The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-11-09
Three Nights at Coast CedaTs'

IlllUu HlSlitO I'll UUuOl UGuuiO
The mansion, at the Cedars, was an
old house made into new one. 1t
had been presented to the first Mrs.
Vellany by her father on her wedding
day. But the bridegroom, ere the
honeymoon waned, had begun repairs
and. alterations, and pending their
progress had taken his wife to New
Orleans. Six months afterward her
death was announced. A year later
the inconsolable widower returned
unexpectedly and established himself
at the Cedars. He brought with him
a second Mrs. Vellany, an English
woman, and in the opinion of most
persons an ugly one.
l CHANGED one autumn to be the
guest of Mr.. Vellany's ex-father-in-
law, Mr.. Hassler, and. as he was going
to the Cedars, he took it upon himself
to take me with him. He also, l may
mention, took with him his only sur
viving daughter. So, you see, didn't
like to be left behind.
On the journey Mr.. Hassler told me
that there had been, in the tower of
the mansion, mysteriously audible to
startled ears, on sundry chance occa-
sions, sounds of signing, sobbing and
wailing entreaty, amid which were
plainly distinguishable the words:
ga little more-only a little more!"
"You won't mind sleeping in the
tower, will you?"
After a delightful evening, ushered
in by capital late dinner, remem-
bered nothing of what Mr.. Hassler had
told me, and looked at my host in
surprise. Then, recollecting what
had been told, recovered myself and
assured him that L had no fear of
empty sounds.
My chamber was neither lofty nor
dimly lighted. On the contrary, the
room was decidedly snug.
l placed upon table at my bedside
a revolver and goblet containing what
l have strong reasons for believing to
have been whisky punch. Thus forti-
fed l went to bed.
/ awoke with start. l looked at
my watch-1:45 a. m.
"a little more!" walled out wo-
mans voice. "Only little more!"
If being frightened consists of feel
ing hollow inside and all goose-fesh
outside, 1 think l must have expe-
rienced fear. My first impulse was to
| plunge headforemost back into bed;
my second, L am proud to say, was to
search the room, and l so successfully
| pulled things out of place that in less
than five minutes I had prepared a
| good half hours work for the cham ber-
maid next morning. Then l went to
bed and read till sunrise.
The next evening ], having said
nothing of my experience in the mean
time, went and looked up Mr.. Hassler,
TO whom | said:
"I have heard that voice"
Of course was Immediately laughed
at.
81 reject the idea of the supernat-
fensive. "The tones were those of a
human creature in distress"
"You are judicious. But let me sug-
gest to you that startling imitation
of the human voice is at times pro-
vided by" said Mr.. Hassier, "the do
cat"
Only little more?'"
"N-n-no," he replied, Il am not at
this moment prepared to state that [
heard one express itself precisely in
those words. Well, I'll join you.
Come. I haven't had an adventure
for twenty years. Let's 90, and, If
possible have some conversation in
the way of remonstrance-with this
Unsuitable lady"
We took our seats before the fire and
conversed in low tones.
"Hark! Isn't that somebody COM
ing up-stairs?"
"Go and see who it is"
Iobeyed as to the going; as to the
seeing-though the footsteps came up,
up, up, passed me; went on above me
there was nothing to be seen. -
A cold shudder came over me and had
not subsidized when | rejoined my COM
panion. He looked at NE interroga-
lively. l shook my head. GA little
more! only little more!" at that mo-
ment came the wall. Then the clos
ing door, and the descending foot
steps.
was about to spring out upon the
landing when glanced at Mr.. Hassler.
He had turned from the window and
was stretching out his hands as if to
support himself.
at was my daughters voice." he
said.
led him to chair and a long con-
versation took place between us, in
which l suggested that the next night
Miss Florence should join us, and i
she also recognized the voice there
would be so much more confirmation
The next night we three started to-
ward my room. We had nearly reach
ed the foot of the lower stairs when
CHANGING to look behind me, TOWARD
the entrance from the main builing
l saw a female figure come right out
of the wall. I darted back, came up
on it ere it had time to close the mar
row opening whence it emerged, and
seeing that it was robed in domino
and wore mask, seized it. Mr.. Hass
Ter came to my assistance. The strug
gle was short, silent. The mask drop
ped-Mrs. Vellany! We fell back il
amazement and the woman, breaking
away from us, fled silently along tht
corridor and down the stairs.
But Florence's involuntary shrek hat
. reused the house. The gentlemen ap
peared upon the scene in undress uni
forms and with small museum o
heterogeneous weapons. The ladies
wholly unlike to what they had beer
in the drawing-room, huddled togethe
in inconspicuous places, content fo
once, to see without being seen. Las
; of all Vellany appeared from his room
fully dressed and swearing terribly
The moment he caught sight of me a
l stood guarding so to speak, the Sc
cret door, an expression came over hi
face such as l desire never to Sc
again:
"Will you allow me to ask" said he
with ominous courtesy, whether yo1
came to my house for the express .pu1
pose of prying into my family affairs?
l disclaimed any such intention.
"Since, in return for my hospitality