Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-05-07
thor of 1.-THE Mystery of Agatha Webb" 40

will know why that especial neighbor.
hood is not favorite one with those
who cannot boast of the Moore blood
For the present. let US attribute the
bad name that it holds to-malaria.' u
And with significant hitch of his lean
shoulders, which set in undulating mo-
ton every fold Of the old fashioned
cloak he wore, he started again for the
door.
But my curiosity was by this time
reused to fever heat. I knew more
about this house than he gave me cred
it for. No one who had read the pa
pers of late, much less a man connect
ed with the police, could help being
well informed in all the details of it's
remarkable history. What l had fail
ed to know was his close relationship
to the family whose name for the last
two weeks had been in every mouth.
"Wait!' I called out. "You say that
you live opposite the Moore house.
'You can then tell me-
But he had no mind to stop for any
gossip.
''It was all in the papers" he called
back. "Read them. But first be sure
to find out who has struck 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 dis
hnguishing 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 very short
time have set final seal of horror up
on this old historic 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 colored folk,
but by all Who are susceptible to the
most ordinary emotions of fear and
dread.
1t was standing when Washington
was village. 1t antedates the capitol
and the White House. Built by a man
of wealth, it bears to this day the i'm
press of the large ideas and quiet ele-
gance OF colonial times; but the shad-
ow which speedily fell across it made
it marked place even in those early
days. While it has always escaped
the hackneyed epithet Of haunted"
families that have moved in have as
quickly moved out, giving as their ex-
cuse that no happiness was to be found
there and that sleep was impossible
under it's roof. That there was some
reason for this lack of rest within
walls which were not without their
tragic "reminiscences all must acknowl-
edge. 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 in
Variably Of one character.
A lifeless man, lying outstretched on
a certain hearthstone, might be found
once in a house and awaken no special
comment, but when this same discoy-
cry has been made twice, if not thrice, |
during the history Of single dwelling,
one might surely be pardoned a dis
trust Of its seemingly homelike ap- !
pointments and discern in its slowly !
darkening walls the presence Of an
evil which # left to Itself might perish
in the natural decay of the place, but
which, if met and challenged, might
strike again and make another blot on
It's thrice crimsoned hearthstone.
But these are old fables which I
should hardly presume to mention
had it not been for the recent occur
renee which has recalled them to all
mems minds and given to this long
empty and slowly crumbling building
an Importance which has spread its
fame from one end Of the country to
the other. I refer to the tragedy at
tending the wedding lately celebrated
there. o.
Veronica Moore, rich, pretty and will
full. had long cherished strange liking
for this frowning old home Of her an
cestors and. at the most critical time
in her life, conceived the idea of prov
ing 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
ler young heart, she caused this house
10 be opened for the wedding cere-
Vncie David
- |