Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-08-09
PORTRAIT OF 4 LADY,

In the summer of IS | was cm-
ployed to look after some legal bust
ness at Boone Court House, w. Va.
Leaving the railroad at BrownstoWn
and taking directions and horse from
my landlord at that point, | set out
through the mountains early in the
afternoon, expecting to reach Racine
in time for supper.
AS the afternoon waned, however
l noticed that the road became con
Stantly rougher and apparently more
unfrcQuenteu, until it was little more
than a deserted pathway that crossed
and recrosSed the graNcly bed OF u
dry creek, in Il mad effort to remain
in the narrow valley that wound cir
cuitously among the mountains, whose
black timbervd SUBMITS seemed TO
stretch higher and higher above me
in the Gathering twilight. 1t being Il
cloudy day | was completely mystiticd
as to the points Of the compass, and IT
now became. evident to me that mad
in some manner missed Ny way. |
had already gone too far to retraCe my
steps before nightfalI, so that unless |
speedily found shelter / would be OH
uged to pass the night in the open
air.
Being III no wise pleased with this
prospect | concluded to press on Il lit
tie farther before abandoning the
quest, and had barely formed this
tn ~ 4 hNxyn
brought me into full view of what APP
pearcd to be large, square southern
mansion surrounded by trees and stu
ated a little way up the slope of re-
markable lofty mountain that rose pre-
Tipitously behind it.
\ nearer approach revealed an out
ward appearance of oyergroWth and
dilapidation. Thp fence had fallen
down in several places; the open gate
was barely supported by its rusty
hinges; the yard was mass of weeds.
The condition of the house | could
not determine in the dim light made
DINNER by the heavy shadows of the
.rees. Between the tall weeds and
OriarS there was Il wide stone walk
leading from the gate to the front
door.
The prospect was not an inviting
one, but as my situation had become
somewhat desperate l determined If
possible to obtain accommodations for
the night
My repeated knocks elected no re-
Spouse beyond a hollow echo, and con-
Guiding the place to be deserted,
tried the door. Somewhat to my sur
prise it yielded, the rusty hinges
creaking terribly as | pushed it wide
open. AS | entered | was greeted by
that musty, lfeless odor common to
places long closed and unlnhabited l
had matches with me, and striking one
looked about me.
! was in wide hall. Before me
dark staircase, partially whitened with
dust led to rooms above. TO the left
land right were closed doors, and at
tached to the white easement of the
latter was a little bracket cdndelabra
containing a cluster of six half-con-
sumed wax candles. Lighting two of
THESE, | took one Of them from the
holder and opening the door at my
right. entered
The room in which l found myself
was apparently the parlor of the de
serted maLsion. The dust-covered fur
niture, which had evidently been for
Umany years undisturbed, was Of
Ustyle massive and once much Ia vogue.
Ia number of paintings and engrayinss
we're upon the walls in tarnished gilt
Iframes A large chandelier suspended
In the center of the room was OF elab-
Sorate workmanship. The floor was
Icoyered with a heavy mating, the ex-
tact nature of which | could hardly Ge-
htprmine. owing to the thick coyerin!
lof dust. Passing on to the adjoining
broom, was rot disappointed in find
ling il 10 be a large bedroom with all
1.-THE appointments peculiar to an old
i-me southern home of wealth. l ap.
lnr,arhad the tall Canopied bed in the
II annoSite corner and drew back the
Aalrtains: 1t was ready for the guests
Nor which it had 20 long waited The
sbadding was yellow with age, but the
9canopy had protected 1t from the dust.
H. had net been occupied for years,
confess | was possessed with a
h.ans, Of awe amid these surroundings,
Ebu, not being III d umid nature a.
htern5nei to pass the night beneath
fbis roof III preference to enduring the
heavy fog that always gathers at