The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-18
A GREAT GHOST STORY.
A Romance by Oscar Wilde.
From by the kind of the
Publishers Messrs Dodd, Mead Co., New York.

Nnon MI, hiram ID. OtiS, 1uO n h'OAAN'--
minister, bought Canterviile Chase, every
one told him he was doing q very foolish
thing. az there was no doubt at all that
the place was haunted. Indeed, Lord
Canterville himself, who was a man OF the
most punctilious honor. had felt 1t his
DUTY to mention the fact to Mr.. Otis when
they came to discuss terms
I'VE have not cared TO i've in the place
ourselves." sand Lord Cantsrville, 'since
NV grand-auut, the dowsger duchess OF
Bolton. was frightened into a tit from
which she never really recovered, by two
SHELTON hands being placed on her shout
ders as she was dressing for dinner, and
/ feel bound to tell you, Mr.. Otis, that the
ghost has been seen by several living
members of my family, as well as by the
rector of the parish, the Rev. Augustus
Dampier, who is fellow of King Is college,
Cambridge. After the unfortunate acct
dent to the duchess, none OF our younger
servants would stay with us and Lady
Canterville often got very little sleep at
night in consequence OF the mysterious
noises that came from the corridor and
the library"
"Nv lord. answered the minister, II
will take the furniture and the ghost at a
valuation | come from modern coun-
try. where we have everything that money
can buy; and with all our spry young fell
lows painting tine Old World red and mar
rvjng of YOUR best actors and prima DON
mas. / reckon that II there were such
thing as ghost in Europe, we'd have 10
AT home In very short time in one OF
our public museums, or on the road as
show"
II fear that the ghost exists" ssid Lord
tCanterville, smiling, though II may have
resisted the overtures OF your enterprislng
impresariOs 1t has been well known for
three centuries, since 1884. In fact, and
always makes its appearance before the
death of any member of our family"
"Well. so does the family doctor for that
matter. Lord Canterville But there Is no
such thing SIR as a ghost, and / guess he
laws OF nature are not going TO be sus-
pended for the British aristocracy."
you are certainly very natural in
America. answered Lord Canterville. who
did not quite understand Mr.. Otis last
observation. land if you don't mind
ghost In the house it is all right. Only re-
member, warned you"
& few weeks after this the purchase was
concluded, and at the close of the season
the minister and his family wen: down to
Canterville Chase. Mrs. Otis. who, as
Miss Lucretia r. Tappan OF W. Fifty-third-
St. had been celebrated New \ ork belle,
was now a very handsome middle-aged
woman, with fine eyes and superb pro-
file MANY American ladies on leaving
their native land adopt an appearance OF
ilI-health, under the impression that it
is form of European refinement,
but Mrs Otis had never fallen into
this error She had q magnificent consti-
tuition, and a really wonderful amount OF
animal spirits. Indeed, IN many respects
she was quite English. and was an excel
lent example OF the fact that we have
really everything in common with Ameri
ca nowadays, except, OF course, language.
Her eldest son. christened Washington by
his parents in a moment OF patriotism,
which he has never ceased TO regret was
q fair-baired. rather good looking young
man. who had qualified himself for
American diplomacy by leading the ger
man at the Newport Casino for three
successive seasons, and even in
London was well known as an excellent
dancer. Gardenias ana the peersge
were his only weaknesses. Otherwise ne
was extremely sensible. Miss Virginia L.
Otis was a little girl of fifteen, lithe and
lovely as a lawn, and with a fine freedom
In her large blue eyes. She was won
lerful amazon and had once raced old
Lord Billion on her pony twice around the
park, winning by length and half. just
In front OF the Achilles statue, to the huge
delight of the young duke of Cheshire,
who proposed for her on the spot and was
sent back 10 EtOn that very night by his
guardians in floods of tears. After Vir-
ginia came the twins, who were usually
called ''the Stars and Stripes" as they
we're always getting swished. They were
delightful boys, and, with the exception
Of the worthy minister, the Only true re-
pubIicans Of the family.
As Canteryiile Chase is seven miles
from Ascot, the nearest Hallway station,
Mr.. Otis had telegraphed for a wagonette
20 meet them. and they started on their
drive in high spirits IL was a lovely July
evening aud the air was delicate with the
scent OF the pine woOds- Now and then
they heard a wood pigeon brooding over
Its own sweet voice, or saw, deep in the
rustling fern, the FURNISHED breast Of the
pheasant Little squirrels peered at them
from the beech trees as they went by, and
the rabbits scudded away through the
brushwood and over the messy knots,
with their white tails in the air. As they
entered the avenue of Canterville Chase,
however. tde sky became suddenly over
cast with clouds, a curious stiffness seem mod
10 hold the atmosphere, great fight OF
rocks passed silently over their heads. and
before they reached the house some big
drops OF rain had fallen.
Standing on the steps 10 receive them
was an old woman, neatly dressed in black
silk, with white cap and apron. This
was Mrs. Umney, the housekeeper, whom
Mrs. Otis. at Lady Cantervills's earnest
request, had consented to keep on in her
former position. She made them each a
low courtesy "a they alighted. and said in
aquaint, old-fashioned manner,'I bid Won
welcome TO CantervilIe Chase" Follow
ing her they passed through the fine
Tudor hail into the library, a long, low
room, panneled In black oak, at the end of
which was a large stained-glass window.
Here they found tea laid out for them.
end, after taking of their WRAPS. they sat
down and began TO look around. while
Mrs Umney waited on them.
Suddenly Mrs. Otis caught sight OF dull
red stain on the floor lust by the fireplace,
and, quite unconscious OF what il really
signifed, said TO Mrs. Umney, Il am
afraid something has been spilled here"
''Yes." said the old housekeeper in a
voice, blood has been spilled on that