The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories by Algernon Blackwood
page 6 of 237 (02%)
page 6 of 237 (02%)
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"A great deal _has_ happened," she whispered, "though it's been most
cleverly hushed up. Three tenants have come and gone in the last few months, and the house is said to be empty for good now." In spite of himself Shorthouse became interested. His aunt was so very much in earnest. "The house is very old indeed," she went on, "and the story--an unpleasant one--dates a long way back. It has to do with a murder committed by a jealous stableman who had some affair with a servant in the house. One night he managed to secrete himself in the cellar, and when everyone was asleep, he crept upstairs to the servants' quarters, chased the girl down to the next landing, and before anyone could come to the rescue threw her bodily over the banisters into the hall below." "And the stableman--?" "Was caught, I believe, and hanged for murder; but it all happened a century ago, and I've not been able to get more details of the story." Shorthouse now felt his interest thoroughly aroused; but, though he was not particularly nervous for himself, he hesitated a little on his aunt's account. "On one condition," he said at length. "Nothing will prevent my going," she said firmly; "but I may as well hear your condition." "That you guarantee your power of self-control if anything really |
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