Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-10-14
BLACK DICK.

Mt lies tCithin the shadows of an
eternal tempest" this was the thought
that occurred to me, as, alighting from
my horse, L tied him carefully to the
old, worm-eaten hitching post near by
giving him gentle pat as L left him,
his great intelligent eyes following me
with seemingly unusual interest, and
that low, coaxing Whitney, (Which
meant so much to us both), trembling
on the evening air.
We were firm, loving friends, my
steed and L.
"Be patient, old fellow" l said.
Then, lifting the heavy gate, which
hung by one broken hinge to the post,
/ placed it one side.
Storm cuTsedi just here in the
presence of the surrounding calm and
evening beauty, the great trees of
"Brau-Wylleen" writhed and tossed
their giant branches in the air, where
above them lay a heavy cloud, dark
and forbidding.
A something darker than the on
coming twilight brooded in the air,
and os l walked up the neglected
path, so overgrown with weeds one
stumbled as he walked, | felt the chill
of desolation, heart-hunger and death,
through the moan of the winds as they
swept through the walls and halls of
the sombre building before me.
A large low, long, quaint structure
made of dark-colored stone, with many
windows of all shapes and sizes, some
placed just under the caves, others
midway and not a few close to the
ground.
A flight of stone steps led to a huge
door in the center. The roof was
moss grown and broken, and over all
twined vines in wild, neglected, pic
turesque beauty.
Cropping among tangled vines and
leaves, though it was midsummer, the
wall felt icy to my touch, and so clam
my. | found the key at length, the
great hideous, rusty thing, feeling in
the darkness (for | could not see iD
like an instrument of torture. With
great difficulty | found the key hole,
and then it seemed full of rubbish,
which felt like paper and leaves.
At first the rusty lock would not
yield, but finally the great door creaked
on its worn hinges and swung inward
noisily.
There was a fiuttering and scurry-
ing across the floor and from the walls
about me, and damp, musty odOr
greeted my nostrils. 1t was well for
me that my hostess insisted on my
taking my small travelling satchel,
which now held in my hand, for in
its different compartments were things
needful in an emergency. A small
night lamp, matches, a small flask of
liquor, a guide book, a needle case,
thread, scissors and a thimble, and a
good lunch. Thankfully pressed the
clasp, opened the satchel and found a
match.
As struck it the great door swung
heavily to with a sharp bang. The
lock clicked, but | thought nothing of
it then. | heard snort of surprise
from " Dick, +" and then | hurriedly lit
my lamp and held it above my head.
What vast, grand old rOoml Rare
old tapestries hung from the walls,
festooned in their moldy draperies
with cobwebs and dust. Here and
there paintings i'll massive gilded,
tarnished frames, hung upon the walls,
with dust and mold SO thick upon the
faces thereon none might tell the
features.
Calmly, amidst the dead and gone
" Brau-Wylleens looking down upon
me, able, no doubt, to see through
dust-covered eyes, sat down on one
of the massive chairs snd ate my lunch,
for was desperately hungry.
My repast over, [ took nv lamp
once more in my hand, as L did so, a
creaking board somewhere made me
start, and then thought l heard foot
steps.
Trembling slightly, and the least in
dignant without knowing why, l hast |
lily crossed the wide room and entered |
the garret hall. Undecided, L stood |
for an instant listening. This room
was mostly bare, and so full of dark |
shadows L quickly left it.
Turning to 60 out, found the door
would not open. Again | tried it, but |
in vain. Suddenly again 1 heard
"Dick" snort, then champ his bits and
paw the ground, and step. ye, too,
evidently heard or saw something to |
frighten and annoy l must get back |
to him-but howl
A winding staircase next met nv
eye, and trying to be brave, | began |
ascending the steps. Again the sound |
of footsteps. How foolish and nerv-
GUS | was becoming, Reaching the |
top, a long, narrow corridor opened
before me, and as | advanced another |
door near suddenly closed.
Couches stood almost everywhere,
as if the former inmates of the old
house were only too fond of leisure
and reclining. With my handkerchief !
| brushed the cobwebs and dust from
one that had once been beauty, in its
rich crimson satin covering and heavy
golded cords and tassels, now so soiled
and tarnished.
Gratefully sank down upon it after
'lacing shawl over it, albeit the green
lold and its odor were very suggestive
f tomb.
Somehow amid all this gloom and
Isolation l grew singularly calm,
Then raising my eyes met two dark,
clear filled eyes gazing full
nto mine from an opening in the floor
verhead. :
L did not start or cry aloud, and as if
npelled by an unseen force, | raised
~ hand and beckoned to the form. I
1t quickly vanished, and soon after
slight girlish figure, with long light
air all unbound, with a darkly beau
full face, and graceful form clad in ,,
lsterless black silk, made in the fash ,
IN of our great grandmothers, stood :
esi fs me. 4
sat up and took the small white {
ana she extended towards me into my
wn and chafed it, for it felt cold. =.
Clearing my voice | asked: "What :
it and who are you?" =,
The slight form of the girl, for she q
as scarcely more than that, shivered 4
nd her dark eyes sought the corner of