Year: 1873

My sister wrote me that she had taken
house for the summer, ga queer. old
fashioned house, away down on the
lonely coast, where the children would
have the benefit of the sea-breeze and the
surf-bathing prescribed for them after a
sickly spring season. And she urged me
to come at once and join them in their
new modes. Queer and old-fashioned in
deed found it, each room had the ap-
pearance of having been built separately,
by successive owners.


At the back OF the main building pro-
jected sort of long and narrow wooden
gallery, consisting of q row of four small
rooms. last used, it appeared, as store
room, for grain and vegetables, all open
ing upon covered passage-way connect
ing with brick office which had former
ly stood separate from the house. These
rooms and the office were unused by the
family as too remote to be desirable; be-
sides there was plenty of room in the
main building.


Yet the first time l visited this little
brick Office, it at once took my fancy. 1t
was good-szed, comfortable room. with
fireplace on one side, and queer little
triangular closet, or cupboard in corner,
bearing the marks of books and ink stains
on its shelves. The very place, thought,
for a study; SO l at once chose this little
room Tor my own, bedroom and study in
one, and after giving it thorough puri6
cation and airing, took possession.


1t proved quite as pleasant as had an
ticipated. Here, awakening in the morn
ing, would open the windows and let in
the fresh sea-breeze; and when evening
came. would sit in my little garden-door.
and rejoice inthe quiet and secluson which
loved SO much.


Thus | was sitting, about twilight few
days after had moved into my little her.
mitage, as called it. The air was very
still; scarce a rustic disturbed the branch
es of the willow, and the surf ripping on
the beach made but low murmur Sud
denly, became aware of Hfaint, uncer-
tain sound, like the whispering of voices
and rustling Of garments. Fancying that
my sister or the children had playfully
stolen upon me, l looked round; but. to
my surprise, there was no one visible.


1t must have been fancy, of course, l
thought, and turned once more to the
book; but hardly had done so, when
again heard the rustling of drapery and
what sounded like football upon the
~
staring around and listening, Once or
twice it was repeated, and then all was
still as before.


That my story may be credited. l must
tell the reader that was at this time a
woman OF four-and-twenty, had never in
my life been i'll or nervous, was the farthest
possible from being superstitiously in
clined, and had been accustomed to regard
with ridicule all the stories concerning
ghosts, gobins, and other so-called spir-
itual manifestations. Such being the case
set it down as one of those odd and
feeting fancies which do sometimes puzzle
and bewilder even the most rational


But on the following day, and again
on the next, the mysterious sounds which
| have described were repeated. 1t was
exactly as though some persons were oc-
cupying the room with me--moving with
soft footsteps and speaking in low whis-
pers, as il unwilling to be heard. Once
distinctly distinguished grating noise,
as Of KEY turned in lock: after which,
all was quiet.


said nothing 10 any one about these
noises; though by this time. was almost
convinced that they were not the effect OF
my imagination, yet decided to be thor
onghly convinced of their real existence
before exposing myself to laughter and
ridcule by relating so improbable story


A day or two after, about four o'clock
in the Afternoons most unghost-like
hour, was reading on my lounge be-
tween the door and the window, Sud-
denly as | turned leaf, | heard a faint
grating sound as OF key, Just behind
me, and then voice speaking in a low
indistinct murmur, inexpressibly hollow
and sepulchral.


For an instant only came the indistinct
murmur and then silence. The sunlight
was streaming down in slender, golden
threads through the gently-swaying
branches of the willows; out en- the lawn
saw the gardener at work, and on the
beach heard the merry voices Of the child
ren. felt courageous.


Rising, searched around the room, un-
der the bed and lounge, and in the trian-
gular cupboard in the corner-the only
places where person could be concealed
| Not Il living thing was to be seen, and
was about closing the closet door. when
| heard distinctly low, faint laugh, close
in my ear, and then moaning sigh, or
groan, which seemed to die away into
the distance.


confess at this instant my nerves did
fail me, and Il cold shiyer ran curdling
through my veins. | hastily closed the
closet door, ant without even stopping tn
snatch up my book, ran along the galleryto
the other part of the house.


Should Itell my sister and brother-in-
law? No. still shrank from the thought
of their laughter. Finally - and they
credit me with the possession of almost
more than feminine courage in so doing
resolved to keep silence for the present.
and spend the night, as usual in my little
otiice-room.


The first few hours passed away quietly,
and was just falling into doze, when
was aroused by the door of the corner
closet slowly creaking. The moonlight
enabled me to see that this door stood ajar,
though | distinctly recollected having
closed it before retiriag. 1t had neither
lock nor bolt by which it could be secured.