Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-01-13

unu pcSuu W shouiuer, so could not
see what she was like--young or old,
ugly or beautiful.
was not nervous--l had profound
disbelief in the supernatural---so sim
ply waited to see what the intruder pro.
posed to do. She advanced into the
room and came close to my elbow, then
raised her hand aud beckoned me to
follew her OF course went, and she
led me through the aperture and down
a steep wooden staircase 1t was pitch
date but ! struck matches al intervals
INV companion went on quickly. never
'!oc@.Eg Uc9sad 6et, but I smiisd as she
raised Der skirts gingerly from the dusty
stairs, and once saw the woman shud-
der as a rat scuttled by.
"No ghost this, thought
On we went down the wooden stairs
till at last we came to some stone ones
all green and humid, owing to neglect.
We continued our course. going down
fight after fight of damp slippery stairs,
till at length, to my relief, my com
panion paused before heavy oaken door,
then opened it and entered. Following
her, found myself In low, vaultlike
chamber, more like cell than anything
else. The floor was stone, the walls
were bare, but it was apparently in
habited, for there were few articles
of furniture--a rickety, spindle-legged
table, n couple of higb-backed, worm
eaten chairs and battered horsehair
sofa. In the CRATE, too, burned small
fire and couple of tall, white candles
in furnished sconces were on the narrow
mantel shelf
In the dim light afforded by these
candles and the fire | closely scrutinised
the woman who had brought me there.
She was tall and slender, and wore
n long russell gowa Of IN old fashioned
cut, but her face was pale and sad, with
sharp, clear-cut features, and mass
of rough, reddish hair was carelessly
twisted into long knot at the nape Of
her neck.
She motloned me to one Of the chairs,
taking the other herself and she now
sat bending over the fro, apparently too
deep in her own bitter reflections to be
conscious of my presence. The ex-
preston on her thin, worn face was
very sorrowful, and her hands we're
tightly cliDched IN her lap. But, though
thin and worn. her face was still lovely,
and as | gazed | thought how lovely,
it would be were the hollows filled out
and the deep lines smoothed away.
Suddenly, with little resolute ges-
ture, she turned towards me and began
to opeak in low rapid tones.
IL brought you here because wanted
to tell you my story, and I want your
help, if you will give it.
Then, with voice rising and falling
with varying emotions, aud with deep
gray eyes fixed on my face, she told her
sad tale The beginning was common
place enough beautiful willful girl;
a stern unyieldIng father two lovers,
one brave aud handsome, the other mo-
rose and unattractlve a proposed fight
a sudden death a broken hclrt--tbc
last three we're the tragic clements.
"And ! saw them carry him by the
house,-dead," she said speaking in
strange, dull way, "and for long time
| think | must have lost my senses.
When my father still insisted on my
marriage with the wretch he had chosen
| for my husband | raised no protest.
viewed the preparations for the wedding
with Indifference. seemed turned TO
stone.
But week before the marriage my
reason returned, and realized the hor-
ror OF the coil which was slowly tighten
ing around me. Then it was that | de-
terminod on what was virtually living
burial. ! was born 10 this old house
and knew every nook and corner Of IT,
My foster mother had shown me the
sliding panel in the room above that
which ] then occupied, and she and
were the ouly living persons who knew
the secret. She was devoted to me,
and ! at length won her over to my plan.
"On the night before the bridal day
He'd down here, and here have re-
manned ever since. For eight years |
have been dead to the world l had
valuable jewelry which had been my
dead mothers that has been gradually
sold, and on the proceeds | have sub.
sisted. My foster mother comes daily
and brings me food-not through the
house, Of course. There Is secret path
and door OF communication in the gar
den"
And the ghost ?" queried.
"Oh," she said, with a queer little
smile, 81 am the ghost You see, |
wanted To keep the house empty. 50 that
! might wander about the rooms and
grounds ; but now am tired Of this
unnatural existence. Life will always
be sad for me have had dreadful
grief and all my dear ones are dead
but, in spite of all. my youth reasserts
itself, aud solitude has at last lost its