Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-07-26
IWnstsn for The sOHnvest.l
THE HAUNTED HOUSE AT
RIYERDALE.
CHAPTER Il.
BY PHEBE FIELD.

lag6 Oell Calleu uo OnOo "ooA W
worship in the weather beaten church
at one end Of the one struggling
street.
But the Sabbath bell rang in vain
for me at the close Of hot mid sum.
mer day.
The sun had shone down with re-
lentless force all day, but as evening
drew on the heat became so intense
and the air 50 oppressive, that l felt
restless and uncomfortable.
could not remain quietly in the
house, nor did / feel that ] could en-
dure the stuffy atmosphere of the lit
tie church; so l sailed out through
the quiet town, where the pious vii
layers were vending their way to the
little chapel, and down the road that
led to the haunted house.
l had not gone far before the
storm that had been threatening all
day, broke forth in all its fury.
What did the lone woman in yon-
der house think to-nightP ! won
dered, as the fierce wind blew me so
l could hardly stand, and the trees
cracked and bent beneath the gale.
passed the house and gained the
river.
That usually placid stream was
white with foam capped waves, and
far out in mid-stream ] caught the
CLEAN of snow white sail.
How foolish to be out in such a
storm as this l thought as ! stood
upon the bank and watched the white
speck rise and fall.
Suddenly it wavered and disap-
peared, and q moment later shrill
cry for help was borne to me upon
the whistling wind. The sail boat
had capsized.
slung off coat and shoes and was
preparing to swim for the place from
which the cry came, when / remem
bered the little skiff lying at the old
landing.
unfastened it from its moorings,
got in and seizing the oars pushed
out into the stream.
1t had grown so dark with advanc-
ing. night and the dense clouds that
shrouded the sky that l could see
with difficulty.
The rain too, now began to fall in
torrents, and my frail bark rode up
and down the waves like thing OF
life.'
shouted loudly, and an answer
ing though faint, 'HelloP showed me
the object Of my search little to one
side.
The sail boat had turned bottom
upward, and a solitary man was
clinging to one side of it.
quickly rowed up alongside, and
threw him one end of piece of rope
I had found in the skiff.
He grasped it eagerly, and half
swimming, and half by aid of my
pulling l got him safely in, and
started for the shore.
He was evidently hurt or exhaust
ed, for he lay quite still in the bot
tom of the boat, his face cleaning
strangly white through the darkness.
When we reached the landing I
jumped out and made the boat fast,
then went back for the stranger.
He was hardly able to stand, anu l
partly led, and partly dragged, him
up the bank. Clearly he could not
60 far. As near as I could under
stand his few indistinct words he had
been hurt by the falling mast.
There was nothing for it but to try
the haunted house.
| was thoroughly exhausted by the
time got my charge to the door of
wing.
Again I saw faint light shine out
and concluding the old woman was
within gave q laundering rap on the
door.
1t was cautiously opened a little
way.
ut is a friend from the village
auntie, l called out, and / have a
half drowned man here that | just
lished out of the river
The door opened at that and
The light from o single lamp
streamed out into the darkness. /
went in, dragging the stranger
with me, without waiting for further
permission, for 1 knew the poor old
Feature could not speak.
The room we entered had evident
y been used as library, for shelves
illed with books lined the walls,
There were easy chairs scattered
about, and an old fashioned piano
stood in one corner of the room.
In the midst of it stood the old wo-
man, silent as the sphinx, her hands
ncased in the inevitable baggy black |
gloves, the hideous black bonnet on |
1or mead.
we are very wet | began, can
7ou not take us to the kitchen and
'esurrect some dry clothing from
fear this poor man is in great
iced OF help
The old creature had hardly
glanced at us, it seemed to be one Of
Ter peculiarities to never look up
,ut she nodded her head, and mo.
Toned for us to follow her.
We did SO, | supporting my almost
lelpless companion, and she led us
nto what had been a bed chamber.
She had brought the lamp in her
land, and placing it upon the table,
brew b, open q door disclosing a closet
lied with q gentleman's belongings.