The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1904-12-01

| VIII know why that especial neighbour
hood is not favorlte one with those
who cannot boast OF the Moore blood.
For the present, let US attribute the
bad name that Il holds to-malaria."
And with significant hitch of his lean
shoulders. which set 10 undulatng mo.
ton every fold OF the old fashioned
cloak lie wore, he started again for the
door.
But my curiosity was by this time
reused TO fever heat. knew moro
about this house than he gave me cred.
II for No one who had read the pa.
pers OF late, much less n man connect.
cd with the police, could help being
well Informed In all the details OF its
remarkable history. What had fail.
ed TO know was his close relationship
to the family whose name for the last
two weeks had been In every mouth.
"Waltw l 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
ut was oil In the papers" he called
to find out who has struck light In
the house that we all know has not
even a caretaker In it."
IL was good advice. My duty and
my curiosity both led me to follow It.
Perhaps you have heard Of the dis.
tinguishing feature Of this house. If
so, you do not need my explanations.
But IL, 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 oil 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, II 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
1t marked place even in those early
days, While 1t has always escaped
the hackneycd 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 its 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 1t was invariably sudden and In.
variably of one character.
| A lifeless man, lying outstretched on
certain hearthstone, might be found
once In house and awaken no special
| comment, but when this same discov-
cry has been made twice, If not thrice.
during the history of q single dwelling,
one might surely be pardoned a dis.
trust of its seemingly homelike APP
polntments and discern in its slowly
dark enlng walls the presence of an
evil which If left to itself might perish
in the natural decay of the place, but
which, II met and challenged, might
strike again and make another blot on
its thrice crlmsoned hearthstone.
But these are old fables which |
should hardly presume to mention
had 1t 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. refer to the tragedy at
tending the wedding lately celebrated
there
Veronica Moore, rich. pretty and will.
full, had long cherished a 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 superstitlous.
So. being about to marry the choice of
her young heart, she caused this house
to be opened for the wedding cere.
Uneie David