LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2441, 1 February 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

THE HAND ON THE LATCH.

By W. W. Fesk,

[ln "Time."] What is tills ojin upon my watch chain ? It is a Spanish doubloon; a very pretty pleoe of money. How did I ooine by it ? Variously enough. It was the old story, repeated aa it seemed to me ad nauseam. An old house, haunted of course, in which so stranger could pass a nlg-ht or if he did something awful happened. Ho would be found in the morning dead, mad or speechless, unable to tell of what he bad seen, and refusing to be questioned. I did not know at first what the tradition was, or what was supposed to oocur in this particular instance. I paid little attention to the gossip ; I only •know that the bouse wbs pointed out to n e *a hauated, and I derided the notion. Where was it? Well, it was situated in a ra'her unlikely spot for such a terror to take root in—viz., the outskirts of an ordinary mirket .square in a country town not far from the sea; a region re voted twice a week to the <oale of fat oxen, sheep, piga and poultry. The house itself was qaatnt, being red"bvicked, low roofed and narrow windowed, and had been built at least a hundred and fifty years. Though modern structures now hemmed it in, and towered high above it on either Bide, it must originally have stood by Itself, within its own garden, which still ran a lone way to the rear. It does not at all matter whit took me to the town. '■ I had "to live there, that is enough, and I lodged for years with some respectable people, who at the end of that time emigrated, and I had ■to find fresh quarters. Apartments were to let that would sni<; mi I was told in the Identical house, if Idd not mind the tradition about it. Mind the tradition ? Not I indeed ; I did not really know what it was. •Ghosts of cou-se I had no belief in ; bo I took tbe apartments—a large bedroom and a small sitting ruom—that were to let in the house. It was occupied by a foreman of soma tan works and hii wife. He had got the short remainder of the lease on very low to-ms, because the house had been for j ear-i untenanted on account of its evil reputation ■—the old story again. Air Tanner had been in it only a few months when I took the rooms, aud we both laughed at the haunted notion whn-> we spoke of it; for ha was as great a sceptio bh myself. Seen anything, htaid anything ? Not he.

*lf there he's a ghost.' Baid the honest fellow, 'ho will not go for to trouble him aelf with the likes of us, nor with you, *ir. neither, I'll be bound;' and I agreed with klm.

Weeks and weeks went by, only to confirm our views. Nothing whatever happened of course, and in fact the t hiug passed out of my memory after the first few days. I grew to be quite at home in my new •quarters, and was thoroughly comfortable. The bedroom was that sort of apartment which modern phraseology describes as ' particularly jolly.' Being at the back of the house, and on the first floor, it overlooked tho lone strip of -old-fashioned garden, which, as the autumn camo on, was redolent with sweet perfumes. The brightness and cheerfulness of the chamber which deligh'ed me were mainly due to a piece of vandalism committed by some previous tenant, lhe pannelling, which ran round it the height of about four fee , had been painted a creamy white. I'o'-r -and window sishes had shared the same fate, and a wall paper, similar in tor.e, pave a light and airy aspect to a room which otherwise might have proved dark and gloomy. I am a great person for light. I always barn a night Hvht, so my fUrroundings suited «ne exactly. Kept scrupu;ooßly clean as the proverbial new pin, a m- al might have been eaten off any part of the apartment, or (.if its simple dimity covered and curtained furniture. In a word, it would have been ihard to find any place more nnlike a haunted chamber, lhe two windowe w.-re to tbe xight of the bed, the door to tho left; a little beyond tho foot, and directly opposite the lied, the fireplace. On the 23rd of October, 1541, I went to ■fced as usual about eleven o'clock; An I liavo said, I always burn a night light, and, more from habit than from soy other reason, 1 always bolt my door. Never a very good sleeper the slightest vound awakes me, and .I awoke on this night suddenly, about an

