The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-05-09

perfectly authentic. but
think for sheer blood -eurdleness'
there are few to beat strange and
horrible experience of friend of mine
AS | think it may interest others give
1t here as nearly as 1 can remember in
her own words. For obvious reasons
the names given to both people and
places are purely fictitious.
1t was in the winter of 1889 that
received an invitation from my old
friend Mrs. Chudleigh TO go and make
one Of their annual house-party at
'Rathlin." their Suffolk home. | cheer.
fully accepted, for digs are dull
place at any time. and If there is any
period when they are duller than an.
other | think it is during the merry
season." Therefore the 18th of the
month saw me stepping out of the
train at tie famila" little station
of ElmerSfeld I found that Moral
had sent the carriage to meet me. and
had thoughtfully proyisioned 1t with a
foot-warm = and some rugs, of which
was very glad, for the weather was
decidedly "sharp." There had been
more than one fall of snow already
and everybody prophcsicd Il "white'
season.
After 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 snugly ensconced
before the fire and mad duly chatted
about various subjects of home inter
est Norah Chudleigh said: "Oh, Mary.
dear, am so sorry, but will you mind
sleeping in the 'summer-houseY The
fact of the matter is that Henry has
Invited friend OF his and his wife to
stay here for ten days or a fortnight,
and as it is their first visit / have been
obliged to give them your usual room,
all the others in the louise being al
ready occupied"
Before l go farther / must explain
that the ''summer-house" Norah re-
ferred to was not what is usually un-
derstood by the term. 1t nad been
built by the last owners OF ''Rathlin'
tfor what use l do not know at a dis
tance of some $50 or 200 yards from
the house, and consisted OF two good
sized rooms. One OF these ad large
French windows round three sides OF
1t, and the Chudleighs nad arranged
1t as IN elaborate kind OF summer
house, with bookcases. easy chairs,
ulft n 20 nd
could add to its comfort. The other
they had fitted up as bedroom for
use when the house was full.
was not at that tim a nervous
girl, and the idea OF sieepln- quite
alone away from the house aroused
not the slightest uneasness in my
mind. so | readily acquiesced in the
proposal.
We passed very pleasant evening.
Most of the other guests were known
to me, and Norah and her husband
made an excellent host and hostess.
When We We're in the drawng-room
after dinner the conversation turned
upon superstitlons. and from those,
very naturally, drifted to ghosts, and
we amused ourselves by recalling all
the stories of the kind we could re-
member till the hour arrived for bed.
Every silly subject for us to have hit
on, Miss Bentley" said Colonel Chud-
leigh, as lie bade me goodnight, when
you are going to sleep in such solitary
Seclusion.'
"Oh, Mary is not frightened you
don't believe in any of those things,
do you?"
mot L, Norah," l answered, laugh
ing; "it would sake very special kind
of ghost to frighten me-
Early hours were the custom at
"Rathlin," and 1t was only a little af-
ter II o'clock when left the house,
preceded by maid carrying lantern,
My room looked very bright and cosy.
A good big fire was burning brightly,
and a shaded lamp stood on one of the
tables.
The girl inquired whether there was
any way in which she could assist me
further, and receiving reply in the
negative, was about to leave the room
when she suddenly turned back, say
ing, "There is something wrong with
this lock, miss, and the door won't fas-
ten on the inside. But If you like I
will lock 1t on the outside and take the
key away with me, and when l come
with your hot water in the morning
can unfasten it."
did not much like the idea OF being
locked In, but az the girl said she
would be sure to come early, and
limited that they had lately been much
troubled with tramps in that neighbor-
mood, thought 1t best to agree.
As soon as she was gone beyond re-
call, however. wished / had never
consented. The possibility OF fire for
the first tim, presented itself to my
mind, and vlyidly pictured myself
iocked In there with no chunce OF es-
cape and being burnt to death within
few hundred yards of my friends.
However, tnere was no help for II
now, and commenced 10 undr ,ss.
before Lad finished was laughing
at myself for my fears.
As turned out the lamp thought