Arizona republican., 1892-11-26
A FAIR RECLUSE.

Vldual about thirty years since, but with your taste and the and oi the local architect every thing can be pu right. This pearl of houses goes Oy the name of Thorpe manor, and is of course haunted, so you may relieve the monot- ony Of country life by genuine ghost hunt Ever yours, JoHs RIDGwAY
 r. \. The house is in Surrey about four miles from Winton station. You had better rome down at once, as hear some one else is after it.
 Al that time was fairly good look ing well to do bachelor of thirty-tive My ample leisure devoted to autidua- rian researches literary work and the collection of "curios. | had no rela- tives and few friends. and 1 lived an almost solitary and perfectly happy life in my chambers
 Among what some people called my "craze was an enthusiasm for ancient houses, and had deputed John Ridg- way an artlst friend of mne who lived in Surrey tO find me genuine old coun- try house dreamy rambling place where could spend the summer Hence his letter
 As the train steamed into the little station al Wlnton John rushed up to my carriage and clasped my hand Dear old chap he quite beamed with Joy at the prospect of showing me his wonder ful house
 Charming old place, I've had my eye on 1t for monthsr' he said as he walked over the common.
 Then he produced the inevitable note- book and pencll and was soon drawing plans and explaining details
 As we passed through the village we called upon the house agent and took him with us He was prosaic man and evidently thought we were couple of mild lunatlcS. so excited did we be- come when suddenly turning a corner at the foot of steep incline we stood in front of Thorpe manor lt was quaint old house standing back little from the road and its walls were as perfect as when first built. but mellowed and beautitied by tune
 We walked up the prim gravel path to the wide doorway with it's fantastic carving Here our agent produced a huge. rusty key and unlocked the door which swung back easily on it's 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 sald must come of One of the bedrooms which 1 thought from the elaborate carving on the high man. tel shelf and the beautiful oak paneling 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 parting glance, Then 1 slowly went down the winding stairway
 Seen the ghostT asked John jest ingly
 The agent looked uneasy Ghosts are tiresome things, apt to initiate very much against the chances of securing a good tenant. but 1 treasured 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 10 be settled about the lease, repairs and other matters, and stipulated that 1 should be allowed to make some alterations. such as remov- ing the staring plate glass with winch the late owner had "modernized" the windows of the lower rooms
 Six weeks later l 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 1 occupied two r'oins Tn the old house and engaged a woman m the village to come daily and attend to my simple wants ! On the thlrd evening after my arrival was smoking my favorlte pipe by wood lire m the oakrOom, which l had made my bedroom It was nearly l2 o'clock but being accustomed to late hours did not feel inclined for bed ar from IL decided to have one more pipe, and hastily taking up my pouch 'egan 10 refill my pipe. Suddenly l topped short, and with my little finger till rammed into the bowl of the pipe sft my chair and walked to the opposite l ide of the room for l could have sworn saw the panelng move ever so slightly pward Nor was l mistaken, for very owly the whole panel disappeared, and
 the opening stood the figure of wo- H lan
 The room was dark, for the wood fire Id begun to smolder, so could not see hat she was like-young or old, ugly
 beautiful
 was not nervous-l had a profound sbelief in the supernatural--so 1 sim
 y waited to see what the intruder pro-
 sed to do She advanced into the
 om and came close to my elbow, then
 ised her hand and beckoned me to fol-
 W her Of course l went, and she led
 through the aperture and down a
 ep wooden staircase. It was pitch
 rk. but l struck matches at intervals
 companion went on quickly, never
 king behind her. but 1 smiled as she
 sed her skirts gingerly from the dusty
 frs, and once saw the woman shud-
 as a rat scuttled by.
 No ghost this" thought l.
 )n we went down the wooden stairs
 at last we came to some stone ones
 green and humid, owing to neglect
 continued our course. going down