THE TIMES NEW BLOOM FIELD, l'A., AUGUST 23, 1881.
THE MYSTERIOUS ROOM.
I AM not superstitions. I tuny have a
soft place In my head, like the great
er part of man and woman kind, but I
am not so weak aa to believe In witch
craft, or In omens, or In warnings. I
never did believe In them,nor in dreams
(generally speaking), though as to these
latter phenomena I will not speak posi
tively, reasons which I could glve,but
I shall not Just now. Nor do I believe In
apparitions, most of which may be easi
ly acounted for by the state of the seer's
health, or lila nerves, or by the state of
the atmosphere, or a hundred other cir
cumstances. Hut I will say, without
fear of contradiction from any reasona
ble person, that noma things are quite
unaccountable, though they cannot
either be denied or explained away.
For example, noises 1 Dreadfully un
accountable are the noises that a person,
sitting up late at night, and alone, "and
when a' the weary world to rest are
gone," may hear In some houses. I
say alone, because It Is not to be Biippos
ed that when several persons are togeth
er, some talking and laughing, some
moving about, some occupied one way
and some another, that they should pay
any attention to the mysterious noises
of which I am speaking. I am not
nervous, but really I could not live In
a house that was so afflicted no, not If
I could get It rent free, and, moreover,
be paid for living in it.
And again there are still worse things
-than mere noises that make some houses
very undesirable habitations for the liv
ing ; such things, for Instance as shadowy
figures to be seen flitting by when there
Is apparently no substance to cause them;
or a trembling to be felt In the air which
makes the bell- wires vibrate, or eveu
the bell to ring at unseasonable hours.
I cannot say that I ever actually saw
these things myself, but I confess that
once, just at mldnight,-t-no, I will not
say what it was now. I do not wish to
make my friends either nervous or un
comfortable; still more unwilling am I
to give lliem any cause for distrusting
iny veracity, so I will pass over thut
strange aflUir for the present at least,
and to give a true account of what hap
pened in a house that I was well ac
quainted with, and then they may Judge
for themselves whether or not that house
was .
The house ill question was a large
and substantially-built mansion, stand
ing in a beautiful, sheltered spot,
although scarcely a furlong from the
sea, and on the eastern coastof England.
I know no other Buch spot on the whole
line of coast from Berwick-ou-Tweed to
Dover. You already imagine that it Is a
stately edifice with gables, and turrets,
partly clad with Ivy, with deep-set, nar
row pointed windows, and winding
stairs complete V No such thing
neither is it a great staring modern
house, standing stark naked, with
neither au evergreen shrub out-side, nor
a superstitious legend inside, to enliven
it. On the contrary the garden can
boast of fig-trees of a magnitude seldom
attained in our island except upon the
southern coast, and the myrtle, which,
further inland, can only be kept alive
through the winter months in a green
house, covers the walls with its shining,
dark green leaves and fragrant, silvery
blossoms, to a height far above the drawing-room
windows. The house may be
a hundred years old it may be more,
or it may be less, though I should not
think it. Who lives there now is no
matter ; our business Is with the " good
old 'squire," as he was commonly called
in the neighborhood, who lived there
five-and-twenty years ago. I knew him
well, and a hearty, hospitable,old trump
he was, too. He was a widower, and
had no family ; but as his means were
ample, his house large and well appoint
ed and, moreover, his disposition social
and jovial, it seldom happened that his
house was without visitors.
Of all the places I ever knew it was
the most pleasant to stay in ; there was
no trying to be cheerful and gay, it all
came naturally ; It seemed to be the very
air of the place. There was plenty of
shooting in the autumn; in the winter,
bunting with two or three packs of
harriers that were kept in the neighbor
hood; in the summer an endless variety
of amusements on sea or land, and for
wet days there was a billiard table and
a good library for those who were inclin
ed to be studious.or quiet, or lazy every
body did as he liked Liberty Hall it
was.
