Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-10-31

I'm al nature. Repeating her prayers.
DotA4 Maria asked the blessing OF
heaven on the young people aud went
out to see her maids and make sure OF
grand breakfast. 50 the travellers
might start away with pleasant
memories OF the haci,nda Of Val
verde There Vas commOtiOn In
the huge kitchen. where the morning
repast was preparing according to
the direction given 10 the anna
de HIVES the night before 10y the care
full Maria"
Seven O'Clock camu. and the young
people We're not astir. though the
mozos OF the escort were long before
up aud had hnd their coffee Eight
o'clock came. and Maria felt sinking
OF the heart; IA horrible clutchinR sen
sation seized her bosom; she grew faint
aud called for water; then. feeling
better. she went TO the big patio.
tapped lightly On the door OF tho
grand room and listened. her heart
humping
No reply! Then she knocked louder
and then again with more force. and
no answer came. She almost droDped.
and cold sweat covered her body. Old
POnciano came hobbling along. his
face worried Get Up on that chair
aud look In the window" said Marin
family. The old man did as he was
bid. and said. ''1hey are still sleep
ing
Then he jumped down. aud his face
though very brown, became blnnched
with fear. lie recalled the young Ger
man surveyor. the lawyer and Don
Carlos Arlspe
Then came the master of the house
Don Diego. tall. strong. and his face
sombcr- He was choking with apprc-
hension. He. too looked In the win
dow and shouted.
And there was no reply.
Then he tried the door and luckily
the young people had not pot up the
wooden beam. he went In. and touch
ed the sicepers. They moved not
They were sleeping the last sleep,
Don Diego was strong man. but he
felt deadly Ill Demons haunt this
nccursed rOOmr' he cried out Then.
POncianO having called the men OF the
escort. they came and entered the
room. AstOnislnnent was depleted on
their faces. They refused TO believe
that the captain and his bride. so calm
IN death. were not asleep They
gronned IN spirit. and one OF the men
shouted in Captain DelmOnte's ear.
Captain. get up! II is nearly 9
O'Clock" But the captain was far
away.
The same judge who had been sent
for before was summoned. The Judge
came late IN the afternoon. he re-
called his previous visit. and yet be
said: No suspicion can attach TO you,
Don Diego. nor TO your wife or serv-
ants. This is an act OF God; this room,
this bed. they are accursed Let Us
remove the bodies; they may be buried
IN the morning. and next day l Will
draw up papers relating the mystery
or this room. which should be barred.
never TO be opened again"
The men of the escort wcpt like chill
dren; they were good loyal fellows,
and fond Of the captain and his bride.
Old Ponciano was 80 overcome that be
fell IN an ataque and died incon-
tinentiy. A whisper went about that
he was pOisOner. and that his heart
had accused him! SO the servants
gossiped.
NJ O'oO va NhS morning lne young
couple were buried In the presence of
the judge who aisO presided over the
interment OF Ponclano. not without
some feeling OF suspicion IN his heart
regarding the old man. But Don Diego
said: "Ponclano served my father be-
fore me. He was the soul OF honor
though poor and n servant No, no; let
us take down that bed. for SO, per
chance. we shall ease our minds.
though l believe that the room is tilled
with demons"
Late In the afternoon the judge and
Don Diego. with the men OF the escort,
went TO the grand room. II was bright,
as is the wont OF windowed rooms aft
er great tragedies. Servants began to
take the bed to pieces trembling with
superstitious horror. When the cano-
py was removed. everybody was petri-
fed and felt turned TO icy rigidity
Concealed In the top was nest of ta-
rantulas! They scattered AS disturbed.
these demons In reality. and the men
ran out OF the room. fearing them.
Here was the long kept secret OF the
fatal room. These creatures had de
scended at night and killed their vic
TINS and then returned TO their nest In
the canopy.
All was duly set down 10y the Judge
and attested by all the witnesses. And
this closed the grewsome chapter of
horrors at the hacienda OF Valverde-
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