The morning call., 1891-11-15
A NIGHT IN A
HAUNTED HOUSE.
Experiences in a Queer, Old-FashiOned
fW0-StOry Building.
The Light Of Love Went Out and the Home
Was Deserted to Darkness and to Ghosts.
The Silent Figure in tbs Parlor.


queer. old fashioned two-story house. It
was among the first erected when the rough,
temporary structures of the adyentureI
were replaced by the more permanent and
pretentious dwellings of the settler. To de.
scribe accurately its location would be in
discrete, for obvious reasons. Suffice it te
say that it is in a neighborhood historical,
teeming with relics of the past and associa-
tons with which every old-timer is familiar.
An oddly built house, with unexpected
turns and shadowy hooks and corners, hung
with tapestries and curtains which the
lanplight would distort into weird shapes
and uncanny figures; furniture of long
gone period. possibly brought around the
Horn from some old Atlantic homestead,
perhaps originally from some older Euro
pean home. just the place. one would say,
to which the spirits Of the departed would
love to return-where everything reminded
them of their former life. with nothing
modern and strange to break the chain of
memory.
The story In the neighborhood is that it
was built by the young master Of mer-
chant ship; that he brought TO it his new
| made bride and her aged father, who was
! to be her guardian and counselor while the
young husband was far away on his long
adventurous voyages A child was born to
brighten the mothers life, and her mind
loved to dwell on the joyful time to come
when the fathers ship should drop anchor
in the bay, and as the boat swung from
| would hasten to The landing place to greet
him as ne landed and place her precious gift
within his arms But. alas, for the dreams
which never came truel Disease came. to
which the child first fell victim. When
the mother held her darling, dead, in her
arms,
HER STRENGTH AND LIFE
Went also, and she was soon laid beside her
baby girl The old man fingered but the
grief was too much for his lettering old
frame to bear, and he went to join them.
Meanwhile the fond husband, homeward
bound, paced his ships deck with impatient
stride. though the sails were filed with a
favoring breeze and the vessel rushed on her
course through spray and foam. Then came
the glad cry OF land, ho" the rush and
shades OF evening were falling he leaped
ashore ard fastened to the haven OF his
heart OF which he had dreamed night and
day. Naught but dreary desolation awaited
hun there. Plying neighbors told him the
story, and the broken-bearted man. dis
posing OF the property, weighed anchor and
set sail for foreign lands, and never again
entered the Golden Gate.
The house had long been unoccupied,
when the present owner, having recently
purchased it through an agent of the parties
IN whose possession ii was, and who resided
IN another State. moved in with his family.
Then startling discovery was made. The
house was h7unted! Strange sights and
sounds nightly terrified the inmates. Ac-
counts of them were given TO friend of the
family in whom they bad confidence, and.
skeptical of anything of such nature he
at first treated the matter lightly, but the
serious manner and awe-strickeu counts-
nanees OF his friends convinced him that this
was no ordinary nervous disorder or freak
OF the Imagination. He resolved to investi-
gate for himself. Pursuant of this determi-
nation he arranged to pass night i'll the
house. His experience is given as he re-
lated it to the writer.
On my arrival in the evening | made a
tour of the premises searching every room.
closet, passageway, nook and corner, and
examining every door and window faSten-
ing which could possibly allow of any ill.,
truder from without. All were in good or
der. mentally made note of the arrange
ment OF the furniture in the various rooms,
and carefully closed and covered up the
piano
IN THE PARLoR.
Feeling satisfied that everything was Sc
cure l retired to my room, which opened off
the hall on the second floor, where l could
hear everything that might transpire.
AS the hour grew late the sounds of life
ID the streets died away one by one. The
great city slumbered and the Intense silence
of the tomb pervaded the house
l lay and listened so long that I grew
weary OF the strain, and, with a mingled
feeling of amusement at what [ began TO
feel satisfied were the vagaries Of my friends
aud little disappointment at the failure OF
realization of what had really looked for
ward to as something of an adventure, |
was yielding to the drowsiness which began
to steal over me, when my faculties were
keenly aroused and my nerves set athrill by
the notes Of the piano downstairs. | am not
musician. but am familiar enough with
music TO know that the instrument was
touched by master hand. The air. though
softly played, came distinctly to my ears
and was one | had never heard before. To
my fancy it sounded weird, supernatural
and was not the product of earthly genius
II had removed only my outer clothing
on retiring, just enough to allow me to be
comfortable. In an instant l had de-
scended the stairs aud entered the parlor.
There was no gas or lamp burning, but the
room was filled with soft, haZy fight.
which, though faint, rendered every object
visible. The piano cover was thrown back,
and at the In strument, her shapely white
hands on the keys, sat a beautiful young
woman. Her head was held slightly back,
her eyes looking upward as II for inspira-
ton. and she seemed to bs composing as
she played. As my step sounded on the
floor she turned her head. fixed on me
look of mournful reproach which held m a
fascinated and
VANISHED BEFORE MY GAZE
As if into the air l was left in dense
gloom. and groping my way out into the
hall | reascendei the stairs.
Just beyond the head of the stairs.
across the little hall, was the family sitting
room. 1t was cheerful apartment. with
windows opening toward the east, and
atfording delightful view of city and har-
Dor, pleasant place to sit. the Changing
sky and varying shades On the waters of
the bay, the moving of the restless ships..
giving an endless variety to the scene In
this room were comfortable chairs one an
old-fashioned armchair with high reclining
back and softly cushioned. The old man
died In this chair. l had sat In it early in
the evening, with jest in my mind and
smile on my lips.
''As L reached the head of the stairs the
room opened before me. The same misty
light peryaded 1t which had noticed in tn e
parlor, and In the chair sat the white figure
OF the old man as he used to sit in life. His
right hand held pipe, which he apparent ly
had just taken from his lips. and his left
hand rested on paper dropped carelessly
into his lap, his attitude suggesting reflec-
ton on something he had just been reading
AS reached the door of the room he start
ed up, and with look OF annoyance, and
with an angry gesture. vanished. A hor-
role sound-a mingled groan and fendish,
derislve laugh-broke upon the stiffness of
the night, and sent cold tremors coursing
down my back. All was dark again when
made my way back to my room.
'Some little time elapsed Then foot
step sounded in the hall. II commenced a
restless pacing up and down, with the soft
tread OF slippered feet as Of one in bodily
or mental pain, which rendered quiet nm
bearabls. Hastily lighting a lamp L stepped
out into the hall. Nothing was to be seen.
The sound approached me, and advancing
little, i waited to resist it.
- NEARER IT CAME,
And nearer, and as it seemed to be before
me, reached out as il to grapple with it.
but nv arms had clutched the air. Then a
numbing chill seemed to strike me and penc-
trate 10 the very marrow. / stood trans
fixed and frozen with terror. The step con-
tinued over the very spot on which stood.
passed on and died away in the distance