The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-06-28

exclaimed. "But be careful of it.
Neil the pages may break off.
They look $3.50 brittle"
"Such funny writing" said
Gina disappointedly. who was
closest to it. II can hardly read it
from here"
We'll have to have an official
reader," said Hamilton Milliard.
II nominate Mr.. Howe"
Everyone agreed with this sug-
gestion and the lawyer carried
THE old book to the table. Gina,
tgiggling, whispered something to
Ham. and even Julie and Mrs.
Marbury were smiling as they
dragged chairs closer to the table
before the fireplace. Only Mrs.
Jackson, standing in the half
shadow, Withdrawn from the
laughing group about the table,
seemed ready to listen seriously.
This is going to be good" said
Neil, grinning.
"How's your eyesight?" Gina
asked pertly. you've got the
4 -
Mrs. Marbury silenced her niece
with gesture. "You were the one
who couldn't wait to hear the
story" she reminded Gina. Nov
| think you'd better let Mr.. Howe
read it in peace"
Bring d couple of candles. will
you?" Mr.. Howe asked. 'This is
very faded print"
Everyone scurried around, col
lecting extra candles. Finally,
fianked by an imposing array Of
Pickering but effective lights, the
lawyer settled his glasses firmly
and began to read.
"The first part seems to be just
the description of the house." said
Mr.. Howe.
Lets see: An oaken panelled
circular hallway, about twenty
five feet wide, with the drawing
room and dining room on opposite
sides.
"Oh, let's skip that" put in
Gina. Get to the ghost"
Eyes" said Brett, 1--WE want the
ghost"
The younger members of the
group took up the cry, making
chant of it:
I'VE want ghosts. -.
Eve want ghosts. -.
Eve want ghosts. u
BE quietl" Julie commanded.
MIR. Howe may run out on us, if
we act this way. and take the
book with him"
Hidden Love
IN THE polite hush that fol-
i lowed, the lawyer, who had
been turning the pages rapidly,
now turned back a page or two
and began to read:
Downstairs are found black
holes and trap doors and a deep
well or cistern, with a treacher-
Gus trap. Underground dungeons
are discovered, twelve or more, in
which are bones thought to be
those of human beings possibly
runaway slaves. It cannot be de-
MED that a skeleton has been
found in an upper room that can
be reached only by secret stair
case.
Zone mysterious chamber is
over the drawing room. Access to
it is secured by the secret stair
way, or by placing a ladder from
the garden outside TO a little win
dow high up on the gable wall.
This window is secured by heavy
oaken shutters. Examination OF
the room adjoining shows that
there is no doorway connectin z
with the chamber. Long after the
builders death and after the
house had been sold. the hidden
staircase leading to the drawing
room was discovered. In fact, the
whole mansion is honeycombed
with places to hide, although sew
eral Of these are now blocked off.
The rooms for the slaves and
others employed in the mansion
are on the grounds"
No wonder it's haunted" ex-
claimed Gina. laughing. 'How
could any ghost resist so much
architectural allure?"
Don't be fiippant." admonished
Neil. "A ghost or two may be on
the premises yet! Sh-h-h I"
"Sh-h-h |" whispered Julie,
as Mr. Howe took up the story
once more:
1.-THE first tenant and builder,
Colonel WitherSpoon, married
Clementine, the daughter of q
wealthy French merchant, but
shortly afterward ne, fell in love
with Marguerite, his wife's sister.
The marriage occurred in France,
and here Is where the romance
and mystery, and the alleged
ghosts that made up part of Coll
onel Witherspoon's life begin to
appear.
Marguerite, unwilling to be
left behind when the Colonel and
his bride sailed for America, Sc
Icretly took passage herself. short
" after their departure. She dis
guised herself as an Indian squaw
and followed the Colonel 70 his
various posts. It Is said that DUR
| ing the Indian wars she saved his
life on a number of occasions
During this time Colonel Wither-
spoon was unaware Of her iden-
tiy
AT last Marguerite, no longer
able 10 conceal her love for the
Colonel. made her presence
known TO him. He was building
this mansion az that time. which
was subsequently, known by the
name of Hearts Haven. a name
then generally believed 90 be q
tribute to his wife.
Into the mansioas Colonel
WitherSpoon built secret ehan-
Der over the drawing room and
here Marguerite remained some
length OF time. OF sunfn the
Colonel was called away on q
q ~ a