The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-14

when my father descended there one even
ing that. although il was only dusk out
side he was obliged to carry light. This
light was blown out. he said, as soon as
he reached the bottom of the steep steps.
II was an unusually still summer evening
and it could not possibly have been the
wind. / do not know whether he felt or
heard or saw anything else. but l 90
know that, although he was a very fear
less man, he was thoroughly frightened
when he came into the room Where was
sitting with my mother, and he had al
ready recited the experiences have just
described. before warning look from my
mother and significant glance at me, told
him to desist.
After that we often heard bells ringing
at all times of the day and night In the
storeroom. This apartment is situated on
the second floor at the stair landing, and
We never found any bells there. There Is
very odd feature. by the way, In the
plan of the third floor. There is no pas
sageway, and the stairs lead directly INTO
a central room, surmounted by a dome,
and having doors leading into the front
and back apartments.
"One day my father was standing IN
the store when a woman dressed in deep
mourning passed through the hall and up
the stairs. Mother was out, and l was
in the little room in the rear of the store
making out some accounts. My father
was therefore not little surprised to see
a person. evidently a complete stranger.
enter without any announcement and
walk upstairs into our private rooms. He
nowhere to be seen. He examined every
nook and corner in which a person could
have hidden. but without avail. He could
find no trace of her. He then mounted
TO the third floor. with the same result
the woman had disappeared-but where?
We'll, you may easily suppose that a.
er these things my father suspected tia.
something was wrong. Moreover, the
woman in mourning appeared again, ami
this time TO our colored servant girl. My
mother had scarcely left the house one
day, when someone was heard passing
through the hall and going upstairs. 1
heard the sound, but could not see the
person from where / stood. Just then
the girl came running in rather excitedly
1--WE had not told her anything about faith
ers experience), and said: oh, Miss,
your mothers come back again, and
then she paused and whispered in voice
in which there was an indescribabie
dread, But she seems, miss. to be dress
ed different from what she was when she
went out, and she looked, miss-ohi /
cant saw how Here the girl hid her
face in her hands and trembled VisiDly.
L laughed and tried to reassure her and
went upstairs, l must confess. sorely
against my inclination, but, as indeed l
woman When ] came down again l
found the girl out the front Of the
steps and nothing could induce her to en-
ter the door of that house again.
But the browning experience, and the
one which induced my father to vacate
the place without any necessary delay.
napDeueI to myself. Every lnClqent
that fearful ordeal is stamped on my
mind today as plainly as though it occur
red yesterday. My parents were both
out, and ] sat in the little room, i have
mentioned. at the rear OF the store, and
commanding a view of the latter through
a small glass window. | relied upon my
sharp hearing to detect anyone in com
ing along the passage-way. | even
member the gay pattern of the morning
wrapper j wore as / bent over the wooden
desk which was the only piece Of furni-
ture in the room. Suddenly / was attack
ed with numbness for which ! could not
account. a feeling of indefinable dread
came over me gradually until my senses
seemed paralyzed, | could not cry out or
move, and then--I know IL can scarcely
be beleyed-T felt myself losing my
shapei Yes, and as ] seemed to shrink,
and become very small. and to change
FORM ] lost the dread which had at first
oyerpowered me- and only thought of the
ridiculous figure | must cut in my Grim
son and white wrapper, as, regaining the
power of motion. / scampered round and
round the room much a small dog
might have done. Then / lost conscious
ness completely. and when | was found
by some workmen who had come to re-
pair the house. i was lying insensible in
the middle OF the fioc<, my head I'm pool
of blood. The blood came from wound
right across the bridge of my nose. When
this wound healed 1t took the form of the
figure T. and, indeed, 1t is plainly visible
~.