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

A HIDDEN SECRET.
At distance Of about 80 miles
from Harper's Ferry IS situated one Of
the oldest and quaintest towns IN VT-
ginia. Not only do its historic asso-
ciations attract the traveller, but the
picturesque charm Of its old time
homes induces him to inger there,
hunting curios or plucking thyme and
myrtle from the garden Of some ancient
dame. OF all these homes, none so in
yites the curious passerby as that Of
Miss Polly Walker A stone wall,
ivy grown and discolored, incioses the
spacious garden in the center Of which
stands this lady's house. What de-
Iights are revealed to those who can
roam at will in this garden on a sunny
day, The inner side Of the stone wall
is background against which one sees
row Of twisted white lilac bushes,
the blossoms of which in spring fill the
whole neighborhood with their deli
cious sweetness. \ carefully trimmed
and regularly grown border of box in
closes the flower beds and outlines the
well trodden gravel walks, along the
sides Of which grow rosemary and
calacanthus, yellow jasmine and syrin-
ga, citron alocs and damask roses.
One evening in the month Of Sep
tember several ladies were gathered
about card table in Miss Pollys
front parlor. The evening being cool
and windy, the huge fireplace was
piled high with blazing logs So en-
ticing did the fire prove that very
soon all the ladies threw down their
cards and grouped themselves close to
the hearth. The high wind outside
caused an ovcrhanging maple bough
to lash itself against the window pane.
This excited the nerves of some of the
ladies, and this with the social and eX-
pansive element which fire has al
ways the power 10 awaken, turned
the conversation uron the weird and
fantastic.
Il can tell you a genuine ghost
story, and what's more, every word Of
it is true, said Miss Blunt, lady
who though still unwedded, could own
to years and experience sufficient to
expect that her word be accepted.
Tell us Tell us" clamored half
a dozen female voices.
well, began Miss Blunt, who was
a frail. nervous little woman, with
wide open, startled eyes, which one
could easily believe had acquired their
present expression from frequent OBJ
of ghosts. Before continu-
inc she drew nearer to the fire, clasped
one knee about with both hands and
"Some years ago | went
to New York on a visit to a relative.
This cousin was descended Oh the pa
ternal side from an old Dutch family,
which in days long gone by had built
a great house in Bleecker street and
there for three generations had lived
in the enjoyment Of wealth and high
social position. At last, however, evil
DAYS came, the house in Bleecker street
passed into strange hands, and the old
family became scattered.
This cousin had somewhat regaiued
the wealth and position which his
family had lost. BY strange freak
he rebought the oil house in Bleecker
street, preferring it to an up town res
idence. After lie had reftted 1t, it
made a charming home. 1t was after
he and his family had been living
there for some months that went to
visit them. When looking out Of the
windows, it seemed queer to be in this
part of New York, but when l gave
myself up to the comfort and beauty
of the rooms it was as delightful as
any house I ever saw-at least l
thought so, though the family itself
did not seem quite certain concerning
it.
MY cousin, l could see, was charmed
with the success of his scheme and had
the satisfied air of man who has
played a bold game and won. The
wife and dauphters did not appear to