The Room with the Tassels

k As

etch of mountain road toward the old Montgomery mansion. The sun set early behind the Green

, or stood, menacingly silent, in black, sullen majesty. Beneath them a tangled underbrush

imly outlined against the dark, clouded sky. Once in the grove, the shadows were dense, and the quivering sounds seemed intensi

lowed the margin of a small lake or pond, sinister in its

repelling. It seemed to have a personality, defiant and forbidding, that warned of mystery and disaster. Aspen trees, tall and gaun

erns of the windows, but one faint gl

n the stone terrace, "I won't go through that woods again

uivering, tearful voice. "Oh,

y these confounded shadows make it impossible to know just where

the old ivy-grown stone, "this is the marble country, you know

nie. "It isn't as much fun

ented into the building, and which stood within the main wall. Though the walls of the house were of marble, those of this vestibule were of panelle

ch though worn and blackened by time, were of antique grandeur. "These bro

lly. "You can examine the house t

cker or bell, when one of the big bronz

, a bit unnecessarily. "B

assured him, "and we want

epped out of the door to

ndon's nerves were on edge. "Open t

you?" and the indifferent h

ded after. At first they could see only a gloomy cavernous

them came in and closed the door. "I'm Stebbins, and here's the keys. This i

f this place. You stay till I dismiss you. I want a whole lot of inform

at accompanied these words struck terror to most of his hearers.

ng point. "Where's that woman with the lamps?

e's goin' to be a sort of butteler for you, he can't come till to-morrow. Bu

d New England woman, who looked utterly de

ect. His small blue eyes roved from one face to another, and though he looked sull

he'll take the ladies to their rooms, and then after you get your supper, I'll tell you all you

intly, "but don't you get away till I see y

and then a glance up the da

ere you, Hester, I'll relieve you of that lamp you're holding

d the woman looked at him with that sublime s

ave and to-morrow you manage to raise a

, I t

y of nine! Well,

a do

ng them in, and if you're shy of candle

s nephew on the shoulder. "I'm glad I don't believe in ghosts, for every last one of you peo

rnie, cuddling into her uncle's arm. "I l-like it,-

cal colour is about the murkiest I ever

fter another trip to the kitchen brought six ca

ur women, and Norma politely selecte

, "you goin' to use that candlestick? That

dropped it and no one

oared Landon, "you que

ss affair; "I'm not afraid of such things. Here, Miss Cam

rockery thing, and shortly they all followed Hest

as soon as he realized its enormous sound in those empty halls. A multitude of doors led to rooms in all directions, there

midway of the

want?" she asked

iled Milly. "Oh, Wynne, let

santest room in the house? Give that to Mr. and Mrs. Landon! And then

l to-morrow," suggested the Professor. "

he rooms, and some I ai

get out!" burst forth Landon. "I wish we'd brought our

less inhabitable bedrooms, and as quickly as possible,

e, was not half bad, after all the available

ctrics," said Braye to Eve,

ue and all that; and kerosene gives a good soft light, but-well, some

ha

rough my mind,-and that wa

a little querulously, and everybody laughed. Al

llogism, or what it is! It just rang in my ears. And I te

s just beginning to pull myself toge

Mil

let up! You're enough to give anybod

for the moment, and to-morrow we'll make this the house of a thousand candles and a hundred l

in Vernie. "I've eaten six

ut seven doughnuts are enough to make you

ed Tracy, who was determined to keep c

ery one felt more at ease, Landon had reco

, as they left the table, "shall

n Black Aspens! Let's turn on the Victrola and dance, or let's play poker or sing glees, or anything

o have it out with Steb, because I want to know some several Laws for Beginners. But, don't let me interfere with your pl

, "what an awful sugg

ry of the house to-nigh

of, as usual, over her mouth, and cried, "No!

w your own minds! You want a ha'nted house, then when you

ut somehow, a ha'nt sounds so much w

ye. "A ha'nt is concrete,

y of the house and then all go to bed early. A good night's sleep will put our nerves and muscles i

ere just starting for home," murmu

ce too, Professor, and I'm going to in

they were all standing about, and paused at the closed door

n't do, Mr. Stebbins! This whole domain is

V'd neck fell away from her long, slender throat. Her hand on the door knob, she suddenly turned he

thed, and her hand slowly fell from t

ed Stebbins, stolid

Eve's voice rang out like a cl

ll trembling on a settee. Tracy f

h, brace up! We're all right

" muttered Stebbins. "Yo

ly stirred Lan

up here, and your confounded negligence in the matter of lights and servants and general good will, has got on the ladies' nerves. Bea

lders, the man disappeared among t

ficient for illumination. There seemed to be innumerable doors and openi

racy, stepping through some old, faded draperies to th

llroom of the old mansion. The furniture was of old, carved rosewood, its upholstery worn, but fairly decent. Oil portraits were o

d the windows were hung with heavy rep curt

y!" cri

astly?" began the Profe

r decorations here and draw your own conclusions as to my meaning. But though not to be called ?sthetic, this furniture is fairly comfy. The springs of

n beside him. "You're a real comfort,

needn't carry one's pulp

hing that a man of your calling ough

I do think a clergyman with a sense

Landon suggested they all retire, it was a compos

lock in the upper hall, the men beneath the roof of

shudders, slumbered in Landon's arms. Vernie

wide awake, and unabl

oor ajar, they could hear one another t

r the strange surroundings in which she found herself, and

d; her nerves alert, her thoughts darting from material things to

k, and at last dawn began to creep in at

rush of fear. Then curiosity conquered, and she came to the surface again, and looked about. The light, growing gradually stronger, showed the appointments of the room, the ugly old four-poster bedstead,

through the gloom Vernie saw something that made her eyes stare and her flesh creep. Clenching her