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

/ "'NSNt Due OSiuS uCcus-
toned to late hours did not feel in
cllned for bed-far from 1t. | de-
cidcd to have one more pipe, aud
hastily taking up my pouch began to
rehll my pipe. Suddenly / stopped
shot, and with my little finger still
rammed into The bowl of the pipc,
left my chair and walked to the oppo-
site side of the room, for | could have
sworn saw the panelling move ever
SO slightly upward. Nor was | mis-
taken; for very slowly the whole
panel disappeared aud in tie opening
stood the figure of woman.
The room was dark, for the wood
fire had begun to smou' u'der, so could
not see what she was like young or
old, ugly or beautiful.
| | was not nervous-I had a pro.
found dish clief in the upernatural-
so simply waited to see what the in
truder proposed 10 do. She advanced
into the room and came close to my
elbow, then raised her hand and beck
oncd me to follow her. OF course ]
went, and she led me through the
aperture and down steep wooden
staircase. 1t was pitch dark, but l
struck matches at intervals. My COM
paniJn went on quickly, never looking
behind her, but smiled as she raised
her skirts gingerly from the dusty
stairs, and once l saw the woman
shudder as rat seuttled by.
"No ghost this" thought |.
On we went down the wooden
Stairs till at last we came to some
stone ones all green and humid,
owing 10 neglect. We continued our
course, going down flight after fight
of damp slippery stairs, till at length,
to my relief, my companion paused
before heavy oaken door, then
opened ii and entered. Following her,
found myself in a low, vaultlikc
chamber, more like eel than any,
thing else. The floor was stone, the
walls were bare, but it was apparent
ly inhabited, for there were a few
articles of furniture-a rickety,
spindle-legged table, a couple of high
lacked, worm-eaten chairs and bat
tered horschair sofa. In the CRATE,
TOO, burned small fire and couple
of tall, white candles in tarnished
sconces were on the narrow mantel-
shelf.
a In the dim light afforded by these
candles and the fire | closely scrutin-
ized the woman who had brought me
there.
She was tall and slender, and wore
long russell gown of an old fashioned
cut, but her face was pale and sad,
with sharp, clear-cut features, and
mass of rough, reddish HAIR was care
lessly twisted into long knot at the
nape of her neck.
She motioned me to one of the
chairs, taking the other herself, and
she now sat bending over the fire, ap-
parent,y TOO deep in her own bitter re-
tlcctions to be conscious of my pres
ence. The expression on her thin,
worn face was very sorrowful, and
her hand, were tightly clinched in her
lap. But, though thin and worn, her
face was still lovely, and as gazsd
thought how lovely, it would be were
the hollows filled out and the deep
lines smoothed away.
Suddenly, with a little resolute ges-
turc, she turned towards me and be-
gan TO speak i'll low rapid tones.
81 brought you here because |
wanted to tell you my story, and |
want your help, if you will give it,"
Then, with voice rising and falling
with varying emotions, and with deep
gray eyes fixed on my face, she told
her sad tale. The beginning was COM
monplace enough-a beautiful wilful
girl; stern unyielding father; two
lovers, one brave and handsome, the
other morose and unattractive; a pro-
posed fight sudden death; broken
hcart-the last three were the tragic
elements.
"And | saw them carry him by
the house-dead," she said speaking
IN a strange, dull way, Sand for a
long time think | must have lost my
senses. When my father still insisted
on my marriage with the wretch he
had chosen for my husband l raised
no protest l viewed the preparations
for the wedding with indifference. ]
seemed turned TO stone.
But week before the marriage my
reason returned, and realized the
horror of the coil which was slowly
tightening around me. Then il was
that determined on what was virtu-
ally living burial. l was born in
this dear old house, and knew every
nook and corner of it. My foster
mother had shown me the sliding
panel in the room above that which l
then occupied, and she and | were
the only living persons who knew the
secret She was devoted to me. and !
at length won her over to my plan.
"On the night before the bridal day
| fed down here, and here ! have re-
manned ever since. For eight years
have been dead to the world. l had
valuable jewelry which had been my
dead mothers; that has been gradually
sold, and on the proceeds have sub
sis.ed. My foster mother comes daily