The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-02-15

known to come home with him in the
dead of night aud depart again be-
fore daybreak. These journeys gradu-
ally became longer and more frequent,
and finally to cap the climax of bis
mysterious career, he went away,
leaving no notice or warning of his
intentions, and never again returned.
OF the lady who had accompanied
him to America, aud with whom he
lived, no more was known than Of
Wyling she was intimate with none
of the country people, but all who
saw her remarked of her wonderful
beauty.
Some time after Wyling's last alb
sence a horseman was one day seen
approaching the mansion from the
south, whom the maid declared to be
her master. The young wife (for
such she was supposed to beg who
had also lately become mothef,
started out joyously with her babe in
her arms to meet him but observing
that stranger rode her husband S
horse, she stopped short, trembling
with fear and surprise. The rider
approached and handed her a letter.
The contents of this letter were never
fully known, but it was believed to
have brought the cruel tidings that
Wyling had left the country forever.
1t was no sooner read than with a
stifed cry she sank to-the ground and
was borne to the house insensible.
Consciousness, alas only brought in
sanity. She paid no heed to her per-
sonal comfort or appearance.
At times, it was said, she would
stand in the door for hours, with the
child in her arms, gazing fixedly
down the road by which Wyling
usually returned. As might be sup
posed, she soon became very Ill, and
her reason more unsettled. In her
delirium she would utter strange ques-
tions to her attendants, and would
sometimes raise her clasped hands,
and in the most piteous tones beseech
some person, whom she called 'fath-
er" to forgive her for some great
wrong. She never wept. When
asleep, which was not often, she was
sometimes heard to mutter Wyling's S
name, and awake laughing deliri-
ously, then sink back again as in
despair. Death at last came to her
relief. Her babe died on the same
day, and they were both borne to a
common grave, in little green plat
not far from the house. A low mound
is all that now marks the spot, and
this is mostly obscured by weeds and
bushes. A stranger afterwards came
and stripped the house of its costly
furniture and sold it, with several
hundred acres OF land belonging
thereto, for a comparatively small
sum, but by what right was not gen.
orally known. After the sale he left
the place, taking the two servants,
and neither he nor they were ever
seen again.
However true this romantic account
may be, the modern history of this
house is, if possible, more mysterious
and thrilling. About fifty or sixty
years ago, and long after the sad
events above related. an old woman
of Scotch Irish descent, from Lon
donderry, N. H., who travelled about
peddling thread and other home made
articles of linen manufacture, came
here just at night fall, and, observing
a light, called to seek lodgings and
dispose of her wares. A beautiful
lady met her at the door with a light
in her hand. She made no reply to
the inquiry as to lodgings, but mute
ly conducted her into the house. She
then repeated her questions. Mute
as before the lady led the way to-
wards the cellar and began to descend
therein. When about half way down
the stairs her light went cut. The
old woman stopped, but the light was
not reproduced. No one returned
from the cellar. She could hear no
one. Astonished at the strange treat
ment, she left the place without de-
lay and continued her journey. The
next house on the road, where she
was better served. she inquired if the
people at the last place she had pass
ed were deaf and dumb, aud her as
tonishment was by no means dimin-
ished on being informed that for years
Wyling House had been unoccupied.
1t is even affirmed by some that
after nightfall it will always be found
lighted and woman in white, with
a babe in her arms, standing in the
door looking intently down the road,
but that on near approach the lights
all disappear, and the place is found
to be untenanted save by rats and
vermin.
Numerous tenants have come and
gone None have ever remained long.
For more than thirty years no one
has lived there. The last human oc-
cupants were young farmer and his
wife. Undaunted by the numerous
stories of this character then afoat,
which they doubtless regarded as no
better than "old wives fables they
hired the place at a very low price,
secretly rejoicing over their good
fortune.
Early one morning they moved in
their little stock of furniture, and
being nearly out of meal, the hus-
band started on journey of several
miles to a mill. The wife, fresh,
young, strong and courageous-true
type of the New England farmers
wife of fifty years ago-undisturbed at
being left alone in this mysterious
out-of-the way place, erected bed and
bedstead in the room known as the
kitchen, and made such other arrange
ments as are incidental to prepara-
tions for housekeeping. The dinner
and supper hour passed, and her hus-
band was still absent. This did not
trouble her, as she knew he was likely
to be detained at the mill, or on the
road, which was not of the best but
.