Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-04-14
CHAPTER /.

.--..i0o3 house. which was i'm its
the most pretentiOus residence in
t.t country side. A tall pOrtico
..s-ffrg the whole length of themaiU
,F.r-. and supported by six mas
... rn-ic columns gave rather an Of
-. ASPECT to the mansion. This
+e was marked by another feature
-..-s common 90 public than 70 private
reas: am antique cUpOla in which
-- an equally antique bell. sur
-ad the building. The bell had
silent for many years. but the
.s were. i'm the prosperous DAYS of
when morning, noon and night its
rr notes had rung out far across
- and dale.
This house was for several genera
..-. The home of the Taggart family,
-rlrsarJ acres Of fine arabic land.
end eas surrounded by a plantation of
-.s mon of this family We're noted for
-..- great energy and enterprise, and
I'D r~ar much dominated affairs in
Ills hart rr t.a country. But the last
III he race bad passed away, and the
estate h.. fallen into the hands Of
r,ra-.-. branch which did not Oc-
rr-v Il. tl. had let it together with
III. mansion for many years previous
-4 ta happenings of the remarkable
a...-s here recorded.
r.r iu the time of the Taggart
tm.. there were uncanny stories told
Dr. the negroes of the plantation, of
IasGy sights and sounds. seen and
heard. within the gloomy receSses Of
-a old manor house: but at that time
these stories We're attributed to Afri-
CD superstition, and made but little
-rressiou upon the more intelligent
r-e citizens of the community
70 is necessary TO 90 back TO a per
nl several years anterior TO the open
ir- OF this story. and recount briefly
ts Dreadful occurrences Of that time
which incidentally as it were, never
tts'ess. cast am indellible glamour Of
horror upon this ancient house.
Towards the close of beautiful Oc-
tr.er day I'm the year Of grace 1926,
$50 horseuen might have been seen
riding along the road in the direction
O.. The town of Colburg. and at q dis
lance Of about three miles from that
place. These travellers were mon
somewhat past middle age: and ne who
.0.e in front would have arrested at
-e-l.ou even. within q crowded city,
much moro upon q lonely country road.
lie was apparently. about sixty years
o. age. but still vigorous, tall. and ele-
Eut.y formed; his complexion was
Very dark. as If from exposure to q
tropical sun. his eyes We're piercing,
black rowing and fierce Of expression;
his nose was acGuiline. his face long
and oval. his locks. which fell upon his
shoulders, were sreabed with grey, as
We're his uustache and the thinner
beard upon his bornzcd cheeks. He
sat his horse with the ease and grace
which is acquired only from long prac-
tice I'm the saddle; yet there was a
military stiffness and dignity of bear
ing about the man which ne seemed to
bc unable J9 shake OF; or perhaps, it
was that air of authority which at
t1cres 90 those who have been long ac-
CustOmed to command.
The horse of this rider was as re-
markable I'm appearance as himself; ne
was powerful animal. with a clean,
high head pointed ears, thin maneapd
tail; and of q curious tawney color.
marked upon the sides and tlauks
with dark stripes, i'm less degree. but
somewhat resembling those of the tiger.
The other traveller was a man Of me-
dunn heigLt compactly built; of sandy
complexion. red hair and beard. gog-
Gle eyed, and there was nothing about
nina ,r attract attention except his
foreign dress. and the very fine animal
ha rode. The horses of these travel
ers were evidently of q strain then UNI
common I'm this part of the world and
showed 90 every point their Arab or
.gn.
i, was about nightIall when the
elder man, who rode i'm front. turned
Or his companion and said. "Sym0nds,
the day is far spent. and Saraceu is
.5--Wecry, we shall stop Gt the first
shelter The one addressed raised
his hand To- his hat rs he replied: eff
r please y0u sir and then they re-
.el-ej into silence.
Eut a short time thereafter turn
.r the road brought into full view Of
-a travellers q h2bitatiOn which
appeared t0 be some kind Of q fOrJiiCa-
-.0u or fort. as the square of rude cab-
ms was surrounded by q strong, high
picket except Immediately I'm front.
where tle Dickets had been removed
had been replaced 10y a rail fence
s five tca- nigh AS they came
@ opposite 90 this fort. tine elder
traveller without q word. refined mp
horse. and turned or the road to-
wards tle house mo q trot; he rode di-
at the fence which his horse
| as lightly as the swallow skins
. #ve. Peter Lutueu, the master
. house, who was standing I'M his
e Che time, was filled with
roaou a- this feat of hOrseman-
THE stranger briefly told his needs,
Eej hospitality for the night;
spoke with q ful pleasant voice,
with foreign accent and slight
ping speech. he stated that his
was James TrelaWuey, and that
DIS companion John SymOndS, and
they were from foreign parts;
.Gln this, he said nothing con-
e. himself
-..re. was pleased TO accommodate
-. travellers elf they could put up
- his humble fare "By this time
l5s who had ridden around to
..e approached. and he and Lut-
took the horses 20 the stable. at
distance from the dwelling.
suey walked into the house, as
sl'Uted the woman there with
-.e courtesy, took the chair which
had placed for him; and sat in
Silence
. he was not uuobserved. and
u what occurred afterwards, an
dnimp0rant details were mat
OFT absorbing interest. rs related to