The Portland daily press., 1894-05-02
THE BROWN WOMAN.

At distance of about 80 miles from
Harpers Ferry is situated one of the Oldest
and quaintest towns in Virginia. Not
only do its historic associations attract the
traveller, but the picturesque charm of its
old time homes induces him to linger there,
hunting curios or plucking thyme and
myrtle from the garden of some ancient
dame. Of all these homes, none so invites
the curious passerby as that of Miss Polly
Waller A stone wall, ivy grown and dis
colored, incloses the spacious garden in the
center of which stands this lady's house.
What delights are revealed to those who
can roam at will in this garden on sunny
day! The inner side of the stone wall is
background against which one sees row
of twisted white lilac bushes, the blossoms
of which in spring fill the whole neighbor-
hood with their delicious sweetness. A
carefully trimmed and regularly grown
border of box incloses the flower beds and
outlines the well trodden gravel walks,
along the sides Of which grow rosemary
and calacanthus, yellow jasmine and syrin-
ga, citron aloes and damask roses.
One evening in the month of September
several ladies were gathered about card
table in Miss Polly's front parlor. The
evening being cool and windy, the huge
fireplace was piled high with blazing logs.
So enticing did the fire proye that very
soon all the ladies threw down their cards
and grouped themselves close to the hearth.
The high wind outside caused an over
hanging maple bough to lash itself against
the window pane. This excited the nerves
of some of the ladies, and this with the
social and expansive element which a fire
has always the power to awaken, turned
the conversation upon the weird and fam
tastic.
81 can tell you genuine ghost story,
and, what more, every word of it is true, "
said Miss Blunt, a lady who, though still
unwedded, could own to years and expert
ence sufficient to expect that her word be
accepted.
"Tell ua Tell us!' clamored half a
dozen femat. voices.
WELL began Miss Blunt, who was
frail, nervous little woman, with wide
open, startled eyes, which one could easily
believe had acquired their present express
sion from frequent observations of ghosts
Before continuing she drew nearer to the
fire, clasped one knee about with both
hands and continued: Some years ago l
went to New York on a visit to a relative
This cousin was descended on the paternal
side from an old Dutch family, which in
days long gone by had built great house
in Blocker street and there for three gen.
erations had lived in the enjoyment OF
wealth and high social position. At last,
however, evil days came, the house in
Blocker street passed into strange hands,
and the old family became scattered.
Ihls cousin had somewhat regalneo
the Weal1n ana poslVloh whicn his lahliy
had lost. BY strange 1reak ne reoougno
the ola mouse IN bleecker s1reeC' prelerrihg
1t TO an up Town residence. AlGer ne hau
rentted IT, IL maze charming nome. Ii
was after ne and MS family hao peen IV-
ing thefe lor some !llonons VhaD wen' W
vlsl6 them. When looking ou0 ol JIG VIII.
COWS. IL seemed queer 10 oe IN ohls part Oh
New YORK, puG wnen gave nyselI up W
tne COMFORT ana peau'y ol Che ioolns IL
was as oengntful as any mouse ever saw
az ieasG Vhough6 SO. ohougn CAe lallllly
Itself did not seem qul6e certain concern
ing IL.
my cousin, could see, was charmed
WIN tne success OIL MS schelie anu iiau JUS
saolsned ali ol d HAL WIZ las piayou Z"
ooi'i s.e.aii0 "iiee WIN N"o W" ~
ters dld no6 appear 10 par1aAe ol us COIL
tent. Iney We're restless a1 LILIES, aho l
was lncllfieo 10 OninK 6heIn Wanblhs III
gratl1uae
One DAY was slttlhg III my rooh' I'M
tying some emoroloery SILKS; "nen upon POE
looking up saw s0anolng before me d III! Nv
tie ola woman, all dressed IN brown, WIN
white hanokerchler crossed upon her
preast. Her lace was thaG Oh a foreigner,
ana her eyes had thaV pathetlc. appeailng
LOOK In then Wnlcn goes s1ralgho 10 1ne
heaft' flhalhg thls Strange wolhah III Iily
room uhanhounceo' IeiC some On surprise
and questioneo hef Sharply. She gave me
no reply oue seooo tnere, LOOKING me
through, as IL were WIN Chose PaChe1ic
eyes. Ihlnklng her some loreign sewing
woman VINO was possibly enpalrasseo aO