And yet I had beard certainly, for I
remembered it afterwards, though I
paid very little attention to the matter
at the time I bad beard that the bouse
once had a reputation for being for not
being quite pleasant in all respects; but
such things are said of so many country
houses, that I looked upon this as mere
idle gossip. Besides, the bouse bad no
appearance of the kind to warrant such
reports. If such things bad been said
of Cranberry Hall, which was only two
miles distant inland, I should not bo
much wonder; its gloomy battlements,
ltd wkkdows divided by heavy stone
mullions, its stacks of twisted and fret
led chimneys, and, above all, that great
dismal pine wood at the back, whose
spire tops by 'moonlight always looked
to me like au enormous army of giants
with their Javelins piercing the sky
these might justify Buch a popular be
lief, but I never heard that there was
even any suspicion of the kind attached
to that melancholy-looking place. This
however, is an idle digression.
It was the last week In September, the
weather was remarkably line, we were
a large party at the 'squlre'B, he was In
the best possible spirits, for he expected
a visit trom an old school-fellow whom
he had not seen for many years.but who
had Just written to say that he would
come and give the pheasants a benefit
on the first of October, as he had done
twenty years before. The major as I
now learned from my host, was born
and had spent his early youth in tills
neighborhood ; the two boys had gone to
Eaton together, and had always kept up
a friendly correspondence, though their
way in life had been so different that
they had not met for twenty years.
On the last day of the mouth just as
we were sitting down to breakfast, the
'squire evidently a little disappointed at
not finding a letter in the post-bag from
the major, to our great surprise, the old
soldier walked in. He had come down
from London the day before, slept at the
Inn of the little market-town of Haudl
land, where the coach stopped in the
evening, hud risen betimes, and now
walked over to his old friend's house.
After the first hearty salutations had
passed between the two friends, and
sundry rougli and schoolboy lull jokes on
the alteration that time had wrought in
their personal appearance had been ex
changed, it was decided that when break
fast was over, the rest of this day should
be spent lu recounoitering certain favor
ite old haunts of their youth, and in
paying visits to some half-dozen aged
laborers and fishermen, whomthe ma
jor's kind heart had not suffered him to
forget. The next day was to be dedica
ted to the slaughter of partridges and
pheasants. Well, there Is no need to
dwell upon the unimportant events of
the day. We dispersed in small parties
according to our different tastes and in
clinations, and assembled again when
dinner-time approached. The evening
came, and the time had passed away
very quickly, the old gray-headed clergy
man, I believe it was, reminded the
company that it was drawing close up
on midnight. Knowing our host's dis
like to late hours, we arose to take our
candles and depart.
"And where am I to perch 1"' de
manded the major, as we were shaking
hands and bidding each other good
night. " O, you are to go to your own room ;
you recollect it, don't you, Charles V I
fancied you, would like it best."
" To be sure I do recollect it, indeed I
I'm not likely to forget your uluiost
blowing me up with gunpowder, one
New Year's night, in that room singed
half the hair off my head 1 "lis a won
der that I recovered my beauty as I did.
Yes, I remember it; the third door on
the right-hand side, opposite ah, by the
by, who sleeps there V The old house
keeper, in your good father's time, used
to try to frighten us boys about that
room ; she declared that nobody "
"Foolish old woman I" Interrupted
our host, rather hastily ; " he was oblig
ed to threaten her with instant dismiss
al If she spread such absurd reports ;
why, you would hardly believe it, but I
assure you, at one time, my father could
scarcely get a servant to stay in the
house you know how superstitious
most of our rural population is ; howev
er, the thing is forgotten now."
I was struck with the hurried manner
in which these words were uttered, and
and still more with the uneasiness which
the 'squire betrayed when several of the
younger part of the company, whose
curiosity had uaturally been aroused by
the foregoing conversation, began eager
ly asking questions as to what the house
keeper had related. It was lu vain that
be tried to put an end to the conversa
tion, or tui'u it 10 some other subject ;
our curiosity was excited, and we were
not satisfied till we heard all the major
could tell us about the matter. It was
not much, certainly.
"Mrs. Lofty that was her name
used to tell us that nobody could sleep
in that room ; there was something so
very dreadful to be seen, or to be heard,
or perhaps ; for the old dame never would
tell us all that she knew, or pretended to
know ; she declared, too, that no ono
bad ever dared to pass a second night in
it was not that the story, 'squire V We
boys used to laugh at ber superstition,
but, to confess the truth, I believe at
that time neither of us would have been
very willing to spend a night in that
room by himself."
