The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-06-02

The remark WAS always made in Il low
tone, as if the speaker was afraid of
bringing down the wrath OF the spirits
that visited the house on the hill.
The people OF Todvillc stunned the
haunted house, and fought shy Of the
unfortunate people who lived therein.
Even the grocery boy, who had to car
Nv food to the house, never dared ven
ture further than the edge of the kitch-
on steps and when he dumped his pack.
ages on the stoop he turned and AN
as if pursued by a mad bull. Those
people who lived in the neighborhood
took the longest way aronnd 10 reach
their homes in order to avoid passing
the house.
Even the people who occupied the
haunted abode were in constant fear
and trembling. They thoroughly be-
licvcd that some mysterious influence
was at work in their home. that might
at any moment destroy their very
lives.
The occupants Of the house were the
Widow Wilson, her daughter Jennie
and a faithful servant. The circum-
stances of the widow did not permit her
to move, else she would not have lin-
gcred in the place.
The visits Of the spirits, or whatever
they are called. were made in the dead
of night, and their presence was made
known by the vigorous rocking of an
old chair that sounded throughout the
house like the song of death.
At such times the widow would clasp
her little daughter in her arms and
silently pray for protection. Under the
nervous strain both mother and child
were rapidly becoming invalidS.
They dared not pursue the wrath
and solve the mystery of its being,
for weak women and children are not
expected to battle with an unreal force
that men would hesitate to inveSti-
gate.
This was the condition of affairs
when, after the visits of the spirit had
been of nightly frequency for two
months. Mrs. Wilson received a letter
informing her that her ten-year-old
niece, Fannie Long, was going to make
her IL visit. 1t was too late to stop the
coming of the child, for the letter stated
that she would arrive a few hours
after the letter was received.
Mrs. Wilson was in despair, for she
had no place to put the little girl eX-
cept in the haunted spare room, and
what to do under the circumstances
she was unable to determine.
She finally concluded that she would
tell Fannie tho story Of the haunted
chamber, arrange her lodging for a day
or two with 4 neighbor, ana then send
her home.
Fannie came on time, and when she
entered her aunt's home it seemed as
if Il thousand rays of sunshine had
| come in with her. Her eyes snapped
with the fire of health and happiness
as she kissed the widow and her cousin.
Fannie was quick witted, and instant
ly saw that some trouble clouded her
aunt's mind. She bidcd her time, and
was soon called upon to hear the story
of the ghostly visits.
The little visitor laughed merrily at
her aunt's story, and said she wasn't
| afraid of a whole army Of ghosts, and
| that she would love to sleep in the
haunted room. She insisted, despite
the widows protests. that she was a
soldiers little daughter and delighted
in solving mysteries.
The day wore on, and Fannie gave
no signs of fright. She explored the
room in which she was to sleep. She
found it a pleasant little place, on
! the second floor. There was but n
door in the room, leading to the STAIR
way. two windows and no closet. The
windows were some distance from any
tree, and too high from the ground
to be reached except by means of q
ladder. The furniture was plain. On
one side of the room was an Old-fash-
toned open fireplace that looked rs if
it had not been used in many years.
Fannie looked up this and could see
the blue sky through the chimney top.
The r%ocking-chair that was said to
have caused all the trouble was a plain,
comfortable affair.
At 8 o'clock Fannie went to bed.
She was rather ervou as little girls
are apt to get when confronted by Uni
seen dangers, but still she kept up u
brave heart. She had put III her
candle and opened wide the window
blinds, letting in a food of silvery
I moonlight that made the room very
bright.
Fannie determined that she would
not 20 to sleep, but would watch all
night long for the coming of the ghost.
But she was tired. and, despite her
good intentions, she was o in Shut
eyevillc.
How long she slept she did not know,
but she awakened with q half stifed
scream out of n bad dream, and was
at once conscious that the old rocking
chair was swaying violently. Then
Fannie was frightened. Her heart beat
rapidly, and Il cold perspiration broke
out all w her.
All thoughts of further sleep were
at once dispelled. Propped up in bed,
the little girl, her eyes blazing with
terror, fastened her gaze on the old
chair. Its rocking slowly ceased. Still
! she gazed.
The moments appeared to be years,
but she was too badly scared to leave
her he'd or scream. Suddenly she heard
a sound, as If something was moving
along the floor by the bed; she knew
then that there was a real foe; her
heart seemingly stood still.
At the foot of the bed the clothing
was felt to move, and the occupant of
the couch thought she was facing death.
She could not stir nor move her gaze
from the old chair.
Something white sprang from the
bedside, and the old chair set up q vi0-