The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-06
found In the same place and in precisely
the same condition.

found In the Same place and in precisely
the same condition.
AT length my mother removed the boots
to her own closet, and locking the door
put the key in her pocket, saying as she
ana SO: Now we will see who 1t IL that's
IN the habit Of wearing your shoes No
body knows where the key of the closet
door Is hid except yourself, Elsa"
L must explain that by this time, owing
70 my vehement denial as to having worn
the boots, suspicion had fallen upon Louise,
my mothers housemaid n quadroon girl
about my own size and age.
That night my dreams were terrible
the boots played ne inconsiderable part In
my nervous and excited fancies. First
imagined that must have them, and In
order 20 get them 1t was necessary TO OBJ
tain the closet / hidden in the pocket OF
my mothers blue chintz gown that always
hung at night upon chair Immediately
behind her bed.
Idreamed that had seen her forget to
fasten the door leading into her bedroom,
and that arose, and tiptoeing across the
hall went down the stairs, and. sure
e1ourh found the door unfasiened. |
went in. and cropping in the darkness found
the blue chintz, removed the key and with
the utmost ease found-and fitted il in
the closet door. found the boots full as
easily. locked the door, returned the KEY to
its place and went out rs noiselessly as
had entered
sat down upon the doorstep in the
moonlight, drew the shoes upon my bare
feet and started out as rapidly as | knew
how toward the graveyard, across the rice
field. through the white looking lagoon
and into the horrid shades of the Dismal
Swamp All night long in my dreams !
followed the wild birds or fed from the
hiss of the serpents which made their home
in the deadly morass. The plovcr, startled
from its nest, brushed by me with
shrek, and once | fancied a long serpent
swung from a swamp willow and planted
its fangs in my check. But when | put
out my hand to brush it aside found that
a branch Of trumpet vine had swept
across my face, the rich red blossoms drop
ping the dew from their cups into my lips,
which were parched and dry | was not
in the least frightened, but plunged on
deeper and deeper into the vast wilderness.
Once heard the bloodhounds baying, and
knew they were on the track of some run
away slave who had fled to the protecting
jungles of the Dismal Swamp.
At last grew weary and turned home
ward | crossed the lagoon, lying still and
white in the gray dawn, and traversed
again the rice field and the lonely path
across the graveyard; then l sat down
upon the doorstep and removed my long
boots, carrying them up TO my door, where
| left them for Louise TO have cleaned.
Then crept to bed and remembered moth
ing more until noon, when | awOke to find
my mother bending over me with heavy,
troubled eyes as l had seen her many
time when some Of us were Ill.
/ yaWned YEARLY.
Mother" | said, II went through the
Dismal Swamp again in my dreams last
night"
"And the Graysville ghost was seen
again last night" she replied hesitatinglY
as if afraid TO tell me.
"Who saw it this timeW / asked.
81"
Mother"
I sat up in bed startled and pale with a
great fear. | brushed my hand across my
temples to make my thoughts clear
And as did 50 felt long, deep cut
upon my cheek.
.Mother~ | tried TO say. "Mother"
And throwing oil the bedcoYers sPrahg
out upon the floor
My long nightdress was spattered and
draggled with mire my knees were torn
and bleeding Cookie burrs and marsh
MOSES were clinging to my hair but my
feet were white and clean.
Instantly i understood it ALL and fell
with a shrek into my mothers arms.
was the Graysville ghost, and l was the
somnambulist who had, night after night,
plunged deeper and deeper in the Jungles
of the Dismal Swamp.
They followed my tracks as far as they
dared penetrate into that dreary morass.
How did it remains a mystery, but GER
tain it is that asleep, had wandered alone
through the deadly swamp which even in
the day l shuddered to think of.-William
Allen Dromgoole in Romance.