We took up our several candlesticks,
and proceeded up stairs to bed.
" Let us take a look at this mysterious
apartmeut," said I, as we were about to
pass the door, which was closed, but not
locked ; let us see what is to be seen
and several of us walked in. It was a
large comfortable looking room. The
windows looked toward the east catching
a glimpse of the restless ocean at the
end of a flno old avenue which led up
to that side of the house. It was a still
night ; the moon which was near the
full, had but Just risen, throwing a
bright path of light across the rippling
water, and causing the massy foliage of
the elms to look back against the Bky.
For a ulght view, I thought 1 had never
seen anything more lovely.
The furniture In the room was heavy
looking and old-fashioned, uullke that
in the other apartments," which had all
beeu handsomely furnished when the
'squire took possession of the place ;
this remained just as It was in his
father's lime. Between the windows
was a large oval mirror of the fashion of
the last century ; the frame, which was
white and gold, seemed intended to re
resenta confusion of deer's horns, drip
ping foliage, and Icicles intermixed, the
effect of which though the connection
between these objects is not very obvi
ous, was undoubtedly pleasing. On each
side of the fireplace was a large, high
backed, well-stuffed arm chair; there
were also other chairs of probably the
same antiquity, if I may Judge from
their ample Blze, the elaborate carvings
on the dark mahogany, and the faded
worsted work which covered the seats.
Besides these there, was a table, a large
oak chest with brass clasps, such as our
great-grandmothers used to keep their
linen or their blankets in, and a bed
stead, on which, however, there were
neither hangings nor bedding of any
sort. The walls were of painted wains
cot, the lloor was well carpeted, and tho
room had merely the appearance of
being disused, not the least of dirt or
neglect.
The major seated himself in one of
the large easy-chairs, and made a scru
tinizing survey of the room.
" Bo this room is giveu up to the "
"Conie,come," Interrupted the 'squire;
there's the clock striking twelve, and
" Upon my honor, Jack, I believe you
know a good deal more than you choose
to tell us what Is it now V Nay, don't
look so grim. I'v a great mind to take
up my quarters here for the night. I
wish I may never have a worse berth to
sleep In than this great downy chair ; it
fits me exactly." And the old boy
stretched out his legs, threw back his
head Into the soft cushions, and yawned
as if he had finally settled himself for
the night.
" Major, you'll oblige me by going
into your own room," urged the
host.
" 'Squire you'll oblige me by letting
me have my own way," retorted his
friend; and with your leave," continued
he, rising, "I'll just look into that big
chest, too. O I empty ; then I will keep
it so;" and locking it, he put the key
into his pocket,
Amongst the guests was au old cler
gyman, who, many years ago, had been
rector of the parish, which he quitted
on being presented to abetter living in a
distant part of TJngland ; he was now on
a visit to the 'squire, with whom, and
with bis fathei before htm, he had lived
on terms of considerable Intimacy.
Whilst the major was making his ob
servations, Mr. Bradley was carefully
examining the wainscot, now and then
tapping It, as if to ascertain whether It
were hollow lu any place.
" Is there any closet in this room i"
asked Mr. Bradley.
" No and no other door than the one
we came in at. By the by, there once
was a plate-closet, just behind the chair
next the fireplace, but it was closed up
ages ago, when my father had one made
for the plate in his own bed-room. The
closet now opens Into the room at the
back of this my man servant's."
" And formerly the housekeeper's
room ; you remember, ' perhaps, that I
came to see her, by her own request, a
few days before she died 1"'
The major fixed his eyes on Mr. Brad
ley as he was speaking, as if he were
trying to read bis thoughts, but it was
in vain ; if he had any secret, his mild
countenance did not betray it.
" What do you say, Mr. Bradley, for
I fancy you know something more than
we do; tell me, now, would you have
any objection to sleeping here'i"'
" None whatever, except that 1 pre
fer a bed to a chair to sleep in."
