Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-06-21

to think them wanting in gratitude
Zone day l was sitting in my room,
untying some embroidery silks, when
upon looking up l saw standing before
me a little old woman, all dressed in
brown, with a white handkerchief
crossed upon her breast. Her face
was that of a foreigner, and her eyes
had that pathetic, appealing look in
them which goes straight to the heart.
Finding this strange woman in my
room unannounced, felt some surprise
and questioned her sharply. She
gave me no reply, but stood there,
looking me through, as it were with
those pathetic eyes Thinking her
some foreign sewing woman who was
possibly embarrassed at her inability
to use the English language, l told
her to accompany Inc down stairs,
where someone no doubt could be
found who would understand what
she wished
I'VE started together out Of the
room. l preceded, but kept her in
sight Upon the stairs she seemed to
disappear suddenly. | called to her
| I ran back to see if had been mis-
taken and if she fingered still in my
room. | did not see her anywhere
Then I concluded that she had disap-
peared into one of the other rooms,
and that | had better descend and
send someone to seek her. | went
down into the library, where my
cousins wife and daughter were occu-
pied with their embroideries told
them about the little woman up stairs
and requested that they look after
her When | had finished my story,
my cousins wife shivered a little and
remarked in a strained voice That is
strange. She rose from her chair.
You said she had very pathetic eyes?
she asked. Yes, the most pathetic l
eyer saw, replied. The girls looked
down at their work, but said nothing.
| Their mother left the room, but soon
returned, saying, 1T was nothing.
After this we settled down to our
work, and the morning, though per-
ceptibly chilled by my little episode,
passed quickly by.
"Some nights after this continued
Miss Blunt, a awoke suddenly from
my sleep, and there standing by my
bed, almost bending over me, | saw
clearly by the street light, which fell
directly into my room, this same it
tie woman, all dressed in brown, with
the white handkerchief crossed upon
her breast, and looking earnestly at
me as she had done some days before.
l sprang up quickly and called to her
as hastened to light the gas, but she
was not to be seen, nor was there any
sign Of anyone having entered my
room. 1t is not necessary to say that
| bolted my door securely, wrapped
myself in the blankets and sat up the
rest Of the night. This time con-
cluded that my cousin wife had some
demented relative or friend confined
in the house, and that she had es-
capped accidentally and made these ey-
cursions into my room. ! determined
to speak to my cousin in the morning
and obtain the truth from him, and
thus protect myself against further
alarm and fright. When descended
the next morning, | was SO fortunate
as to meet my cousin alone in the
lower hall. Come into the library
and let me speak with YOU l said.
He led Inc into the room, saying,
laughingly, Have YOU, too, seen the
ghost?' Indeed I have, replied,
and then told him Of what had hap
peued to me. He seemed annoyed.
1t is very strange, he said. No one
is confined here in the house. Soon
after we came, this same little brown
woman appeared to my wife. When
she told me of it, I laughed at her. In
few days however, the thing repeat
ed itself. Both of the girls have seen
her. myself have not yet been hon
ored. Seriously, though, | begin to
fear that there is mystery. Some
thing must be done My wife and
daughters wished to give up the house
month ago, but felt that there
must be some mistake, and deter
mined to remain and prove to them
that either it was their overwrought
imaginations or something which
would in time explain itself natur-
ally.
At breakfast my cousin related my
experience to the family. We dis
cussed the matter very seriously.
That same day my cousin heard low
,,;o, &c 1;strass In ona of the vacant