Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-06-17

place"
1T is as dark as a pit" said Ham
mond.
All the hetter-but you see tho light .
In the parl0r shining through the cur .
tain OF the door. Come. your hand. OF .
you viii stumble over something. .
Luke. your hand is As cold and limp
as a dead mans
And yours burns like fire"
silence, Here we are-listcnr" said I.
Mrs. Harker. as they stood close 10 the /
broken pane OF the glass door.
Dear Kate" were the first words
that reached Hammond's ear. L fcax
you still think these groans. which .
have disturbed you so much at night +
are made by other than human means
You uncle has taught you 10 believe
IT, no doubt. for reasons Of his own
and as I know be IS too shrcwd and
wise a man 10 believe It himself. I
must conclude that be Is n bad man.
and has an evn purpose ia deceivine
you"
The voice that spoke was n fuu and
manly one. and was Immediately rec.
ocnized 10y the listeners rs belonging
60 James Greene. a young and SELF,
educated carpenter.
But. dear James," said Kate Elgine
sweet and gentle voice. "1Irs Harkcr.
the housekeeper. has also told me-
thousand times. that such things as
ghosts really are. and that she has seen
them"
Il have soon Mrs. Harker several
times" said James Greene with n ll-hi
laugh. land I know from her face AND
the sound of her voice. that She is not
q woman 20 believe in any such thing
and that no ghost could live peacefully
I'm the same house with her. Believe
noe when I say 1 have mo- doubt She
and your uncle have bad purpose 3D.
+ view-or something TO conceal ia this
house"
Something 70 conceal dear James
What can they wish TO conceal from
meT' exclaimed Kate.
You have asked my aid 20 learn"
said James; but have many scruplcs
in attempting 20 pry into what does
not concern me"
"For my sake" pleaded Kate.
For your sake dear Kate. I would
Toe tempted 20 do many things which
piled James. Il am doing wrong even
in being here now unknown to Mr..
Hammond. Katy; and nothing less
powerful than my love for YOU could
have placed nae here. Still. YOU have
asked me 20 call and confer upon this
matter. and our affection must DE my
excuse should your uncle enter and
find me here"
II am not afraid 10 tell him. uOr any
one else. that love YOU. James" said
Kate. placing her hand within his.
This morning l heard those noises
for the first time during daylight and
sent for you. After YOU came. that
old prying woman, Mrs. Harker. kept
so near Us that had no chance 10 tell
you all, and so I asked you TO come
tonight"
wen, I VIII do all can. and II Mr.
Hammond is angry, I win tell him
what 1 think Of nina man like hin
10 Ill n young girls mind with sucl
fancies." said James Greene. indig
nantly. First. how long have yol
heard these alarmse"
For nearly n month" replied Kate
? AT first 1 thought nothing OF il. sup
} posing the noises came from the street
; or from the adjoining houses. FINAL,
. l became convinced that they origi
mated in this house. ! spoke OF it q
I my uncle"
} And what did he say. or rather. how
did he look when you spoke 10 him +:
T. said James.
He turned very pale. and said. "
: doubt the house was haunted" II
piled Kate. He said he had been toll
D as much by Others-people whom b
knew. 1 then questioned Mrs. Ha
i ker. She said 1t was all fancy, an
{ that dreamed It: but avOwed a fri
belief in ghosts. Then my uncle, witt
b out any request from me. had m
d clothes. books. etc, removed TO til
d room now occupy in the front ROOF
e above. For several days my night
d were undisturbed. but soon after yo
II repaired my uncle's desk l hear
J. grOans again. and they seemed to gro
l. louder. stronger every night l hay
* asked my uncle to let me go TO 4
fathers relations in the country, bl
since NY fathers death. a year ago. 4
Ii uncle has grown very stern and unkiI
III to me-"
T. lis there any part OF the house
az which your uncle denies you access
asked James.
: The eastern wing OF the house HI
as been rigidly locked. doors and wi
re dows, ever since my father died there