Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-04-14
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL a. 1916

idea. He had seen figure robed in
white descend the staircase. return
and disappear through the door lead
ing to the door above. OF this he
was certain. and the absence of any
appearance OF hfe there did not con-
vince him that he was In error.
Soon after the appearance OF the
mysterious figure the captains atten-
ton was diverted from its considera
ton by the appearance Of large force
Of the enemy to the southeast. He
dispatched n courier to find the gen
eral, If possible, and later, hearing
heavy firing and seeing columns of
smoke In the same direction. he dis
patched another courier with another
message.
These matters having been attended
to, the young captains mind again re-
verted to the mystery of the upper
story. He said nothing to his men
about the matter, fearing that II lie
did he would excite desire ON their
part to investigate. whereas II there
were any investigating to be done he
preferred to do 1t himself One day
one of the troopers came to him and
told him that he had better leave his
quarters, for the man was sure the
house was haunted. He had seen In
the middle Of the night figure clad
In white standing at an upper window.
The superstitious Russian, having con
sidered the third story vacant, natural
ly regarded the figure ut the window as
wrath Ivanovich told him TINT the
figure he had seen must have been an
illusion, but failed to convince him.
There was hillside back OF the
house, covered by trees. lvanovich
went out there with his binoculars and
remained long while, watching what
was going on. The distance was too
great for him to gain much know-
edge Of any value. but he kept his
watch till satisfied that It was useless,
then turned and was emerging from
the wood, when, casting an eye at
window on the third story of the
house. he saw standing there a young
girl looking at what he had been OBJ
serving.
This time the sun was shining full In
her face, and the captain saw not only
that she was comedy, but there was on
her features that anxiety which is 30
touching in the young. Realizing that
II she saw she was discovered 1t would
add to her distress, he remained In con
cealment till she withdrew, closing the
window.
That face, once seen by moonlight
and again by sunlight, produced vivid
impression on Ivan Ivanovich. II font
cd before him during the day, and at
night he saw the wraithlike figure de.
scending the staircase. 1t was evident
that a girl was hiding. and 1t was pos
sible that there was some other cause
for suffering than fear Of an enemy
The location was German Poland, and
Peter had told him that the residents
Of the house were Poles But In war
time one IL as likely to be plundered by
friends as enemies.
One night Ivanovich heard quick
footsteps overhead. Getting out OF bed
and putting on some OF his clothing, he
went out and listened at the door lead
ing to the third story. He heard signs
OF something happening above. Then
the door was unlocked and woman
this time dressed In ordinary apparel
came out and met him face to face.
She turned to go back. but Ivanovich
said:
You have nothing to fear from me.
Tell me If there IL anything can do
for you"
Having been thus given confidence,
the girl revealed the mystery When
the Russians appeared In the region |
her mother. herself and her brother |
aged seventeen, II wounded conscript |
In the German army, expecting to be |
murdered, rctreated to the third story. |
leaving Peter to deceive, II possible. |
whoever might come. They had taken |
provisions with them and would have |
got on had II not been for the wounded |
boy, who was deprived OF medical care.
The night she had appeared on the
staircase she was going below for
bottle Of medicine which surgeon
had left for the use OF the invalid ON
this her second appearance her brother
was much worse, and she was trying
to steal out with view to getting
medical advice as to what to do for
him. She closed her explanation with
pleading that lvanovich should not
make her brother prisoner, for II de
prived of her and her mothers tender
care he would surely die.
The captain having assured her that
though an enemy, he had heart, went
below and ordered one OF his men to
find a surgeon and bring him there at
once. Then he went upstairs and found
the mother and the wounded boy.
whose fears he allayed. They were
comfortable 80 far as their quarters
were concerned, and he ordered Peter
to bring them properly prepared food.
A surgeon arrived In due time and
treated the wounded boy. who began
at once to improve.
A week passed after the unwilling OF
the mystery before Captain Ivanovich
and his men were withdrawn from
their quarters. During this week the
young officer by his consideration for
his captors secured the good will OF the
mother and the son and more tender
response from the girl. When he left
her there was an interview between
them, the result Of which was known
only to themselves. though there can
DO but little doubt that they referred to
what might be when the war should be
over and peace should return to take
the place Of one OF those periodic re.
turns TO barbnrism to which the world
has thus far been subject