The Argosy — page 398: what you’re looking at

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

384. ‘An Unsolved M rystery. herself that it must be some person engaged by the cook. She walked slowly down the stairs, her heart beating violently, and called out, courageously : ‘“‘ My good woman, who are you ; and what is your business here ? ” For answer, a chuckling laugh resounded throughout the echoing old house. The clatter of many feet was heard upon the stairs ; still, the brave little woman hardly quailed. But what was she todo? She was too terrified to venture after the figure. Just then, there was a knock at the hall-door, and, with a sense of relief, she’ hastened down to open it. The two women-servants entered. ‘“‘ Cook,” said Mrs. Comyers, ‘did you leave anyone in the house during your absence P”’ ‘¢ No, madam.” ‘¢ Well, you had better go and look in the kitchen, for some woman went down the stairs just now.” Lights were speedily procured, and every inch of the basement story was unavailingly searched. The doors were then secured, and as Mrs, Comyers saw the servants were rather frightened, she wisely refrained from entering into any particulars concerning either the manner of the figure, or the strange noises which she had heard. The next day she related the circumstance to her husband, who laughed at her nervous fancies, and practically suggested that a close eye be kept on the area gate. The weeks flew by, and the affair seemed to be almost forgotten ; until one evening, as Colonel and Mrs, Comyers sat alone in the dining-room, the sound of many footsteps was heard in the drawing-room overhead, and a plaintive air was played upon the old spinnet. They listened, amazed, for a minute, and at length Mrs. Comyers said : ‘Henry, I am sure it 1s that—that thing!” ‘You little goose !” he exclaimed, laughing. ‘‘ Stay where you are, and I'll go and see.” He bounded up the stairs—there was a hurried shuffling of feet: the music ceased, and he soon returned. The scene he had witnessed he could not relate to his nervous, delicate wife. Therefore, to avoid being questioned, he said, with an assumption of gaiety : ‘¢ Mabel, congratulate me! I have at last seen your mythical old woman !” Mrs. Comyers shivered, and nestled into her husband’s sheltenng arms, as she whispered, faintly : “ Yes, I know you have seen her, for I saw her go before you out of the room.” They could not account for the phenomenon, and naturally were diffident about mentioning it to anyone. Thus the time passed on until Christmas. With the Christmas-time, there arrived a nephew of Colonel Comyers. Clever, handsome, merry Val Wycherley: a young COLMA a) NOOKS (CO)