The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-06-23
A FAIR RECLUSE.

.%'e anu the a'd OF the local architect every
.ninG can Dc put right. This pearl Of house
goes BY the name Of Thorpe manor, and is o
course haunted. 81 you may relieve the monot
4ny % country life by genuine ghost hunt
Ever yours, JouN R,nowAv
.s.-Ths house b In Surrey. about fou
miles rom Wtnton station. You had bette
come down At once, a. hear some one els /
after II.
At that time was fairly good look
ing. well to do bachelor Of thirty-fivs
NY ample leisure devoted to ANTIGUA
RAN researches, literary work and tn,
collection Of ''curios." had no rela
tives and few friends, and | lived Ar
almost solitary and perfectly happy ifs
in my chambers.
Among what some people called my
craze was an enthusiasm for ancient
houses. and had deputed John Ridg.
way. an artist friend Of mine who lived
IN Surrey. to lind me genuine old coun.
try house-a dreamy. rambling place
where could spend the summer. Hence
his letter.
As the train steamed into the little
station at Winton John rushed mn 10
my carriage and clasped my hand. Dear
old chap! he quite beamed with joy at
tine prospect Of showing me his wonder
full house.
Charming old place! I've had nv
eye on it for monthsr he said IA he
walked over the common.
Then he produced the inevitable note
book and pencil and was soon drawing
plans and explaining details.
| As We passed through the village wa
called upon the house agent and took
him with us. He was a prosaic man
and evidently thought we were a coupls
OF mild Iunatics. so excited did we he.
come when suddenly turning a corner at
the foot OF steep incline we stood in
'front.' OF Thorpe manor. 1t was a Quaint
Old house. standing back a little from
the road. and its walls were as perfect
as when first built, but mellowed and
identified by time.
we walked up the prim gravel path
to the wide doorway with its fantastic
carving. Here our agent produced a
huge, rusty key and unlocked the door.
which swung back easily on its large
hinges. We entered and went through
the rooms, which had low ceilings and
broad window seats. Most Of these hal
paneled walls. though some Of them had
been covered with paper, which OF
course we said must come of. One OF
the bedrooms-which tG&, ,ght from
the elaborate carving on the high man.
tel shelf and the beautiful oak panelino
mad originally been the state one-was
perfect.
felt strangely attracted to this room
1 know not why. and as we turned to
leave fingered behind the Others for a
parting glance. Then l slowly went
down the winding stairway.
seen the ghostY' asked John lest
insly.
The agent looked uneasy. Ghosts are
tresome things, apt to initiate very
much against the chances Of securing a
good tenant, but treasured him by re-
marking that rather liked ghosts. and
that. so far as could see, the house was
exactly what ! wanted. OF course there
were many details to be settled about
the lease, repairs and other matters. and
stipulated that should be allowed TO
make some alterations. such as remov-
ing the staring plate glass with which
the late owner had ''modernized- the
windows Of the lower rooms.
Six weeks later ! was installed in INV
new residence. The alterations were
not nearly completed, but declining the
kidgways' pressing invitation to take
up my quarters with them, | occupied
two rooms in the old house and engaged
woman in the village to come daily |
and attend to my simple wants.
On the third evening after nv arrival
was smoking my favorite pipe by a |
wood fire in the darkroom, which 1 had |
made my bedroom. 1t was nearly 1o |
CLOCK, but being accustomed to late
hours did not feel inclined for bed
rar from 1t. decided to have one more
pipe, and hastily taking up my pouch |
began to refill my pipe. Suddenly 1
stopped short, and with my little finger
still rammed into the bowl Of the pine
left my chair and walked to the opposite
side OF the room. for | could have sworn
saw the paneliny move ever so slightly
upward. Nor was | mistaken: for very
slowly the whole panel disappeared, and
n the opening stood the figure Of a wo-
nan.
The room was dark. for the wood fire
had begun to smolder, so could not ace
what she was hke-young or old, ugly
Or beautiful.
was not nervous-l had a profound
disbelief In the supernatural-so 1 sim.
by waited to see what the intruder pro-
'osed to do. She advanced into the
Dom and came close to my elbow. then
aised her hand and beckoned me to FOL.
ow her. OF course went. and she led
ne through the aperture and down a I
teep wooden staircase. 1t was pitch
ARK, but l struck matches at intervals.
ny companion went on quickly, never
ooklnS behind her. but smiled az she ,,
aised her skirts gingerly from the dusty
tairs. and once saw the woman shud-
er as rat scuttled by.
mo ghost this" thought 1.
On we went down the wooden stairx '
III at last we came to some stone ones =,
II green and humid, owing to neglect. c
te continued our course, going down
light after fight Of damp. slippery :
tairs. till at length, to my relief, my =
ornpanion paused before a heavy oaken \
Dor. then opened 1t and entered. FOl- :,
wing her. | found myself in a low, 4
aultlike chamber, more like cell than
'ything else. The floor was stone, tho
ails were bare. but it was apparently
habited. for there were few articles u
iurniture-a rickety. spindle legged o
bile, couple Of high backed, worm {
ten chairs and battered horsehair q
ia. In the crate, too, burned q small d
70 and couple Of tall. white candles p
furnished sconces were on the narrow 1t