Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-12-03

" SsASs sho IVY wat you uSSu u De.
W. D. Nesbitt. in Baltimore American.
The Tulret Chamber.
II was a cold cheerless evening, and
the entire houseparty was gathered
round the wide blazing fireplace in the
hall at Ashley Court. 1t was at that
Improbable hour just before the dres.
sing bell ra1G for dinner; but we made
cosy merry circle In the darkened
sombre hail. had only arrived that
afternoon-arrived very unexpectedly,
fear; but having come down to some
near assize, had taken advantage of
a permanent invitation and had drop
ped in to take pot luck" To be can
did with you, which fear l was not
with my hostess was well aware that
a large party was already staying for
the shooting, but a minute inspection
OF the names afforded by voluble To-
cal grocer, disclosed one which decid-
ed me, even If had to sleep on the
billiard table. 1t was not the name it.
self, mark you, that attracted me;
for that name, although the sweetest
music in my ears, had great desire
to alter. The owner was at present
sitting two or three PAGES away from
me In the firelit circle, talking viyaci-
ously to tall, dark young fellow,
good-looling, but yet did not seem
to admire him. Isabel herself was
dressed-well, then-there, i have to
tell you all about the story of the tur-
ret chamber, and my brother Dick has
given me many fatherly lectures about
boring people with Isabel's descrip.
ton.
She seemed rather inclined to avoid
me, but since our last meeting at the
Morton's dance. she doubtless guessed
what was coming.
After the dressing hell had rung, my
old school friend. Bob, the heir-appar-
ent to Ashley Court, accosted me.
"Stratton, old man." he said, 81 fear
you have arrived rather unexpectedly,
and the house is full. Well have to
fix You up room in the turret.
nope you don't mind It's being unused
for long time and rather out of re-
pair"
Don't mention 1t, old fellow" said
lightly; Il came expecting nothing
more than the billiard table," and
stopped, fearing l had rather given
things away.
Bob looked at me and laughed. "All
right, old man." he said, "I'll see you
take her in to dinner" And did
During dinner l told Isabel was to
sleep in the turret chamber. She said
nothing. but slightly raised her eye
brows. This was expressive enough.
as she has charHsing-well well, I
must remember Dicks teaching; and
let me see, was telling you about the
turret room.
After dinner was one of the first
to head the procession of men from
the dining room to Join the ladies. AS
passed behind long screen heard
the following words-"said to appear
carrying lamp with little glowing
flame. She gives three warnings be-
fore. Hush, they come! Don't tell
him, girls, for worldsi'
All the ladies were clustered in an
excited circle round our hostess.
OF course it was perfectly clear to
me that was to pass the night in
the haunted chamber of the family
mansion, but did not give the matter
much consideration for the moment
We men adjourned to the billiard
room for another hour or so. When
we departed to turn in Morton wished
me goodnight with his sickly-leer. and
said he hoped would sleep we'll. Bob
escorted me upstairs somewhere to the
top of the old house by narrow, steep
sstaircases. The room to which he
conducted me was of medium size,
with only one little curved window in
q little turrst or recess leading out of
the room. 1t must have been very
gloomy in daytime, but now. the night
being dark and stormy, it was pitch
black. There was an old-fashionei
wooden bedstead and other ponderous
furniture. 1t was not such had room
after all, except trifle sombre, and
the ceiling low, with the peculiar
musty smell of disused rooms.
Sleep seemed impossible. was ter.
iribly afraid. of what | did not know.
Something seemed to have snapped in
my nervous system and left me shiv-
ering. spiritless creature. crouching
end prespiring among the bed clothes.
Once or twice tried to pull myself to-
col CT mi, ,itc