Widnes Examiner. — 1896-02-22 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

MOM. etW.i  soo!  The day passed as usual, only that just after set Mr. Condiment, as a matter of precaution, vie all over the house securing windows and do( before nightfall. Then, after an early tea,. Condiment, Capitola, and the little maid, Pitk gathered around the bright little wood fire, that chilly Spring evening made necessary in the boo° keeper's room. Mrs. Condiment was kni' Capitola stitching a bosom for the Major's and Pitapat winding yarn from a reel. The conversation of the three females left sit in the old house naturally turned upon subjects fear—ghosts, witches and robbers.  -10:C  'WO  ;hirtl  Mrs. Condiment had a formidable collectiofl_.! accredited stories of apparitions, warnings, dreatf, omens, etc., all true as gospel. There was a haunt°, house, she said, in their own neighbourhood--w, Hidden House. It was well authenticated that es! since the mysterious murder of Eugene Le unaccountable sights and sounds had been seen BP heard in and about the dwelling. A traveller, I brother officer of Colonel Le Noir, had slept the, once, and "in the dead waste and middle of t,,u night" had had his curtains drawn by a lady, pm, and passing fair, dressed in white, with floW hair, who, as soon as he attempted to speak to bel, fled. And it was well known that there was no lag, about the premises. Another time old Mr. Ezy himself, when a after coons, and coming through the woods near roof lighted up by a strange blue flame; draW near, he saw within the lighted room a feline.' clothed in white, passing and repa.ssing the dow.  Another time, when old Major Warfield was cal; with his dogs, the chase led him past the hanntei house, and as he swept by he caught a glimpse a pale, wan, sorrowful female face pressed agalm_; the window-pane of an upper room, which vaniso', in an instant. "Thr, might not that have been some yoleg woman staying at the house 7" asked Capitola. "No, my child, it is well ascertained that OF the murder of Eugene Le Noir and the disappear:, ance of his lovely young widow, no white fewPfh has crossed the threshold of that fatal house," sor Mrs. Condiment. _ _ nf  "Disappearance, did you say? Can a lady condition disappear from a neighbourhood and rl inquiry be made for her I" " No, my dear, there was inquiry, and it falai answered plausibly that Madame Eugene was ines':, and sent off to a lunatic asylum; but there are th mu' who believe that the lovely lady was privato rrio,le way with." whispered Mrs. Condiment. °How dreadful! I did not think such t. 1: happened in a quiet country neighbourll.ll Something like that occurred, indeed, in New 'Yortgg/I within my own recollection, however," said tola—who straightway commenced and related _A story of Mary Rogers, and all other stories of that memory supplied her with. te As for poor little Pitapat, she did not presume enter into the conversation, but with her ball 21 yarn suspended in her hand, her eyes started they threatened to burst from their sockets, eP", her chin dropped until her mouth gaped wide ope.; she sat and swallowed every word, listening With thousand-audience power. By the time they had frightened themse pretty thoroughly the clock struck eleven, and t7' thought it was time to retire. 004 "Will you be afraid, Mrs. Condiment?" Capitola. "Well, my dear, if I am, I must try to WO a the Lord and overcome it, since it is no use top afraid. I have fastened up the house well 00 have brought in Growler, the bull-dog, to sleeP_A the mat outside of my bedroom door, so I shall 0:i my prayers and try to go to sleep. I dare ird there is no danger, only it seems lonesome like us three women to be left in this big house bY • "b tiler  selves.'' tt  Yes," said Capitola , Jut as you say no danger; and as for me, if it will give yoe? comfort or courage to hear me say it, I am nOt,it. least afraid, ahhough I sleep in such a remote ro'oti, and have no one but Patty, who, having n° Trfil heart than a hare, is not near such a P°"''' ,gbp  protector as Growler." And, bidding her little maid to take up the 144 lamp, Capitola wished Mrs. Condiment good-lug' and left the housekeeper's room.  ( To be continued.)