The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1892-12-17
Three Nights at Coast Cedars.

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
ut the Cedars. He brought with him
q second Mrs. Vellany, an English
woman, and in the opinion of most
persons an ugly one.
| chanced one autumn to be the
guest of Mr.. Vellanys 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, may
mention. took with him his only sur
viving daughter. So, you see, l 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
"a little more-only a little more!"
"You won't mind sleeping in the
tower, will you?"
in by a capital late dinner, l remem-
bered nothing of what Mr. Hassler had
told NE, and ! looked at my host in
surprise. Then, recollecting what
had been told, recovered myself and
L., 7 L.. >T
empty sounds.
My chamber was neither lofty nor
dimly lighted. On the contrary, the
room was decidedly snug.
placed upon table at my bedside
revolver and goblet containing what
/ have strong reasons for believing to
have been whisky punch. Thus forti-
fed went to bed.
awoke with start. l looked at
my watch-1:45 a. m.
"A little more!" walled out wo-
mans voice. only a little more!"
If being frightened consists of feel
ing hollow inside and all goose-hesh
outside, think / must have expe-
rienced fear. Ny first impulse was to
plunge headforemost back into bed;
my second, am proud to say, was to
search the room, and / so successfully
pulled things out of place that in less
than five minutes I had prepared g
good half hours work for the chamber
maid next morning. Then / went TO
bed and read till sunrise.
The next evening l. having said
nothing of my experience in the mean
time. went and looked up Mr.. Hassler,
TO whom / said:
81 have heard that voice"
OF course | was Immediately laughed
Il reject the idea of the supernat-
ural," | continued, speaking on the de-
fensive. The tones were those of a
human creature in Distress"
you are judcious. But let me sug-
pest to you that startling imitation
of the human voice is at times pro-
yided by" said Mr.. Hassier, "the do
eat"
did you ever hear the cat say,
Only little morep'"
"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. / haven't had an adventure
i
possible, have some conversation in
Unsuitable lady"
We took our seats before the fire and
conversed in low tones.
"Hark! Isn't that somebody COM
ing UPSTAIRS
"Go and see who it is"
Iobeyed as to the going; as to the
j, 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 me interroga-
lively. ] shook my head. "a little
more! only a 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
1T was my daughters voice." he
said.
/ led him to chair and long con-
versation took place between Us, in
which suggested that the next night
Miss Florence should join us, and if
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,
] saw female figure come right out
of the wall. / 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 a mask, seized it. Mr.. Hass-
Ter came to my assistance. The strag-
gle was short, silent. The mask drop
ped Mrs. Vellany! We fell back in
amazement and the woman, breaking
away from us, fled silently along the
corridor and down the stairs.
But Florence involuntary shrek had
reused the house. The gentlemen APP
peared upon the scene in undress uni
forms and with a small museum of