The 'squire said, " The truth is that
many years ago the room got a bad
name and it has not been slept in since
in fact, the house so large that it has
no been wanted. As to myself, I never
did sleep in it, for I prefer my own
room, which has a south aspect."
" Perhaps," suggested one of the par
ty, "the rats may have found their way
over the celling, or a cowl, on the chlm
ney top makes a noise when people go
to bed with nonsense of this sort in their
beads, the booting of an owl, the roaring
of the sea, or even the wind lu the trees
becomes something supernatural in their
imagination."
At length, much to the satisfaction of
s young people, who scorned the Idea
rats, cowls, or wind, and who had a
Btrong Inclination to believe In the u-
pernatural, Borne of the major's traps,
as he called thein, were removed from
the opposite room, as lie declared that
here, and nowhere else would he spend
he night. Home of the younkers pro-
posed that he should be; provided with
pistols, but he shook his head, and said
that he should be sufficiently armed
against all comers with a good stout
walking-stick. "Aud you had better
not attempt to play any tricks, my lads,
unless you have a mind to get a broken
head," ho added laughing.
After some arrangements for the ma-
or's comfort, which, by the way, he pro
tested against as being quite superfluous,
the party dispersed for the night.
The first of October was as fine a
morning as any sportsman could wish
for. At a little after eight we were all
lu the breakfast-parlor.exceptthe 'squire
and Mr. Bradley, who were slowly walk
ing up aud down the grass plot be
fore the windows apparently In earnest
conversation.
The major hud already been .besieged
by a number of questions, which he
answered in a joking manner, saying
that the morning was no lime for such
subjects, that we must keep our nerves
Bteady, and think no more about hob
goblins, or the pheasants would escape
us. But when the 'squire and Mr. Brad
ley Joined us, and the latter pointedly
asked him how he hud passed the night,
he replied :
"I really am sorry to disappoint you,
but I must confess I slept very well, and
I saw nothing worse than myself ( after
these young chaps left the room, I
mean) what I heard, is quite another
affair I"
What what did you bear, sir V"
from half a dozen of us at once.
" I heard don't let me alarm you I
heard the fellow in the room back of
mine snoring like a pig."
"Nothing else y"
" No, upon my honor nothing else;
my story is a very short one 1"
" It Is very satisfactory," said the old
clergyman. "In the evening the 'squire
and I have our stories to tell, but not
till then, as there are some matters con
nected with my story which are not
quite clear. While you are out shoot
ing, I am in hopes of finding the miss
ing links in a chain of evidence which
will be satisfactory to all parties."
When breakfast was over, all those
amongst us who were sportsmen took
their guns, and went out for a day's
shooting. I have seen younger men
than the major used up after walking
live or six hours through turnip-fields
and underwood, with a double-barreled
gun on their shoulders; but he seemed
as full of mirth and jollity as he was
the day before, aud assured us, when we
Bat down to dinner, that he felt as fresh
after his day's work, as he should have
done tweuty years ago.
In the eveuiug, we reminded Mr.
Bradley of the promise he had made
us.
" I had not forgotten it," be replied ;
"but it will be best that the 'squire
should tell his part of the story first."
'oncluded next week.
'onc
A Feminine Trick.
A feminine trick, very common among
foreigners at Borne, Italy, is described
as follows : A lady goes to a milliner's
and looks over ber stock of bonnets.
She selects those which she thinks will
Buit her, and begs the milliner to send
them to her the following morning that
she may try them on at home and se
lect the one which suits her. The poor
milliner consents. At nine o'clock she
sends the bonnets. The lady Is not up
Will the "young woman" call again a
little later t The "young woman" con
sents to leave the bonnets until three
o'clock. What does my lady do then V
She takes the bonnet she likes best to a
little working milliner in a back street
and bids her make one exactly like the
model she leaves with ber until half
past two o'clock, when she takes it back
to the grand milliner, saying that she
is very sorry, but none of them "suit
her." 4
g3F What makes people so discontent.
ed with their own lot in tile is tue mis
taken ideas which they form of the hap
py lot oi oiuers.
1ST As the sweetest wine is the fruit
of the press, so are men's noblest deeds
often the result of weighty responslbili-
ties keenly felt.
