The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-11-26
A FAIR RECLUSE.

almost solitary and perfectly happy life
in my chambers
Among what some people called NV
craze was an enthusiasm for ancient
houses, and had deputed John Ridg.
way, an artist friend of mine who lived
IN Surrey, to find me genuine old coun.
try house-a dreamy, rambling place
where l could spend the summer. Hence
his letter.
AS the train steamed into the little
station at Winton John rushed up TO
my carriage and clasped my hand. Dear
old chap he quite beamed with iov at
the prospect Of showing me his wonder
full house.
Charming old place! I've had my
eye on it for months!" he said as he
! walked over the common.
Then he produced the inevitable note.
book and pencil and was soon drawing
plans and explaining details
As we passed through the village we
called upon tho house agent and took
him with us. He was a prosaic man
and evidently thought we were couple
/ of mild lunatics, SO excited did we be.
come when suddenly turning a corner at
the foot Of Il steep incline we stood in
front OF Thorpe manor. 1t was quaint
old house, standing back "a little from
the road. and its walls were as perfect
as when first built, hut mellowed and
beautifed 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 the door,
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 off. One of
the bedrooms-which | thought from
the elaborate carving on the high man
tel shelf and the beautiful oak panelinr
had originally been the state one-was
perfect
felt strangely attracted to this room,
know not why, and as we turned to
leave ! fingered behind the others for a
parting glance. Then | slowly went
down the winding stairway.
Seen the ghost;' asked John lest
ingly.
The agent looked uneasy Ghosts are
tiresome thipgs, apt TO initiate very
much against the chances of securing
good tenant, but reassured him by re-
marking that / rather liked ghosts. and
that, so far as | could see, the house was
exactly what l wanted. OF course there
were many details to be settled ahout
the lease, repairs and other matters. and
! stipulated that ! should DO allowed TO
make some alterations, such as remov-
ins the staring plate glass with which
the late owner had ''modernized" the
windows Of the lower rooms.
Six weeks later was installed in my
new residence. The alterations were
not nearly completed but declining the
Ridgways' pressing Invitation to take
up my quarters with them, occupied
two rooms in the old house and engaged
n woman in the village to come daily
and attend to my simple wants.
On the third evening after my arrival
/ was smoking my favorite pipe by a
wood fire in the darkroom, which had
made my bedroom. Il was yearly 70
o'clock, but being accustomed TO late
hours did not feel inclined for bed
far from IT, | decided to have one more
pipe, and hastily taking up my pouch /
began to refill my pipe. Suddenly |
stopped short, and with my little finger
still rammed into the bowl of the pine
left my chair and walked to the opposite
side Of the room, for could have sworn
l saw the paneling move ever soshghtly
upward Nor was mistaken for very
slowly The whole panel disappeared, and
Ia the opening stood the figure OF a wo-
man.
The room was dark, for the wood fire
had begun 20 smolder, so ! could not see
what she was like-young or old. ugly
or beautiful.
l was not nervous had profound
disbelief in the supernatural / sim
ply waited to see what the intruder pro-
posed TO do. She advanced into the
room and c9We close TO my elbow, then
raised her hand and heckoned me to fol-
low her OF course 1 went, and she led
me through the aperture and down a
steep wooden staircase. II was pitch
dark, but ] struck matches at intervals.
My companion went on quickly, never
looking behind her, but / smiled As she
raised her skirts gingeyly nom the dusty
stairs. and once / saw the woman shud-
der as a rat z,uttied by
Na ghost this" thought /.
On we went down the wooden stairs
till at last we came 10 some stone ones,
all green and humid owing To neglect.
We continued our course, goiRz down
flight after Fight 81 damp. slippery
stairs, till at leugh, 20 my relief. my
companion paused before a heavy oaken
door, then opened ia and entered. Fol
lowing her I found myself in a low,
+ yaultlike chamber, more like a cell than
anything else, The floor was stone, the
walls were bare, but It was apparently
I inhabited, for there were a few articles
of furniture rjy,oty spindle legged
table, a coVplv OF high backed, worm
e3tau chairs and a battered horsehair
sofa. In the CRATE, too, burned "a small
I fire and couple of tall, whta candles
III furnished seQnces Wtge 81 Che narrow
mantelshelt
Az FHf Nil4 uSht dhuruett hy these
candles and the fire closely scrutinized
I the woman who had brought me there.
She was mll and slender, and wore a
Z long russet gown Of an old fashioned
cut but her face was pale and sad. with
sharp, clear cut features. and a mas of
rough reddish hair was Calelessly
twisted into a long spotSt the nape Of
her neck.
She rlQ,i,ned me 10 one OF the chairs.
taking the other herself, and she now
sat bending over the fire, apparently too
deep ia her own bitter reflections 10 be
conscious of my presence. The expires
sion on her thin worn face was very
sorrowful. and her handa were tightly
clinched in hel lap But, though thin
and worn, her face was still lovely. and
as ( gazed thought how lovely It would
be were the hollows filled ont and the
deep lines smoothed away.
suddenly, with a little resolute ges
ture, she turned toward me and began
10 speak In low, rapid tones.
Il brought you here because I wanted
20 tell you my story, and ! want your
help III you viii give it