The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-01-22
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! A Pool Of SAIL Waller

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oaken door, and we entered q square
| apartment, darkened by closed shutters
] and heavy with strong, pungent odor.
| As our guide raised a window and open
ed the blinds there was a rustling all
about us of the fight of pigeons This
was caused by the auttering of quanti-
ties Of dry seaweed which were festooned
upon the walls and over the doors and
windows.
THAT'S nothing but common seaweed."
said the good woman, noticing our inter-
ested glances. ITS used only as an or
/ nament and to give character to the room.
All the choice varieties are in these glass
cases and pressed in this pile of scrap
| books, with notes and explanations under
'em.'
"Did Professor Linwood collect these
specimens himself?'' ! asked.
81 suppose so. He used to go on long
voyages to the tropics and come home
laden with new varieties, and then he'd
spend months classifying and arranging
them He was a diver in his younger
days and after that made contracts for
lifting sunken vessels or explo ring old
hulks that had money or merchandise on
board. He'd put on his diving suit and
go down with his men, I've heard tell,
and many's the strange adventures he's
had in ships at the bottom of the ocean,
so he told me one day when he felt chat
ty. That's how he first took to collecting
seaweeds. He ransacked the bottom Of
the sea to get specimens. But after his
marriage be never seemed to care for 1t
any more. But perhaps all this don't in
terest you. It's the seaweed you want.
You can examine it as much as you like"
We did so and fingered long, held by
the charm of this strange room, that
was redolent with the mysteries of the
great deep. We sat on q couch, talking
in low tones and listening to the rustling
seaweeds over our heads, our feet rest
ing on some of the same material which
had been fashioned into a rude mat that
covered the floor and also the divan on
which we were seated The whole apart
ment was full of it in all forms and
phases. A wreath of it surrounded the
only portrait in the room-that of
young girl. with frank, pleasing eyes
and a sweet mouth.
The housekeeper, who had excused
herself for a few moments, now return
ed with tea and biscuits As she pour
ed the fragrant beverage into little fat
cups we ventured to inquire who the
original of the picture was.
Mrs Linwood, the professors wife,"
replied the woman, giving quick, ap
prehensive look at it over her shoulder.
Then" replied my companion. its
no wonder the professor took no more
voyages after his marriage"
81 said he collected no more seaweed,
SIR" responded the housekeeper. He
made one voyage directly after his mar
riage and took his bride with him. The
vessel was wrecked in a terrific storm,
and only a few of the passengers were
saved. Mrs. Linwood was among the
lost"
THAT was an odd coincidence
she should be lost and he be saved"
said half questioningly.
"Well, sir, that leads up to the most
peculiar story you ever heard. AS long
as the professor lived ] never dared
breathe it. but now he's gone | might
relate a strange circumstance in connec
ton with this room"
We encouraged her so much that the
good woman began Immediately.
at was not until the professor was
nearly 60 that he thought of taking a
wife. Then he was very foolish. if
may be allowed to say it, for he fells in
love with little girl only 49, and. he be-
ing rich, her parents favored the match,
though she was much attached to sec
ond cousin of hers, a younger fellow in
an importing house. poor, but with good
prospects, and as luck would have it
this cousin was on the same steamer
that took the professor and his bride to
China. he going there on business for
his firm.
at must have been hard for the two
poor young things to be doomed to such 8
long voyage under such circumstances,
especially as the professor was of an in
tensely jealous disposition and forbade
his wife to speak to her cousin.
But, as said, the vessel ran aground
in storm and sank almost Immediately.
Mrs. Linwood was drowned. and her hus-
band came back a changed man, broken
in mind and body. He had even lost his
interest in his particular fad, and | have
seen him shudder at the sight of piece
of seaweed He locked up his room, and
| never saw him enter it again except on
one notable occasion"
"What was thatY inquired my COM
panion.
"Well, you see not having his scientific
studies to take up his mind, the poor
man became very lonesome and morbid.
He never wanted to be alone and must
needs have a housefuI of company the
whole time This was easy, for he had a
great many nephews and nieces. and
they, with their friends, kept US IN
state Of commotion, especially during the
holidays and in summer vacations.
Zone Christmas eve Lis favorite neph-
ew, Jack Newton, came late in the even
ing, and to save my soul | didn't know
where to put him to sleep He was
merry, rolicking lad of H. and he said
he'd sleep in the attic-anywhere so that
he got a chance at the dinner next day
always thinking of his stomach, like any
healthy boy.
'The attic was out OF the question.
Suddenly thought came to me, and I
asked him il he'd mind sleeping in the
seaweed room.
"tJust the thing-awfully jolly said
the boy, giving me squeeze that nearly
broke my neck.
"'Th,n not a word to your uncle
said as soon as l could speak.
"tMum's the word said the boy, with
a wink.
80 | fixed him up a bed on this ere
couch we're a-sitting on and as it was
bitter cold started a bit of fire in the
crate. Then / locked him in and carried
away the key, so that if by some strange
chance the professor should stray up
there late in the evening he would find
the key gone and probably think it had
been mislaid, for it usually hung on nail
beside the door.
'sIf I'd known the queer tricks Of this
room then as l do now, I'd never have
locked the boy in.
What happened during that night
got straight from Jack myself. 1t seems
he went straight to sleep and never woke
till the faintest bit of daylight was steal
ing into his window. Then he was
aroused, poor chap, by low nurmur of
voices, and, sitting up, he saw on the
hearth two figures talking together-one
girl with long black hair and the other
a young man who held her hands and
was bending his face down to hers.
Both of 'em was dripping wet, and he
could hear the trickle of the water as it
fell on the big stone hearth they were
standing on. Their faces were turned
from him, but in the girls hair was tan
gled quantity of seaweed.
'.Did l tell you Jack was plucky lit
tie fellow? He was, to the backbone.
He said to himself that what he saw
was IAN optical delusion,' | believe he
called 1t, that there was nobody but him
self in the room-there couldn't be be-
cause the door was locked. What do
you want-who are youY he cried. And
with that he jumped out Of bed and
came straight toward the two figures.
As he advanced they retreated toward