" he said to the countess,
sternly, 'or will force it OPEN"
''You can not leave this room, Sir
-" she answered quite compos-
eddy; and then he broke out passion
ately, fear for his child mastering
him. Something about DEVILS work,
he said
There Is some one on the other
side of that door who would not hest
tate to kill YOU" she replied and we
knew that she spoke of the native
servant
Order him to open the door,"
Il will not. :"
In an other moment the door would
have been broken open had she not
put her back against it Her eyes
were now flashing. The men looked
at each other in doubt and some OF
them, ] know, were TOR tearing her
from the door. 1t was then that we
heard the report of gun.
1t is my belief that the countess
saved the life of her guest by prevent
ing his leaving the ballroom For
close on another hour she stood at The
door, and the servants gathered round
her like men ready to support their |
mistress. We were now in groups.
whispering and listening. and shall
tell what heard. believing it to be all
that was heard by any of us, though
some Of those present that night tell |
strange tales ] heard child laugh
ing and l doubt not that we were |
meant 10 hear it, to appease the par
epts' fear heard the tramp OF men
in the hall and on the stairs, and af-
terward an unpleasant dirge from
above. A carriage drove up the walk