Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-01-29
ONE NIGHT IN NO. 81.
A Story of Ghosts and Rats at
Bracing Hall.

Positively not a room, my dear
madam; no, not so much as a closet va
can't" and DIR. Morris smiled blandly,
and washed his hand with invisible
soap in imperceptible water"
That Bracing Hall was popular san
itarium / was well aware, but 1 was
not prepared for this; what was to do,
where should go at that late hour2 I,
q maiden lady. an entire stranger in the
Catskills? asider that for any man
to smile under those circumstances,
even in perfunctory 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 msubstantial i'm
possibility.
eyes," repeated the doctor, musingly,
as if a novel and pleasing problem had
been unexpectedly submitted for his
consideration. "Yes, 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 wave
of his hand. LET No. 81 be prepared
for this lady," he said, giving to his
words all the force of royal mandate.
ST wish to know, Jane" I 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 am not going to follow the
example of your parents and sponsors,
who were clearly foolish persons, Jane.
repeat wish to know what is the
matter with this room?"
''Oh, don't ask me, ma'am. don't
wish to frighten 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 the-the-ahem-the Cimix
Cectularius?''
"Well, it is pretty bad, but 1 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 1 must sink to a common
level Of expression if wished to be un-
derstood.
'It is small, Jane-it is brown-it is
alive-very much alive-it-it-bites?'
"Oh, no, ma'am," answered Jane,
glowing with sudden enlightenment,
1--WE don't never have none Of them
nasty things in our beds.p
''Then ohat is it?''
"Well, If you must know" replied
Jane, with the air of one struggling
vainly with the inevitable, though it is
worth as much as my place Is worth to
tell you-it's ghostsF'
Ghosts-baugh! Really the ignor-
Ence Of the lower classes Is colossal;
clearly our public school system Is far
from perfect, but what could be ex.
pected from a girl called Sabina7 1
have always thought there was great
deal in q name, and I don't In the least
care what that plsywriting person may
have said to the contrary. There is
something In a name which insensibly
molds the character; mine is Sarah
Margaret.
"Ghosts, Jane, ghosts, when 1t has
been clearly demonstrated by the Soci.
ETY. for Psychical Research that there
are no such things as ghosts"
''It was the gambler, ma'am, what
lived here before it was made into a
sanitarium," Jane went on, with ire
presEble volubihty; "they was playing
poker, an he was killed, an every night
every night-his ghost"
"Jane, enough Of this folly-go, my
good girl, and tomorrow viii loan you
4 work on the nlogicalness Of Supersti-
ton"
Being q lady of enlightened under
standing and cultivated, indeed, 1 may
say advanced thought, 1 at once dis
missed the foolish story from my nAnd,
and congratulated myself on having Sc
cured comfortable room.
Bracing Hall was built on the highest
range of the Catskil1 mountains and
was famous for the view It commanded
Of the loveliest section of Rip Van Win
kle land; night now vailed the beauty
Of the far-stretching mountain-bound-
ed interplane, but gradually its fair
ness became apparent, as the shadows
below died under the light Of early
moonrise.
Objects dim and shapeless took form
and beauty. Every house and hamlet,
winding road and mountain streamlet
were won as If from choas into life.
while far away the winding Hudson
cleaned like string Of silver under the
moonlight Lights in happy homes
twinkled like fre-fies through the
gloom of dense woods, giving just that
touch Of life needed to break the soleui-
nifty Of forest and mountain
The moon was up, nature awoke,
breeze swept by bearing the music Of q
eumDnng urooK, the meIody OF murmue
ing pines, the love notes of belated
bird singing to his mate.
How long had slept can not tell,
when suddenly was wide-awake with
the room Brilliantly lit and presenting
= eppeasence italy altsE,.lt 7EI