Feeble Utiles.
Those laneuld. tiresome seusatlons
causing you to feel scarcely able to he on
your feet; that constant drain Is taking
from vour svstem. all its elasticity :
driving bloom from your cheeks; that
continual strain upon your vital forces,
rendering vou Irritable and fretful, can
easily be removed by the use of that
marvelous remedy, iiop liitiers. irreg
ularltles and obstructions of your sys.
tern are relieved at once, while the epe
olal cause of periodical pain is perma
nently removed, win you need mis r
Cincinnati Saturday Right. SiZl
A ? .: ItK
THE GREAT rtffltf
ElIOElJEDl
RKEUGaATISGI
9
Neuralgia, Sciatica, Lumbago,
Backacha, Soreness of the Chest, Gout,
Quins, Sore Throat, Swellings and
Sprains, Burns and Scalds,
General Bodily Pains,
Tooth, Ear and fleadacho. Frosted Feet
and. Ears, and all other Pains
and Aches.
No Preparation on enrth cntial" St. jAmiw On. as
a 'f, ur. MitHpfn uml rhrttjt Extermil Remedy.
A trial entails but tlie cnmjxirativtly trlfllmt outlay
of no Cent, find every one miflerfnir with pain
can hare cheap nnd positive proof of tui claims.
Direction! in Eleven LmtKuage.
BOLD BT ALL DRUGGISTS AND DEALERS IH
MEDICINE.
A.VOGHLER & CO.,
r.altlmnrr, Mil., V. S. A.
May 3. 1881 ly
jypSSER & ALLEN
CENTRAL STORE
NEWPORT, PENN'A.
Now oiler the public
A KARE AND ELEGANT ASSORTMENT Ot
DRESS GOODS
Consisting of all shades suitable for the season
BLACK ALPACCAS
AND '
Mourning Goods
A SPECIALITY.
BLEACHED AND UNBLEACHED
MUSLINS,
AT VARIOUS PRICES.
AN ENDLESS SELECTION OF PRINTS'
We sell aud do keep a good quality of
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS
And everything under the head ot
GROCERIES!
Machine needles and oil for all makes ot
Machines.
To be convinced that our goods are
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST,
ISTO CALL AND EXAMINE STOCK.
No trouble to show goods.
Don't forget the
CENTRAL STORE,
Newport, Perry County, Pa. .
. XJ 4 JE
PEE
TINTED GLOSS
PAINT !
make experiments on your buildings with untried
aud unreliable auticles at your expense.
DON'T PvVY
for water and benzine f 1.10 to 82.CC per gallon.
ro BUY
the Lucas reliable and guaranteed Tinted Gloss
Circulars and Sample Cards of Paint mailed on
application .
JOHN LUCAS & CO.,
Ill North Third Street,
13 6m Philadelphia. Pa.
If"l M Yourselves by maklmr money when avoMen
M f I Mthanre is offered, thereby alwaya keepinw
poverty from your door. Those who alwa
take advsntaire of the K'd chances for makimr luouey
that are offered, ireueraliy bocuiue wealthy, while thomi
who do not improve am-h chances remain in poverty.
We want many niemwouaeu. bo and Kirle to work for
us rig-lit in their own localities The buMueaa will pay
more lhau ten times ordinary waree. We fumten an
xenive outrtt aud all that you need, free. Mo one
who euKaree fails to inaXe money verv rapidly. You
can devole your whole lime to the work, or only your
pare mouiuuU. Full information and all that i ueeded
sent froe. Address BTIJiSOS 4 CO., Portland, Maine
ly-
INSTATE NOTICE. Notice Is hereby glren,
li that letters ot administration ou the estate
ot Iter. S. S. ltlubnmnd late of Torone township.
Perry County. Pa., defeated, hare been granted
to the undersigned. P. O. Address Landisburg,
perry Couuty. Pa.
All persons Indebted to said estate are request
ed to make immediate payment and those having
claims will preseut them duly authenticated lor
seulemeut to
ALBERT K. RICHMOND.
Cu ts. H. Fvii.it, Att'y. Administrator
May 10, 1U1.