The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-06-12

| tNWalte, speaking sun rather Si'iiS-
dined at Mereside some time ago. and
must get to Branksomc tonight. If Mrs
Crosmont will allow me-
He turned to the lady. and stopped
short. Her eyes. which began to fascl
nate him by an eloquence which seemed
to him preternatural, looked straight int
his and commanded him TO stay.
Come, DR.. Armathwaite, said hel
uncle, you won't want us all to so dowI
on our knees to induce you TO stay, II
sure. We have a reputation for hospital
ity to keep up. and we should have eacf
to do private penance if we let you go be
fore morning. Come now, say you're per
suaded."
He passed his arm through that Of the
young man. and as his nephew had now
recovered from his ill-temper enough t
echo the hospitable words with moder
ately good grace. Armathwaite above,
himself to yield without much difficulty
and without bctraying his cret cagernes:
for better acquaintance with the inter
esting household.
Afterwards Mr. Crosmont. humming al
air as he crossed the room to his cigal
cabinet. asked his visitor i'll genial voice
if he would smoke. ArmathWalte eX
cused himself feeling that to puff tobacco
smoke into the air which surrounded Mrs
CrOsmont would be like prOtanlng The
temple of a goddess. That lady seemed
to guess the reason of his refusal, and
looking at him with gracious smile, SAT-
she did not mind smoke in the least
Drawing a chair to the fire between hl'
uncle and Armathwaite. Mr.. trosmon
observed that they would not 20 into the
drawing room; it was such moldy oil,
place If he were SuperSutlouS ne Snouit
think it was haunted.
They do say in the village that thl:
house is haunted" observed his uncle
Not one of those silly servants would
come down stairs between the hours OF
ten at night and six IN the morning, il
you were to offer her new bonnet
Apparently this fact was already known
to young Mr. Crosmont, for he betrayed
no surprise.
"Old Nanny is ready to swear by hel
coral necklace and everything else III the
world she holds sacred, that she has hcart
unearthly means and groans in the Dolly
Warden ROOM
Don't. uncle; you will make me Sc
nervous that | shant be able to sleep,
protested Mrs. Crosmont, in earnest en-
treaty.
stuff and nonsense said her husband
roughly. Il never yet heard Of a sensi
bic woman believing in ghosts"
II don't believe in ghosts, Edwin" Shs
said very humbly. But YOU know that
when | get very much eXcited-and il is
50 easy to excite mel fancy | see al
sorts of things; it is quite as dreadful as
reality
She spoke dreamily and ahsently, in a
low, awe-struck voice, with her eyes fixed
before her, as if the remembrance OF
some Of her fancieS of the night were fill
ing her with vivid horror.
''Of course. if YOU will read trashy nov
els and fill your head with imaginary
crimes and mysteries just before you g
to bed, it's no wonder you can't sleep;
couldn't myself under the same circum-
stances As for the Dolly Warden room
the draught comes in at the window, and
that's the worst You can say Tor II.
"Since YOU have done me the kindness
TO offer me q shelter for the night. may
ask n favor if | may sleep in that room:
asked Armathwaite. Il have no super
stitions on the subject Of supernatural
appearances, | am a light sleeper and
have extraordinarily quick ears; So that
if anybody can find ont the cause Of the
prejudice against the room and set Mrs
Crosmont's fears at rest, ! ought TO be
that person
Done cried Mr.. Crosmont. "And
Wen compare notes at breakfast time as
to our experience in the room
Shortly afterward Mrs. Crosmont re-
tired for the evening, and after the men
had spent some time III desultory CONVEX
sation Uncle Hugh showed the visitor tO
the room he was to occupy for the night.
He went away. shutting the door after
him, and Armathwaitc gave 4 glance
round the apartment. 1t was Il rather
small room, plainly furnished with a high
iron bcdStead and mahogany suite. Ne
weli-regulated phantom can be conceived
as haunting Il room in which there is not
a four-poster with dark green or dark blue
hangings. and as besides the young doc
tors thoughts were still too fully occu.
pied with the living for him to trouble
himself about the spirits Of the dead, b.
undressed, blew out the candles and got
into bed without even the passing tribute
of a smile at the reputod mysterious at
tributes Of the room.
infatuated husband fascinating and
neglected wife, dangerous beauty. Were
all, however, poWerless against the cf-
fects Of his long journey. Worn out by
fatigue and excitement. in two minutes he
was fast asleep