Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-07-13
THE HAUNTED
CHAMBER.

There it is, girls; there's Ches-
holm Manor. You can just catch the
tips Of the grim, gray turrets over
the gloomy fir hills off to the left
there"
We all leaned forward, and followed
with eager eyes Miss Tresham's
pointing finger.
There it was, dimly defined beyond
the black frs, in the weird old county
of Cornwall.
Miss freshman shook her pretty
head, with it's abundant bronze tresses
In a melancholy way.
"The most uncanny old place,
girls" she said, "a second 'Moated
Grange for all the world. l always
dread our annual visit, though I cer-
tainly love godpapa very dearly; but
it is such weird old place. And,
girls, there is haunted chamber,
tool"
"a haunted chamber, Beatrix?" we
all cried, in a breath.
"A veritable haunted chamber-the
crimson chamber they call it, and it
Is the grandest room in the house;
yet I've never seen it but once in
my whole life. can't bear to go near
1t. / remember dimly how vast, and
grand, and dark it looked, all aglow
with crimson and gold. And oh! girls,
such an awful legend connected With
1t. Mrs. Sinnot, the housekeeper, told
it to me herself"
"Trixie, dear, tell us!"
II can't tell it, as Mrs. Sinnott did,
but I'll do my best: Centuries ago, in
the time of the very first Chesholms
and they came down from the Nor
man chiefs, you know, ever so long
ago-these was brave knight, Sir,
Godfrey Chesholm, think they called
him. He was great soldier, and
the bravest, handsomest man in all
England. He woed and won, SO the
story runs, lovely Scandinavian girl,
with eyes like stars and tresses Of
golden hair that reached to her knees.
He married her, and brought her home
to Chesholm Manor, and the crimson
room was their bridal chamber.
"WelI, a week after they came
home to the manor Sir Godfrey was
called away. He parted from his
lovely bride with great reluctance,
and many tender caresses, for he was
excessively fond of her.
owing to some circumstances,
which do not remember, he returned
much sooner than he had anticipated,
and reaching the manor one stormy
midnight he let himself in with his
night key, and hurried to the cham
Der of his bride, thinking to find her
in bed and asleep.
''But 10! when he reached the GRIM
son room he found it in a glitter of
wax lights, and on opening the door
he saw his young wife all arrayed in
her best robes, with diamonds in her
golden hair and on her white i..roat;
and feast was spread out, wines and
fruits and other dainties. And who
do you suppose this fair, false crea-
ture had to keep her company? An
old lover, who had been Sir Geoffreys
rival.
well, he killed her then and there,
and his rival. too, and concealed their
bodies in the secret passage, into
which they say the crimson chamber
leads. That was centuries ago, but
to this day they come back at mid
night and tap against the oaken pan
els, hoping that some one will come
and liberate them. Mrs. Sinnott AYERS
that she has heard this ghostly tap
ping again and again. She would not
sleep a night in this haunted room
for worlds. No one ever does except
Sir John, and he scouts the whole
story"
ooh. how awful" we all cried, "and
how delightful"
We drove up the fir-shadowed drive
and reached the grim, gray front of
the old manor just as the darkness
fell. Sir John was on the great stone
terrace to welcome us.
I've DrOuSnL d lou OF young ScnOOl
friends to share my visit, this time,
godpapa," said Beatrix, when the
greetings were well over.
That's right, Trixie; the more the
merrier. You didn't know we had
ball on the tapis, did you? Nor that
young Major Farleigh was at home
on furlough either-hey, Trix?"
Beatrix blushed divinely. Major
Farleigh was her betrothed lover. The
old baronet pinched her glowing
cheek.
81 planned it all to surprise you"
he said. But come in, young ladies,
we've no time to lose. You must eat
your dinner in hurry, and then dress
for the ball."
Dinner over, We lit our candles and
hurried up to dress. l4s
"This way, please, mademoiselles,"
called Sir John, and we followed him
into his quaint old sitting room.
See there, Trixie," he said, point
ing toward the sofa; there's ball
dress fresh from Paris. Would you