The Haunted Chamber.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3031, 17 October 1888, Page 3

The Haunted Chamber.

1 met a friend of Mary Anderson's at a little luncheon in New York a short time ago (says the correspondent of a New York contemporary,) and ho relatod a curious story told him lately by the fair actress. The man said that Miss Anderson told him the story when slio was lasthere, and a«Burcd him of its absolute truth with utmost earnestness, It is a regular old-fashioned and bona fide ghost story, and Ims tho interest of having occurred at a famous house in England, Knobworth Castle, tho homo of Bulwer Lytton and his son, tho Earl of Knob wortli—o w on Meredith, The Countess of Knobworth look great fancy to the beautiful and entirely proper young Kcntuckian, anikd bor down to yisit hor in tho cof|y at hor grand and historic residence. Tho night before tho visit came to a conclusion there was somo talk in the countess's boudoir, over livo-o'clock-tea, of tho ghostly legends connected-with tho historic houses of England. The EarlJ of Knobworth inherits a good deal of his father's taste for supernatural, and is very Arued in spookology. After relating twilling and hair-lifting tales of many of the old places ho had visited, ho confessed lo Miss Anderson that in Kebworth also there was a haunted chamber tbatliad never been occupied at night for half a hundred years. Miss Anderson was too wiso to let her ono and only chanco for meeting a real and aristocratic family" harnt" escape her, and begged to be allowed to sleep for her last night in that long unused room. The carl and countess tried lo persuade her out of it, but slio persisted, and finally on conditions that her maid should sleep upon' a loungo in tho room, tliey yielded. Tho serving woman was not told the reason for tho change of apartment ofe than that Miss Anderson hud i&i a fancy to slcop there. Very Win tho night, but at what hour slio could not definitely say, Miss Anderson was awakened suddenly by a feeling of oppression, and, struggling to gel up, :folt upon her chest \ihat Eccmcd to bo tho weight, of, a thousand pounds,-no helpless was she

to movo or cry out. Finally she managed to cry out tlio namo of lier maid, «nd from the loungo wheroslio slept heard a smothered and giughng cry. A few moments latev tho maul rushed to her bctlsido in ft of fear, explaining that Miss Anderson s cry had awakened her, but when slio endeavored to answer a liugo weight was laid upon her that rnado it impossible to articulate or move. Tho two women sat up in their dressing crowns shivering with fcni' until day-, fight aroused the household, and then no trace of any disturbance could bo found in the room. Her [hosts confessed that the tradition of tho experience of thoso who had slept in the room had been exactly similar, and Miss Anderson despite their hospitality and kindness, was glad to get away from a place where she suffered such a nervous shock.

Tho carriiigo of a celebrated prima ilonnu was upset in tlio Park, and the morning papers, in speaking of tho accident, said," Wo are happy to state that she was able to appear the same evening in three pieces." "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, a great big man like you to be a beggar and a tramp, You oughtn't to bo afraid of work." "I know it, mum, but I csn't help it, You see my nurse frightened me once in a dark room when 1 was a baby, and I have been timid over since. "Margaret,'" called tho mother downstairs some time last night, "Oh, Margaret." Yes, mamma," came the smothered reply from the parlour. "Has your young man gono yctf "No mamma." "Well tell him not to go for a few minutes, I'm going to market, mid want him to carry the basket,"

At a crowded French country theatre a woman fell from tbo gallery into the pit, and was picked up by the spectators, who hearing her groaning, asked if she wasmncb injured. "Much injured 1" exclaimed tlio woman, "I should think I am, I have lost the best scat in the very middle of the front row."