The Red Cloud chief., 1901-05-10

'Nl'H wv
" " more or less thrilling, yet
perfectly authentic. but ]
think for sheer blood curdleDess'
there are few to beat u strange and
horrible experience of a friend Of mine
As | think II may interest others ! give
1t here ms nearly as | Il remember in
her own words. For obvious reasons
the names given to both people and
places are purely fictitious.
II was In the winter of 1889 that |
received an invitation from my old
friend Mrs. Chudlelgh to go and make
one OF their annual house party ut
'Rathlln," their Suffolk home. ] cheer
fully accepted, for digs" are n dull
place at any time, and II there Is any
period when they are duller thai an
other | think 1t Is during the merry
season" Therefore the 18th OF the
month saw me stepping ont of the
train at tie familia" little station
of Elmcrsfcld. | found that Norah
had sent the carriage tn meet me. and
had ~thoughtfully provisioned II with Il
foot-warm e and some rugs, of which
I was very glad. FOR the weather was
decidedly sharp" There had been
more than one fall of SNOW already.
and everybody prophcsied Il white
season.
After a drive OF three. quarters Of an
hour or SO we drew up before the
house, and my friend came out on the
steps to welcome and carry me off to
a comfortable cup OF tea In her bou-
doir. When we were snusly ensconced
before the fire and had duly chatted
about various subjects of home inter
est Norah Chudlclgh said: 'Oh. Mary,
dear, | am so sorry, but will you mine
sleeping in the 'summer-houseT The
fact Of the matter IL that Henry has
invited n friend Of his and his wife to
stay here for ten days or n fortnight,
and Ms il Is their first visit | have been
obliged to give them your usual room,
all the others In the mouse being al
ready occupied"
Before l go farther | must, explain
that the "summer.h house Norah re
ferred to was not what is usually un'
dcrstood by the term, i had been
built by the last owners OF "ltathlin''
tor what use | do not know nj n dis
tance of some $50 or 2s0 yards from
the house, and consisted Of two good
sized rooms. One OF these , ad large
French windows round three sides VI
II, and the Chudleighs mad arranged
1t as IN elaborate kind Of summer
house, with bookcases, easy chairs,
writing.table aud everything tina,
could add to Its comfort. The other
they had fitted up as a bedroom FOL
use when the house was full.
was not at that TIM n nervous
girl, and the idea OF sleepin. quit,
alone away from the house aroused
not the slightest uneasiness in m!
mind, so l readily acquiesced in thu
proposal.
We passed a very pleasant evening
Most Of the other guests were know
to me, and Norah and her husban,
made an excellent host and hostess
When we were In the drawing. room
after dinner the conversation turne,
upon superstltions. and from thos,
very naturally, drifted to ghosts, an
We amused ourselves by recalling a
the stories of the kind we could I,
member till the hour arrived for bed.
Very silly subject N MS to have b
on, Miss Bentley" said Colonel Chu,
leigh, as he badc me goodnight, "whe
you are going To sleep In such solitar
seclusion.'
'Oh, Mary is not frightened; yo
don't believe in any Of those thing
do your
mot l, Norah," l answered, laug'
ing; ut would take a very special kir
Of ghost to brighten me-"
Early hours were the custom
"Rathlin." and 1t was only a little a
ter IL o'clock when'I left the hous
preceded by a maid carrying a lan,er
Nay room looked very bright and cos
"A good, big fire was burning bright
and a shaded lamp stood on m OF &
tables.
The girl inquired whether there W
any way In which she could assist
further, and receiving a reply in I
negative, was about TO leave the roc
when she suddenly turned back, sa
ing. There is something wrong wi
this lock, miss, and the door won't II
ten on the inside. But IL you like
will lock It OH the outside ana take I
key away with me, and when ! col
with your hot water in the morning
can unfasten T."
l did not much like the idea Of bel
locked in, but as the girl said S
would be sure TO come early, q