Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-13

live opposite the Moore house. You can
then tell me"
But he had no mind to stop for any
gossip.
1T was all in the papers," he called
back. Read them. But first be sure to
find out who has struck a light in the
house that we all know has not even a
caretaker in it"
1t was good advice. My duty and my
curiosity both led me to follow it.
Perhaps you have heard of the distin-
gushing feature of this house; if SO. you
do not need my explanations. But if, for
any reason, You are ignorant of the facts
which within'a very short time have set
final seal of horror upon this old, his
toric dwelling, then you will be glad to
read what has made and will continue to
make the Moore house in Washington one
to be pointed at in daylight and Stunned
after dark. not only by superstitious col
ored folk, but by all who are susceptible
to the most ordinary emotions of fear and
di cad
1t was standing when Washington was
village. 1t antedates the Capitol and the
White House. Built by man of wealth.
1t bears to this day the impress of the
large ideas and quiet elegance of colonial
times: but the shadow which speedily fell
across 1t made it marked place even in
those early days. While it has always es-
capped the hackneyed epithet of haunted"
families that have moved in have quick
ly moved out, giving their excuse that
no happiness was to be found there and
that sleep was impossible under it's roof.
That there some reason for this lack
of rest within walls which were not with
out their tragic "reminiscences all must
acknowledge. Death had often occurred
there, and while this fact can be stated in
regard to most old houses, it is not often
that one can say. as in this case that it
was invariably sudden and Invariably of
one character. A lifeless man. lying out
stretched on a certain hearthStOne might
q nd alyar, no
special comment but when this same dis
covery has been made twice if not thrice
during the history of a single dwelling
one might surely be pardoned a distruSt
OF Its seemingly home-like appointments,
and discern in its slowly darkening walls
the presence of evil which if left to
itself might perish in the natural decay
of the place. but which, If met and chal-
lenged. might strike again and make an
other blot on its thrice-crimsoned hearth
stone.
But these are old fables which I should
hardly presume to mention, had 1t not
been for the recent occurrence which has
recalled them to all mems minds and
given to this long empty and slowly crum-
bling building an Importance which has
spread Its fame from one end of the coun-
try TO the other l refer to the tragedy
attending the wedding lately celebrated
there
Veronica Moore. rich pretty and wiIlful.
had long cherished strange liking for
this frowning old home of her ancestors,
and at the most critical time of her life
conceived the idea of proving to herself
and to society at large that no real ban
lay upon it save IN the Imagination of the
superstitious. So. being about to marry
the choice OF her young heart she caused
this house to be opened for the wedding
ceremony. with what result you know
Though the occasion was a joyous one
and accompanied by all that could give
cheer to such a function, it had not es-
caped the old-time shadow. One of the
guests straying into the room of ancient
and unhallowed memory the one room
which had not been thrown open to the
crowd, had been found within five minutes
or the ceremony lying on its dolorous
hearthstone. dead: and. though the bride
was spared knowledge of the dreadful
fact till the holy words were said a panic
had seized the guests and emptied the
house as suddenly and completely as
though the plague had been discovered
there.
This is why FASTENED to follow Uncle
David when he told me that all was not
right In this house Of tragic memories.