Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-04-20

A STRANGE AND GHoSTLY SPECTACLE
GREETED Us.
ways seemed to ooze from its sides. and
| soon stood below upon that unknown
and mysterious territory which | had
/ 50 often contemplated, but had never
| before invaded.
AS we approached the house. a
| strange and ghostly spectacle greeted
us. The gaunt, cleaning pile of stone,
shining with special lustre in the sill
very light. seemed staring blankly into
the night through the pale medium Of
| its myriad white shutters. One wind
| ow alone cleaned with the darkness
of an evil eye. and framed the vision
that had attracted our startled gaze.
A woman, from whose lips doubtless
the faint. despairing cry had proceed
ed stood close pressed against the case
ment. We could see her form quite
distinctly in the bright moonlight. but
not until the house was very. very near
could we distinguish her features: then
I discovered that the figure was that
of a girl apparently not much older
than /. and that the face, surrounded
by tangle of fair hair, though dis
torted by fright and distress, was yet
of a startling wonderful beauty.
When she saw us approach she ceased
her heart-rending cries, threw her
hands above her head, and. clasping
them over her disordered hair in an
easy, graceful attitude, stood leaning
carelesSly against the window. while
the woful expression of the lovely
cOuntenance gave way to one of curl
osity.
What is she?' painted breathlessly,
turning to my escort. But the terrible
pallor of his face brought me to an
involuntary pause, such storm or
conflicting emotions as it betrayed
recognition. amaZement. pain. and in
finite aversion. lie seemed irresolute,
as if about to turn back from Il loathe-
some object: but even in the midst of
this overwhelming discovery | was
able to command an answer from him.
/ saw a shudder convulse him rs | re-
peated my question.
What is sher' he reiterated with
his eyes still fixed upon what appeared
to me really exquisite picture. one
quite devoid of cause for this horror
which it seemed to arouse in him.
Then suddenly his voice changed from
exceeding harshness to n most eXquis
ite gentleness as he transferred his
gaze to my awe-struck. wondering face.
81 cannot tell you what she is. 1t is
enough for you to know that she is
one who is unworthy to touch the hem
of your garment. | must go to her,
but, God willing. you shall never come
in contact with such as she. Turn
back turn back. Miss. Lothrop, / beg
of you, and wait for me in the dog
cart"
Il cannot" l replied firmly. Il do
not know, nor do | care to know what
she is. She is suffering and in dis
tress, and needs at least Il woman's
sympathy. Mr.. Chester my mind IS
made up. | shall 90 with you-cone.'
He looked at me moment in man
ner that made my eyes fall in confus
ion, and then, seeing my determina-
ton, he took my hand and placing ii
on his arm walked swiftly toward the
back of the house with Il directness and
purpose that showed his entire famil-
iarity with the place. AS we moved
out of sight of the solitary figure at the
window her cries recommended, and
there was such a ghostly vibration in
the sweet, beseeching tones as they
echoed through the dense woods that,
as we mounted the cliff leading to the
rickety old platform, which Madam
had described so lovingly, | trembled
and shuddered despite my efforts 1T
self-command.
We reached the rough landing place,
and Mr.. Chester tried the door. 1t was
securely fastened. Without further de
lay he picked up stone and broke
one of the side-lights, thrust in his
arm and slid back the bolt which alone
locked the entrance. Then, throwing
the door quickly open, he drew me
within the house. 1t was dark as mid
night. No moonbeams penetrated the
obscurity. and it seemed that the
shadows were almost papable. How
ever, Mr. Chester was prepared for the
emergency; he had brought with him
one of the dog g-cart lanterns and this
he proceeded at once TO light, for the
brightness of the night had rendered
this hitherto unnecessary.
As the flame cleaned through the
darkness, | discovered that we were
standing upon the staircase-landing
with which | had become acquainted
through Madam's description. while
about us gloomed the dismal atmo-
sphere of deserted, long -dsused,
damp and drcary dwelling. The scene
was chill and depressing beyond des-
cription.
However. urged onward by our con
Germ for the girl whose cries had sum
moned us to her relief, we wasted no
time in idle inspection, but pressed
hurriedly on up the stairs and along
narrow corridor until we reached the
room at whose window had appeared
that wild and distraught vision.
A brief but convincing search showed
us that the girl was no longer within
the apartment. 1t was quite vacant.
barren even of furniture, and so dis
Diriting was its effect upon me that
was glad when my companion led me
hastily from it, We made a rapid in
vestigation of the other apartments
upon that floor, but with no better
success. Then Mr.. Chester hesitated
for moment in the hall, undecided
whether to go up or down In further
ance of his purpose.
As we halted there, in the same stern
silence which had accompanied our en-
trance and research up to this instant.
signal came to US through the night,
a sad and distressing signal which
wrung my heart; although 1t wrought
no softening of the rigid lines in my
companions face. 1t was the sound Of
sobbing, hushed and pitiful, like that
of a little child who had been forbidden
to weep. However bitter a mans feel
ings towards a woman may be, such
sounds impel him to her aid Darra-
colt turned to me.
"She is below there" he said shortly.
"Once more-will you not remain here
and avoid meeting her? You shall
have the lantern
His intonation, hurried as it was, in
dicated what his own wish in the mat
ter was, but | negatived it promptly.
All my sympathies were with that des-
olate creature whose wailing still
smote upon the air
"Go on-hurry" ! cried; and so we
passed down the stairs and, still led
by the mournful sounds, wound our
way in and out of narrow passages,
through kitchen and servants offices,
until we came to sort OF n cellar In