Chapter I: Front Matter

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THE HAUNTED ROOM.

A Tale

BY

_A. L. O. E._,

AUTHOR OF "THE SPANISH CAVALIER," "RESCUED FROM EGYPT,"
"THE LADY OF PROVENCE," ETC.

London:
T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW.
EDINBURGH; AND NEW YORK. 1900

Preface.

It is under peculiar circumstances that A. L. O. E. sends forth this little volume. As it is passing through the press its author is preparing to enter on a new field of labour in the East, as an honorary member of the Zenana Mission in India. Of the fact that the missionary cause has been dear to A. L. O. E. her readers may be aware from her former writings. She now hopes to be permitted to devote an evening hour of her life to that cause. India is endeared to her from family associations; for there a revered father, and subsequently his sons, lived and laboured, and in that land rests the dust of dear ones who sleep in Jesus.

If there be, as she fain would hope, something of a tie between a writer and those familiar with her works, may not A. L. O. E. venture to claim an interest in the prayers of her readers? May she not hope that they will ask for her, wisdom, humility, zeal, and success? It would be sweet to one struggling with the difficulty of learning a new language to know that many joined in the supplication, "O Lord! open Thou her lips, that her mouth may shew forth Thy praise!" and that many besought Him whose strength is made perfect in weakness, to enable His servant to win Indian gems to lay at His feet.

A. L. O. E.

Contents.

I. A PLEASANT HOME, 9

II. COMING TO A DECISION, 20

III. GOSSIP DOWNSTAIRS, 29

IV. PREPARING TO START, 40

V. HAUNTED ROOMS, 47

VI. THREE WARNINGS, 62

VII. MISTRUST, 70

VIII. THE JOURNEY, 78

IX. NEW ACQUAINTANCE, 88

X. A FAINT HEART, 98

XI. EVENING AND MORNING, 114

XII. THE STRANGER, 124

XIII. WORK, 140

XIV. EARLY IMPRESSIONS, 151

XV. THE FIRST VISIT, 162

XVI. TRY AGAIN, 178

XVII. CARES AND MISTAKES, 186

XVIII. YES OR NO, 194

XIX. THE ECLIPSE, 207

XX. AN ALARM, 219

XXI. INDECISION, 230

XXII. THE HAUNTED CHAMBER, 238

XXIII. DEATH, 247

XXIV. A MISTAKE, 257

XXV. STRANGE TIDINGS, 265

XXVI. THE WEAK ONE, 278

XXVII. A NIGHT-JOURNEY, 294

XXVIII. THE BROTHERS' MEETING, 307

XXIX. CHARGED WITH FELONY, 315

XXX. TREMBLING IN THE BALANCE, 324

XXXI. CHANGES, 332

THE HAUNTED ROOM.