Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-10-05
ENTANGLED IN CIRCLES.

\ point to bear in mind in the fol.
lowing ghost story, says correspondent
in Rome writing to the New York Sun,
is that it is recorded first hand and that
the man who tells it is in worldly mat
tiers at least an accurate and trustwor-
thy chronieler. This is the way he tells
it,
Il was bicycling through the lake dis
trict, and one evening finding myself in
a desolate spot some miles from the town
of Varese, / looked about for a human
habitation. Walking up a shaded road, |
came to dull looking dilapidated stone
house, the exterior Of which was far from
prepossessing.
AT one time no doubt it was the
home OF an opulent farmer, but owing to
the rayages of time and the elema nts,
much Of the masonry had fallen in O dis
repair. The i'll kept garden surrounding
it oIay added to its desolation, and |
hesitated whether to camp out on the
ground or seek hospitality from the nm
known occupant within
'As / debated | felt few drops of
rain on my hand, and realized that the
storm that had been threatening to over
take me all day would eventually drench
me should remain outside. l made my
way up the grass grown path and
knocked loudly.
AT first there was no response Then
the door cautiously opened and sour
faced individual looked out and in a gruff
voice demanded my business. ex-
planned my plight and after good bit of
grumbling | was allowed to enter.
Il found myself in large round en-
trance hall, which, in striking contrast
with the exterior, was well kept and
decorated in an unusual manner. The
curious feature of the room was the fur
mture. every piece of whica was carved
i'll the shape of wheel, tic chairs. table,
and even the sofa leScml liEg huge cart
wheels.
My attention was attracted by tall
grandfather's clock that stood in a cor
ner. 1t was beautifully carved and APP
peared like a perfect maze of circles.
My head began to spin, and / rather re-
gretted ever having entered house
which promised me a night of bad
dreams rather than the good rest need
ed.
Il had almost made up my mind to
venture through the rain to the next
village when the old attendant entered,
and suggested my accompanying him to
the kitchen, where he said / should not be
troubled with those maledetti desegni,
cursed designs. Seated by a blazing fire
he then told me the story of the wheels.
The owner of the house was an elder
" man, who lived alone with this only
attendant as man of all work His mas
ter was comfortably well off, living fru-
ga1ly and never giving hospitality to
any one. His one great failing was the
desire to prove himself a genius, and to
this end he strove to give to the critical
world masterpiece, the work of his
own hands.
with a mediocre power of invention,
combined with real talent for carving, he
labored night and day without achiev-
irs success. His favorite design was that
or circle which was supposed to per-
form all sorts of evoiE,t;o-s, the ulti-
mate scope of which the reccunter failed
to explain. He only knew tbat his mas
ter hoped to achieve fame.
Unfortunately his inventive power re-
manned stunted, but still he labored on
for weeks, months and years. This con-
tinued work, added to lack of air and
sleep, preyed on his mind to such an ex-
tent that one day the servant returning
from the town found him wandering
aimlessly around the house lingering the
curious carvings which he had wrought
and mumbling senseless words.
ssThe attendant cared for his master
for some days, but noticing certain
wiIdness in his manner he at last con-
suited a physician, who advised his re-
moval to sanitarium in the nearby
town. Many weeks had gone by and
still the old servant had not received
any encouraging news about his master.
II fear he will never return he con-
Guided with tears in his eyes, and l viii
be left all alone
Although / was much interested in
this story, I was relieved when l was
shown to a large comfortable bedroom
on the ground floor, and being very tired
| threw myself dressed on the bed and
soon fell asleep.
1T seemed but a moment since my
eyes had closed when I was awakened by
stealthy sound of some one entering
my room and moving toward the win
dow. The rainstorm that had ragged
since the time l had entered the house
had abated, and the moon passing from
under a cloud cast her rays in one cor
ner of the room, where stood tail
white haired man clothed in black from
head TO foot.
AT first he seemed like a wandering
spirit with his CHASTITY face and wild
ewes. but suddenly my attention was at
tracted by a CLINT of metal in his right
hand which to my terror | realized to be
a pistol.
The old man stood motioniess. but
with his left forefnger he traced innu-
merablt circles in the air. saw at once
that this was no mere burglar who had
forced his way into my room, and | felt
a curious sensation akin to hypnotism
creeping over me, while / could not help
following with my eyes the intertwined
circles traced by the madman's f2ger.
With supreme effort l closed my eyes
realizing that l should have all my wits
about me Il | hoped to come out OF this
encounter unhurt.
although the man had been peering