honr and a half, I suppose, after I went bid. Some noisa had disturbed me, I was sure of that, as I became oonscioas. What was It ? At that time of night the whole neighbourhood was as silent as the grave, and the elements on this occasion were equally so. The sound waa in the room—no, not actually in the room, but just outside—at the door, aid was made by some one trying toopen it. Yes, undoubtedly. I could hear It creak, as it yielded slightly to the pressure as of a shoulder from the outer side, and as, sitting upright in bed, I kept my eyes eagerly upon it, I saw the heavy, black, old-fashioned Iron latch, conspicuous on the white door, rise—a hand was on it. Presently it was allowed to fall BoftJy, presently it was slowly and as softly raised again, and the shoulder again P re » gefl steadily against the door. But the bolt below the latch was firm, and when the attempt to enter had been repeated three or £ jut t mes it was given up entirely. Should I call ontt Should I look out? No, my curiosity was oheoked by my prudence, pe'haps by a slight qualm also. I remained for a long while listening intently, but I could hear no one outside—no movement, no footstep, no creaking of the floor or stair. After watohirg and waiting for a long while I got cautious'y out of bed, slid back the bolt noiselessly, suddenly thr.w open the door, and looked into the passage, for I had atill heard no retreating footstep out»ide. All hough the bright light from my r>- om streamed into the passage as far as the head of the old staircase, nobody was to be seen I was too late, I had waited too long, or perhaps, whilst I was getting out of bed, the rustle of the clothes had prevented my hearing the would be intruder retre. Listening, and peering over the stair-rail down into the darkness, I could still digcover no sign of life, except for the heavy breathiog of the sleeping landlord and his wife. They slept on the ground floor, and beyond their two rooms, my two. and the kitchen, the remainder were unfurnished, for we were the sole inmates of the house Silence reigned everywhere; and in the conrse of half an hour I was back iu bed, with the door bolted and the light burning brightly, as If nothing had occurred. But you may guess I did not sleep much, though, except by my thought, I was disturbed no more that night. I had looked at my watoh before returning to bed, and calculated that the whole e flair had happened between twelve and one. And now, what did it mean? I will not bother you wi ; h my speculations on the point, for they simply landed me nowhere. I was puzzled I never for one moment doubted my landlord's honesty, nor, on the other hand, my own senses. Borne one had tried to get into my room, that was certain. Who was it ? I determined t> keep my own counsel, at any rate until I should see if the attempt were renewed, Before retiring the next night I was careful to take a look at the fastenings Cf fc» e front and back doors. They were both secure, the latter, which led Into the garden, however, appearing the least so; one heavy bolt only held it, but It wbs shot. Mr and Mrs Tanner kept earlier hours than I did, and L could hear they were soundly sleeping when I went to my room. Uncomfortable I' Yes, of course I felt a little uncomfortable —most people would, however amply endowed with moral courage ; but, honestly, it was ourlosity which principally possessed me. However, I bolted my door, lit the light, and went to bed as usual. For an hoar or more I lay broad awake, with eyes fixed on the black latch ; but about a quarter to twelve, after looking at my watoh. I b'gan to feol drowsy, and, though fully intending not to sleep, I dropped off, I sup pose, in another minute or two, for I was awakened suddenly by a recurrence of precisely the same sounds as thoaa which had d stnrbed me on the previous night. There wan th» slight oreaking of the door from the pressure as before; there was the hand on the latoh outside, causing it to rise and fall, as bef.ro. Then there was an interval, then a renewal of the effort to enter, then another interval, and so on for eoiho twenty minutes. After that, all was quiet again. What should I do? Irresolute, and not without some misglvipgs, at last I slipped out of bed, and took a peep into the passage; but still there was nobody visible. Whoever bad been there was not there now, and he or she must have got out of the way in the most m\ sterioas manner; for I had never yet detected any indication of a footfall. The third night came. I still rigidly determined on keeping my own oounsel until I hid got at the bottom of this queer expfrieuca. I resented the idea of beiDg twitted with the cant and rubbish nb ut the haunted house an I knew I should be if I uttered a word concerning what bad ooonrred ; yet I confess I was perplexed. The notion of robbery was hardly feasible. In the first place I had nothing worth stealing—a free ticcess to my rooms oould be had all day. Well, as I say, the third night came, and with it an exact repetition at the same hour of all that had taken place twice before, except that, as the latch rose for the second time. I called out in a low but clear voic?, before leaving my bed, ' Wait a moment, and I will let you in.' The latch fell on the instant with a sharp click. ' Ha, ha,' I thought. 'we are getting at it;' but before I could gain the door and open it the mysterious personage was gonehe was again too qaick for me, and once more all was quiet for the remainder of the night. || The following morning I made a minute examination of passage, room, latch, door, floor, ceiling above, below, and in every cirner. There were plenty of opportunities for doing this, as Tanner and his wife were often away from heme for hours together ; but it led to no result— I could find no clue to thu mystery. For the two following nights nothing whatever occurred j evidently my examination had been observed, and I was gueßeed to be on the alert. But on the s'xth night, exactly as before, the whole busin>Sß t:ok place over again. This was getting tiresome; what with the uneasiness of mind it caused, and the watching and waiii-g, I had had little or no sleep for nearly a week. There was only one way for it therefore open to ma now ; I must leave my door uubolted and see what would happen. I thought it well to be prepared for emergencies; so, when. I went to bed on this the seventh night, which was the 20th of October, I did not undress, but merely lay down quietly under the counterpane, with a good thick stick alongside of me. It was soon after twelve that the strange and unpleasant performance always seemed to commence ; and true to the custom here It is beginning again. Here is the latch slowly and softly rising. I grasp mv stick, and prepare to spring upon the intruder. The door yields now to the pressure cf course, and is gradually and stealthily opeued by—no one ! Yet there it is, clear'y wda open, before my eyes I No mistake about that. lam sitting upright on the bed, regarding it with astonishment. And now I am aware, for the first time, that I am not alone in the room ; a sensation perfectly independert of sight or hearing overtakes me and fsssures me of this. Bat the door is closing again under the pressure of the unseen hand, and there is the latoh rising as if lifted over the catch by cautious fingers so that it shall make no noisa. While lam gazing at it with intense wonder, and after a minute has elapsed I am startled by the sound of a gentle though smart click, as of a cpring which has been pressed. It comes from the direction of the firep'ace oppoiito tho foot of the bed ; and there, as I look, I see that one of the panels by the side of the white, heivy wooden mantelpiece has sprung open, showing a deep dark cavity within. I remain perfectly still, my whole being in my eyes. Presently, from the depths of the recess, there emerges an iron-clamped box, about a foot and ah Of square. It seems that it is being drawn oot by a human hand, only the rand ia nr t visible ; and now it is lifted by the same mysterious agency a little way into the rrorn, and is then set gently down on the fl or. attention is engaged on the box my eye* are again directed towards the panel, which his now been shut with the earn.' oHok of the spring whioh had opened it; otherwise there is no sound, no footstep, no rustling garment. The box being well in the liyht I can see that it is very antique. The oU'nps and bosses are elaborately ornamental, and lead up to a central pattern on the top, where evidently is the lock. Over this ia a strong iron handle ; and while taking in these details I see this sort of treoeure-chert lifted and carried as it might be by a poweifal hand towards the door, which after a moment's pause is opened. Th' n the chest disappears, the door is gently closed, and I feol that I am alone. i [To be continued.)