St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-01-07


of it to any one else, My mother is
afraid to ask me anything about it.
/ tell you first, because I know you
will help me to clear the matter up.
1t may seem very silly in me, but |
certainly experienced fearful horrors
last Saturday evening. Even now,
when practically recovered from the
shock, | find l cannot think of going
into that room. What am l to do,
tell people, and live a laughing-stock
for the neighborhood? No, if it can
not be explained, shall never speak
of it. AS ii is. no one knows what
really happened. l will try to have
father sell the house. Something
must be done, and that soon"
1t is needless to say that Mr.. Lee
had been intensely interested in
Armies story. He had not moved
muscle while she was speaking.
When she finished, he was silent for
some moments Then he rose, took
her hand, and said:
This is all very strange. l would
not believeit from any lips but yours.
Coming as it does, know it is true,
however mysterious it seems. [
must say good night. l will try to
find solution of the mystery. When
you see me again, shall have some
news for you"
In few days Annie received an
other call from Mr. Lee. He was
again ushered into the cosy library.
The easy chairs were out of position
this time, BUTT required only NOM
ent to arrange them Mr.. Lee had
the floor, as it were:
II did not expect to have so much
to tell YOU. There is no absolute
proof, yet 1 have a very plausible
and highly probable solution of the
cause of your fright. Omit ting de-
tails, l will give you the result of my
investigation.
This house was formerly owned by
a family of Andersons. 1t was from
them that your father purchased it.
They have son who is witted,
harmless lunatic, rational at times.
When his family lived here, he occu-
pied your room. Soon after your
oc,e;.,,e Jao+t, oil he Doesaee;o,c
were sold at auction, as you doubt
less remember. Young Anderson
happened to bid off the very brown
suit ofclothes you mentioned. Worse
than that, he bears a marked facial
resemblance to your cousin, and
might easily be taken for him. Here
is his photo. Now, it is easy to un-
derstand how Anderson, If he were
in this neighborhood at any time,
might take a notion to seek his old
quarters. He was seen to enter this
ward on the afternoon of that event
full Saturday. l say it is probable
that he sought your room by the
back stairs, unnoticed by any one in
the house. Again, saw him mysel
three minutes after | left YOU that
night. He was passing under q
street-lamp at the time, and L coulc
not be mistaken. 1t was right here
on the corner of Rector street.
thought little of it then, but wher
you told me your experience, l hunt
ed Anderson up, and had a talk will
him. He remembered nothing o
having been in this vicinity that Sat
urday night, yet, while talking te
me, he drew from his pocket thi:
handkerchief. 1t has your name OF
it. He must have picked it up while
prowling around your room. You
scream doubtless startled him, anC
he made his escape before we reached
you. say this is probable solu
ton of the matter"
Annie had listened very attentive
ly A glance at Anderson's pictur
made her shudder. She recognized i
as the likeness of the man she hat
seen in her room. The handkerchie
had been embroidered with her OWL
hand. All doubt was removed from
her mind.
Mr.. Warren's house was not sold
nor did Annie occupy any longer tn
| haunted chamber. Soon after tn
last library talk, Mr.. and Mrs
Henry Lee took up their abode in tn
| neat new residence of the former
where no mailman was likely to in
trude. EDWARD GIBBON.
Hanover, N. H., Jan. 1, 1892.