"
"So much for the origin of one authenticated ghost story," said
Traverse.
"Yes, and there was still more circumstantial evidence to support
this ghostly reputation of the house. As the years passed I had,
even in my confined state, gathered knowledge in one way and
another--picking up stray books and hearing stray conversation; and
so, in the end I learned how gross a deception and how great a wrong
had been practised upon me. I was not wise or cunning. I betrayed
constantly to my attendant my knowledge of these things. In
consequence of which my confinement became still more restricted."
"Yes, they were afraid of you, and fear is always the mother of
cruelty," said Traverse.
"Well, from the time that I became enlightened as to my real
position, all my faculties were upon the alert to find means of
escaping and making my condition known to the authorities. One night
they had a guest, Colonel Eglen, of the army, Old Dorcas had her
hands full, and forgot her prisoner. My door was left unlocked. So,
long after Colonel Eglen had retired to rest, and when all the
household were buried in repose, I left my attic and crept down to
the chamber of the guest, with no other purpose than to make known
my wrongs and appeal to his compassion. I entered his chamber,
approached his bed to speak to him, when this hero of a hundred
fields started up in a panic, and at the sight of the pale woman who
drew his curtains in the dead of the night, he shrieked, violently
rang his bell and fainted prone away.
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