The Arm Chair Library No. 79: The Haunted Homestead — page 30: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

upon the fox hunt that Mr. Legare had arranged for that day. TO ah le Pll Stel oe Seta al brother John said: “No, indeed; my dear Madam! We were ‘fashed wi’ a bogle’ all night longs > pire “He means, Madam, that we could not by any means keep our door locked, and had finally to give up the a. attempt,” explained Mr. Howard. : A deathly paleness overspread Mrs. I knew she regretted the question that she had been tempt- ed to ask, and now she receded from Legare’s face. the subject. Mr. Legare, who had kept his eyes averted and turned a deaf ear to the discourse, now adroitly changed the topic by speaking of the hunt. The horses were neighing with im- patience in the yard, and as soon as the gentlemen arose from the break- fast table they prepared themselves, mounted and rode off to their day’s sport. It proved a very successful chase, for they took the brush before twelve o'clock and returned with fine appe- tites to the excellent dinner set upou the table at two in the afternoon. The evening was passed in quiet hi- larity, and we separated at a compara- tively early hour. But that night, reader! It passes all my powers of description. I had always been in the habit of “saying” my prayers before retiring; but of late, since I had been habitually haunted, I had taken to praying devoutly be- fore going to bed. I prayed with un- usual earnestness this night, and then I retired to my couch. So wearied out D in body was I that, despite of mental | excitement, I soon fell asleep, THE HAUNTED HOMESTEAD. While we were still at the table, Mrs. Legare bethought herself to hope that the gentlemen had rested well, when my brusque and _ thoughtless I do not know how long I had slept, probably several hours, for it was near day when I was awakened by a strong light and a great noise. ms I opened my eyes and collected my senses to find that both proceeded — from the opposite bedroom, where Mr. _ Howard and Johm were up with a — lighted candle, looking about for the — mysterious and persevering intruder — upon their slumbers. The light from their room streamed across the hall is and through the open door into ours = and fell upon the tall, dark-robed, | stern-visaged haunter of my chamber, — where she stood pointing her spectral | finger to the spot upon the floor, A moment she stood thus, and then, as | before, passed slowly from the room — through the open door, that, without hands, closed behind her. “d The silvery beams of the full moon ki poured through the two east windows, and in its light I now saw Rachel oe Noales sitting up straight, stark and | still in her bed. - “Rachel! Rachel!” said I, “what iss the matter?” a “Heaven and earth, Agnes, we are ee she gasped, rather than spoke. E “Have you seen anything, Rachel?” Z ‘ be oF 4 ai B Be T asked, now hoping that she had, for I felt it terrible to be alone in my “f spectral experiences. i “No, no; I have not seen anything! ‘But that door! that door! that I am > sure I fastened so carefully, was un- locked without a key, and opened without hands! I heard and saw it,°aF for T was lying awake!” a “Let _us hope that you were mi | taken, Rachel.” Ee “No, no; impossible! Oh, I would not sleep another night in this house _ for the wealth of the Indies!” — While we were talking, the fruitless search proceeded in the Opposite room, 5s ht Pa ss | =e < lene?