The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1911-09-02

Tho oincer decided against using the
house for the purpose, and ! had
caught the infe:tlon of curiosity. As
soon A. he had gone ! began to ques-
ton Miss Rutledge about the haunted
room. She told me that during the
early part Of the eighteenth century
one Of her ancestors had been murder
ed there. He had married the daughter
Of neighboring planter. She loved
and was loved by another. This lover
came to the house, and during an alter
cation between him and the husband
In this room the latter had been stab
bed there. Since then every one who
had tried to sleep in the chamber Lad
been driven out by the appearance Of
the murdered man.
Tho most natural thing in the world
for 4 lovse h to try to make hero
Of himself. Virginia was full of mill
tary heroes. and as such WINS merely
one Of thousands. resolved to do
what I could to show my courage by
sleeping In the haunted room. Miss
Rutledge begged me not to try 1t since
the last person who did was thrown
into fever which. being followed by
.thef symptoms, finally carried him on.
l was resolute, because In the first
place believed haunted chambers
to be a myth. and In the second
# anything marvellous did occur 1t
would give me the desired opportunity
to show my pluck. The evening be-
fore Kirkwood was moved sent word
to the general that IL I could be spared
from headquarters ! would stay all
night at the plantation with Kirkwood.
He sent back an order for me to re-
main.
pledged Miss Rutledge to say moth
ing about my intention to sleep in the
haunted chamber. hoping in this way
to head OF any one who might be dis
posed TO play ghost. She prepared the
room herself for my occupancy. keep
ing watch that no one should see her
doing so I waited till late hour be-
fore going to bed, when not n person
besides myself and Miss Rutledgc. ex-
cept In the invalid's chamber, was
stirring. Then went to the room l
had occupied whenever I had remain
ed for the night and. removing my
boots, stole In the dark to the haunted
chamber.
That my presence there might not be
betrayed I took OF my clothes in the
dark, Feeling sure that the parts of
ghosts are always played by persons In
the flesh and that no one on this side
Of the dead line knew that the room
was occupied, I went to sleep within
reasonable time.
awoke with a start. At the other
end Of the room I saw a glimmering
such as appears in the east Mt the first
faint dawn. watched it and soon
saw that It was increasing, both
spreading and growing in intensity.
1t grew till that end Of the chamber
wns Illuminated, or, rather, 1t seemed
chat there was no end to the chamber,
but q misty, III defined SPACE. Then I
saw Ia this space the bed in which I
lay and asleep in It figure. A door
opened. and q man dressed in the cos
tune In vogue At the end Of the eight
senth century stole stealthily toward
the bed. Reaching 1t, quick MS flash
he buried knife in the sleeper's bos-
ON. Then all was dark again.
felt all the horror one experiences
in seeing a murder in cold blood. For
more than a year had seen men
killed continually, sometimes thousands
at time. hut that was under the ex-
hilaration Of battle. The vision, or
whatever 1t was, left me all Of a trem-
BILE. There being no further use for
conccalment, Il lighted candle that
stood on small table beside my bed.
would have given half my fortune
was rich-to leave that bedroom, but
my lore for Lillian Rutledge was
greater than my fear. had come
there to show her my pluck, and I did
not propose to show the white feath-
er. Yet I would have infinitely pre-
ferred to lead forlorn hope against
battery of hundred guns.