Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-02-12
ONE NIGHT IN NO. 81.
A Story of Ghosts and Rats at
Bracing Hall.

Positively not n room, my dear
madam; no, not 50 much as a closet va
cant" and Dr. Morris smiled blandly,
and washed his hand with invisible
soap in imperceptible water"
That Bracing Hall was Il popular san
itarium ! was well aware, but was
not prepared for this; what was | to do,
where should go at that late hour? |,
maiden lady, an entire stranger in the
Catskills? | consider that for any man
to smile under those circumstances,
even in a pcrfunctory and purely profess
sional way, was nothing less than
brutal.
"There is No 81, said an attendant
satellite, in exactly the tone in
which he might have suggested the
North Pole or the equinoctial line, or
any other remote and unsubstantial i'm
possibility.
YES" repeated the doctor, musingly,
as if a novel and pleasing problem had
been unexpectedly submitted for his
consideration. eyes, there is No. 81.
"Perhaps the lady might not object"
continued the attendant.
"Object," said the doctor, suddenly
waking up. Good gracious, Jones,
why should this lady object; why should
any one object to No. 37?'
The subordinate was about to speak,
but the doctor stopped him by a wave
of his hand. LET No. 81 be prepared
for this lady," he said, giving to his
words all the force of royal mandate.
81 wish to know, Jane" l observed
to the housemaid who conducted me to
No. 81 half an hour later
"Please, ma'am," said that young
person, interrupting, my name isn't
Jane, it's Sabina."
"Then l am not going to follow the
example Of your parents and sponsors,
who were clecrly foolish persons, Jane.
/ repeat I wish to know what is the
matter with this room?"
ooh, don't ask me, ma'am. | don't
wish to brighten you-but-I wouldn't
sleep in it-no-not for hundred thou
sand million dollars"
"Then you are very foolish young
woman; is it damp"
"Oh, no. madam; the whole house is
dry as bone"
at is he-the-ahem-the Cimix
Cectularius?"
"Well, it is pretty bad, but l don't
think it's quite as bad as that, returned
Jaue, slowly, with an air of bewilder-
ment
1t was painful to a lady of my eXces-
sive refinement, exceedingly painful,
but the occasion was urgent, and it was
evident that / must sink to a common
level of expression if / wished to be un,
derstood.
at is small, Jane-it is brown-it is
alive-very much alive-it-it-bites?"
sob, no, ma'am," answered Jane
glowing with sudden enlightenment
1--WE don't never have none of then
nasty things in our beds"
"Then aohat is it?"
"Wel, if you must know" replied
Jane, with the air of one struggling
vainly with the inevitable, Though it i:
worth as much as my place is worth'tc
tell you--its ghosts!'
Ghosts-baugh Really the ignor
ance of the lower classes is colossal
clearly our public school system is fal
from perfect, but what could be ex
pected from a girl called Sabina?
have always thought there was grea
deal in name, and don't in the leas
care what that playwriting person MAJ
have said to the contrary. There is
something in name which insensibly
molds the character; mine is Saral
Margaret.
"Ghosts, Jane, ghosts, when it ha
been clearly demonstrated by the Soci
ETY. for Psychical Research that Their,
are no such things as ghosts"
at was the gambler, ma'am, wha
lived here before it was made into 6
sanitarium," Jane went on, with ire
pressible volubility; ''they was playing
poker, an he was killed, an every nigh
every night-his ghost -"
"Jane enough of this folly-go, m,
good girl, and tomorrow will loan 20,
a work on the Illogicalness of Supersti
ton"
Being lady of enlightened under
standing and cultivated, indeed, ma,
say advanced thought, at once dis
missed the foolish story from my mind
and congratulated myself on having Sc
cured comfortable room.
Bracing Hall was built on the highes
range of the Catslill mountains an
was famous for the view it commando
of the loveliest section of Rip Van Win
kle land; night now vailed the beaut
of the far-stretching bound
ed interplane, but gradually its fan
ness became apparent, as the shadow
below died under the light of earl
moonrise.
Objects dim and shapeless took forr
and beauty. Every house and hamlet
winding road and mountain streamle
were won as II from choas into life