The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-06-09
CELLAR FULL OF SNAKES.
ROMANTIC STORY OF AN OLD
 MAINE MANSION.

Gruesome Legend of a Cruel Step mother Who Killed Baby Heiress to Obtain Possession of a Fortune Mysterious Footsteps Always Heard in the House.
 Tn the picturesque little town of Meddybemps, in eastern Maine, says the Lewiston Journal, there stands an old fashioned colonial mansion which is an object of terror and mystery to eve ry passer-by. At night no villager will venture on the gloomy road that leads past the lonely dwelling. and it's occu- pant has a weary time to provide him. self with care-takers. No woman will stay long in the gruesome spot, and the wild tales that are told as to the reason of their flight suffice to intimidate the most dauntless of them all. The stories sometimes vary, but the cause of these sudden departures is ever the same.
 It was a beautiful afternoon in late spring when the traveller and his young guide drew near this old time dwelling, a pleasant spot to gaze upon. with it's background of pine woods, and it's tall hedge of lilacs, fragrant with purple and white bloom Near an ancient sun dial flock of doves made musical ca dence, and the traveller fingered long in { admiration of the peaceful scene. You wouldn't think that the cellar of 2 this house was full of snakes" calmly observed the lad under whose guidance \ the traveller had viewed the beauties of the quaint little village.
 Cellar full of snakes! What do you mean?" exclaimed the traveller in as { tonishment
 Lust what say It's always been so. Look, there's one now!" and the boy pointed toward the stone wall that enclosed the grounds where. on small gray rock. reposed atiny green snake, H in placid enjoyment of the warm spring sunshine.
 "Oh, that: one wouldn't mind that" was the smiling rejoinder
 Maybe not, sir, but it isn't only one; It's heaps of them. My sister worked here once, but she got scared and left; M llICy ell uO, dltSL q WlllC.
 The boy stopped abruptly, as a tall 5!gentleman came slowly up the path be- hind them. The traveller. who had bus iness with Mr. Stancy (for obvious reasons, the real name of the occupant of this dwelling is withheld), dis missed his companion, and braved the Hangers of the "snake house." as the had derisively called it.
 After the business was transacted the guest could not refrain from question: Ing MT. Stlncy concerning the mystery pf his home. "A mere yarn, suppose, he said laughingly. To his surprise his host at once became grave.
 ''Oh, mo-" he admitted; lit is not a harm; would that it were. The cellar warms with snakes harmless ones, but unpleasant to have about. There are 'o many of them that I found 1t neces- ary to remove everything else and eave the cellar in undisputed possess ion of the reptiles. I have great diff1- lulty to persuade any one to stay here. 'Vomen are so afraid of snakes. Just low am alone What, meals don't Prepare myself I get at the hotel down the village"
 He glanced curiously at his guest. EftDo you care to hear the story? I eldoin speak of it, and very likely you Ron't believe it, but you are stranger town. and there is a long wait be- Ire train time. At any rate, it will rve to while away an hour or SO" Seated in the shadowy depths of the feat library before the cheerful blaze arr open fire, the traveller listened to e strange story told by his host. pre like page from some old TO- ance it was than leaf from mod hli life story of this practical twen- kth century.
 Tiff you you have been here all day." lid MT. Staney, you have doubtless ard exaggerated accounts of these |akes and their size. Really, they are ny small and those here now seem rfectly harmless. In themselves, ough unusual, they are not alarming; t,n MT. Stancy hesitated mo Int before he went on, "it is their hden appearance. and what comes tn them, that gets on ones nerves. l hfess it takes hold of me, and were it that I have great desire to solve mystery, should have abandoned
 place long ago..
 | had always heard of Pine Barrens, knowing it's desirable location had en wondered at it's continuous suc- ssion of tenants. When my wod- ad sister, Mrs. Gray, wished me to her a quiet home in Meddybemps determined to rent Pine Barrens if sible I had no difficulty; indeed,
 agent seemed rather surprised at
 intention I lived in Bangor then,
 had not been here for some time,
 knew nothing of the stories that fe startling the village.
 When my sister came to Meddy-
 nps she was delighted with her new
 ne. helped her settle, and, as she
 ught her own servants, there was no
 lble for a time. About month af-
 ward I received telegram one
 ming asking me to come up at once.
 und my sister in state of nervous
 or and the house in utter confusion.
 the servants but Anne, her maid,
 deserted her. and these two
 htened women slept together and
 naged the house as best they could.
 It's snakes and the footsteps,
 spered my poor sister on my arrival,
 ging fast to my hand, as if she new
 meant to let me go. I laughed at
 It is true' she cried Wait and