Central High School - Snips and Cuts Yearbook (Charlotte, NC)

Page 17 text:

His teeth were chattering. Strange, strange! he muttered under his breath. It Wasn't so cold out-doors, but in here it's cold and damp as a tomb. He felt his Way around in the hall, for it was now dark save for a little ray of light that came through the open door. He groped about until he found another door, which he opened and passed through. Taking from his pocket a box containing only three matches, he struck one, and by its light was able to see dimly his surroundings. He was in a large room, perfectly bare so far as he could see. He noticed with pleasure that the fire was already made for him, all but applying the match. The grate was filled with lightvvood, and a quantity lay on the floor close by. At that moment the first match Went out and left him in total darkness. Just then he was startled by hear- ing a strange cry. The dog whined piteously. Be quiet, Rover, he commanded. Didn't you ever hear an ovvl before? He hastily crossed the room, struck his second match and touched it to the fire. It caught and blazed up warm and bright, lighting up the entire room. The tramp held his fingers to the fire for a few seconds, then turned quickly, as if impelled by some invisable force, and looked around the room. He saw that it was large and square, containing two windows, and-oh! horrible sight! On the fioor in the center of the room Were large blood stains. He shuddered, and, unable to endure the sight, looked around for his dog, intending to leave the place at once. The dog had sneaked back in the shadows in one corner of the room, and lay, crouching with his nose to the Wall, Whining and trembling. Roverl he called, somewhat sharply. Just then the Windows rattled, the door slammed, and the blazing fire was extinguished in a moment. Again the strange cry rang out louder and more weird than before. The man was thoroughly frightened by this time. Hastily he struck his last match and held it to the light- Wood as before. Again he turned 'quickly and his gaze rested on the blood stains. 13

Page 16 text:

Che Gray Stone Iiouse weary traveler slowly picked his Way over the rough, stony road leading toward the llttle village of Chester. He was cold and footsore, limping as he walked. Every now and then he cast his eyes upon his poor, hungry looking dog, walking by his side. Well, Rover, old fellow ! We can't get to the village to-night, that's certain! We'll hunt us a shack some- where and rest for the night. I don't suppose that we will have any supper either, although my pockets are full of money, for I am afraid to spend it. Oh! he muttered under his breath, how that miserly old woman clung to her gold, and she shrieked when I struck her. But she'll never scream again, and I had to have the chink. The dog looked up into his master's face as if in an- swer, and then trotted on at his side as before. As he spoke he went around a curve in the road, and he thought he could see in the distance the outlines of a building. When he came nearer, he saw that it was an old, gray-stone house, surrounded by tall oaks and unkept shrubbery. In the deepening gloom the old, gray build- ing loomed up dim and ghastly. Every now and then the leaves on the old oaks rustled as if swept by a gentle breeze, but no other sound was to be heard. The silence was oppressive, and as the ragged man approached the building, he whistled softly to the dog, as if to break the silence and, at the same time, dreading to do so. I-Ie cautiously ascended the steps. The door was partly ajar. We're in luck, old boy, he muttered, an empty house all to ourselves, if 1'm not mistaken l Walk in, friend, and in a jiffy we'll have a roaring fire. So saying, he pushed the door wide open, and swag- gered into the hallway, the dog meekly following at his master's heels. The man's steps seemed to awaken a thousand echos all through the deserted house. 12 N the fast fading light of a chill November day, a A n u

Page 18 text:

Oh! he shrieked, blood, blood! It looks like - he put his hands over his eyes and his lips were ashen- Come, Rover, let's go out of here. Quick! quick! And he rushed madly from the door. As he passed into the dark hall, the fire fiickered low for an instant and then suddenly went out again. At every step he made, he seemed to hear the tread of other feet all through the house. He reached the door-the front door by which he had entered, and which he was sure he had left open. It was closed and locked. Wildly he beat against it, but it stood firm. A cold perspiration burst over him. Wild with fear, he rushed with his whole strength against the door, but suddenly the strange cry sounded again, this time almost in his ear. He fell down against the wall and knew no more. Every sound ceased and over the mysterious house dark- ness and silence reigned supreme. It is said that the old gray-stone house was once the happy home of a rich young lord and his beautiful wife, but he had had a bitter quar- rel with his brother-in-law and had murdered him in cold blood. The shock killed his wife, and at her death he had left his home never to return. Soon among the simple country folk the belief that the house was haunted gained headway, and the place was dreaded and shunned by all who knew of its tragic history. Years afterward, the heirs of the property decided to explore the old stone house and so sent workmen to make it again habitable. In the hallway near the door they found, to their amazement, the skeleton of a man and close by its side lay the bones of a dog. C Y '11 14