The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-28
THE STORY OF A GHOST.

His family consisted of q son and daugh
ter, housekeeper and two other servants
The place he had selected was Somewha
dilapidated and altogether isolated, whicl
exactly suited his taciturn nature, espe
cially as the greater part of the year he wa
engaged in mercantile business in London
and this afforded him the quiet he needed
Mr.. Rivers had the old place repaired
without changing its antique appearance
| had it partly refurnished, and on brigh
day in June moved his family thither
Laura, his daughter, was in ecstacy, anC
| declared again and again that she would
never more think Of Brighton and Scar
| borough; for here she was at the seaside
with home and its comforts.
One room attracted her more than I'll The
others. 1t was large, square, with a bay
window commanding altogether the finest
| view of the sea. The walls were wans
coted, of pale blue tint, and the furni
ture, even to the window drapery Of the
| same shade, was old fashioned and com
| Portable, and the owner had decided tc
leave everything unchanged.
The Rivers had been domiciled for about
a week III the old mansion, when one night
a most uncomfortable noise aroused the
of heavy furniture, which created queer
| rumbling noise, and actually shook the
house. Laura appeared in her dressing
gown in the hall simultaneously with her
father and brother, and very soon after She
housekeeper, with the terrified Jane and
another girl clinging TO her for protection,
pale and speechless.
What the dickens, Arthur, can this
mean?" questioned the old gentleman,
holding up his night lamp SO as to COM
mand the entire group.
u cannot say, father, unless some of the
crumbling walls have fallen.'
AT that moment the silence was again
broken by renewal Of the strange sounds.
''Ghostsl Oh, Lord!' gasped Jane. cling
ing still more closely to the trembling
housekeeper
Mr.. Rivers commanded her harshly to
be silent, and requested his daughter to
take the frightened women to her own
room and endeayor to get them to listen
to common sense, while he and his son ex-
plored the grounds and house to ascertain
the cause of the disturbance
After half hour of watching and fruit
less endeavor to quiet the fears of the
housekeeper and maids Laura hailed the
return of her father and brother who de-
clared themselves at loss to know what
could have occasioned the weird noises
They had found every room perfectly quiet
and in their wonted ORDER had also ey-
plored the garrett and ruined wings of the
building, but nothing unusual had oc-
CURED. AT last all appeared unchanged.
Dismlssing the housekeeper and maids and
inducing Laura to retire, the father and
son went to their respective rooms, and
were not disturbed again during the night.
AT the breakfast table the subject was
discussed, and Mr.. Rivers declared his in
tention of spending the night in the mys-
terious blue room.
"The strange noise" he said, 81 am GER
tain, came from that quarter. Anyhow, !
intend to slft 1t to the bottom; for, to tell
you the truth, L was friendly informed by
the agent before l purchased the house
that 1t had the reputation of being haunted,
and no tenant could be induced to remain
for any length of time. OF course laughed
at the idea, as | do now.
THAT some human agency is at work to
drive us away am fully convinced; and
that the little old man who had charge of
the place, and who is still in my employ,
is at the bottom of it | do not doubt.
Therefore l wish you both to keep my in
tention profound secret. But when you
retire, Arthur, you send for the old man
and keep him in your room all night"
The next morning Laura hastily dressed |
herself and went down to breakfast. to |
find her brother alone and waiting for her. |
Arthur, where is papa?" was her first
question.
He has not come down yet, and have |
Just sent up to tell him that breakfast is |
ready"
At that moment the .housekeeper ap-
oeared at the door and said: Jane daren't |
20 up TO the blue room, sir, so | went my
self. The door was locked, and | called TO !
master, and raped my knuckles nearly |
'h, but couldn't get an answer, sir"
Without word Arthur sprang up the !
stairs, followed by his sister and the /
whose faces We'd with each /
,ther in wilderness. At the door of the
mysterious room all paused and waited
or an answer TO Arthur's summons The
silence which followed was oppressive Not
/ sound came from the closed apartment.
Arthur was obliged TO force the door. It
-ielded at last to has strength, and he saw
lis father, apparently asleep "a an easy
hair. with his head thrown back in an
position. Laura stepped
Onward, stretched out her hand, touched
Ter f;Sher and called him by name
Papa, dear papa" she said, wake upl
How still and cold he isl Oh, Arthur, he
5 deadn'
She had spoken the truth. Death had
yertaken him in the haunted chamber.
Arthur carried the fsinting form of his
lister TO her own apartment, and dispatched
messenger to the nearest town to procure
roper assistance. The face OF the dead
aan was calm, unconvulsed, showed no
ign OF either alarm or pain. and the post
aortem examination showed that ne had |
led OF heart disease.
1t was heavy blow to his children, and
-hen the inaDimate form of their parent
ad been consigned 10 its last earthly rest
AZ place they sat long and late talking |
ABLY over the future, when suddenly the |
ocular runbling sound grated again upon |
nelr ears, starting them from their sor-
ow. 1t increased IN intensity until every |
Tindow and door in the house ratified.
Arthur and his sister had been sitting ]
Y an open window with only the light of !
be moon, and at the first sound he sprauc
D his feet, while Laura chung 10 him in ,
error.
"l-aura," be whispered, you must nerve !
oursef 70 remain here alone, for l am de-
10 fathom this matter bevond all 6
uestion. Listen TO me, Laura. That our
ear father had disease of the heart I have {
ing known. But | firmly believe he re- {
lived some horrible shock while alone j, ;
ne blue room that was the immediate
mise Of his death. Consequently am de :