Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-12-16
THORPE MANOR.


DEAR FRANK: l have found the very
house for you-Jabobean period and almost
original. was trihe spoiled by some
Philistine individual about thirty years since,
but with your taste and the aid of the local
architect everything can be put right. This
pearl of houses goes by the name of Thorpe
Manor, and is, of course, haunted so you
may relieve the monotony of country life by
a genuine ghost hunt. Ever yours,
JOHN RIDGEwAY.
P. S.-The house is in Surrey, about four
miles from Winton station. You had better
come down at once. as hear some one else
is after it.
Al that time | was fairly good
looking, well to-do bachelor of thirty.
five. My ample leisure devoted to
antiquarian researches, literary work
and the collection of "curios." had
no relatives and few friends, and !
lived an almost solitary and pei fcctly
happy life III my chambers.
Among what some people called my
"craze" was an enthusiasm for ancient
houses, and l had dcputed John Ridg-
way, an artist friend of mine who
lived in Surrey, to find me a genuine
old country house-a dreamy, ram
bling place whero / could spend the
summer. Hence his letter.
As the tram steamed into the little
station at Winton, John rushed up TO
my carriage and clasped my hand.
Dear old chapl hc quite beamcd with
Joy at the prospect of showing me his
wonderful house.
"Charming old place! I've had my
eye on it six months % he said as he
walked over the common.
Then he produced the inevitable
notebook and pencil and was soon
drawing plans and explaining de-
tails.
AS we passed through the village
we cap III, house agent and
took him with us. He was prosaic
man, and evidently thought we were
couple of mili Iunatics, SO excited
did we become when suddenly turn
ing corner at the foot of steep IT,
cline we stood in front of Thorpe
Manor. 1t was a quaint old house,
standing back little from the road.
and its walls were as perfect as when
first built, but mellowed and beauti-
Ged by time.
We walked up the prim gravel path
TO the wide doorway with its fantastic
carving. Here our agent produced a
huge, rusty key and unlocked tine
loor, which swung back easily on its
large hinges. We entered and went
through the rooms, which had low
ceilings and broad window seats.
Most of these had paneled walls,
though some of them had been covered
with paper which, of course, we said
must come of. One Of the bedrooms
which | thought from the elaborate
carving on the high mantel shelf and
the beautiful oak panelling had orig
inally been the state one-was perfect.
felt strangely attracted to this
room, l know not why, and as we
turned to leave | fingered behind the
others for parting glance. Then
slowly went down the winding STAIR
way.
"Seen the ghosl?r asked john, jest
ingly.
The agent looked uneasy. Ghosts
are tiresome things, apt 10 initiate
very much against the chances of Sc
curing a good tenant, bu' | reassured
him by remarking that | rather liked
ghosts, and that go far as could sec
The house was exactly what ! wanted.
OF course, there were many details to
be settled about the lease, repairs, and
other matters, and stipulated that /
should be allowed 10 make some alter
ations, such as removing the staring
plate glass with which the late owner
had "modernized" the windows of the
lower rooms.
Six weeks later was installed in
nv new residence. The alterations
were not nearly completed, but dec in
ing the Ridgways' pressing invitation
to take up my quarters with them,
occupied two rooms in the old house
and engaged woman in the village to
come daily and attend to my simple
wants.
op the third evening after my ar