March 24,----

Dearest Sister,

I am afraid of what my scrawled script implies, dear heart, but this I must put down quickly, else I allow myself too much time to conclude the experience little more than the bored imaginings of an exhausted mind. Do you recall the imposing metal gate, with the crumbling brick walls on the Island of St. John? The one that faces the River Road at an angle? Well, yesterday I recieved a chance to find out what lies beyond that gate. I can recall how we used to fantsize about what lay on the other side, relams magical, fantiastic possiblities; well, I can now tell you with certianty that we were not nearly imaginative enough. For the truth exceeds all worldy limitations that we applied to its mysterious presence.

It all began a week ago, when Mr. D. A. Lefron invited myself and our shy little Mary out to his island estate for his annual firefly party. You know the one I speak of. The lovely little party where all the guests are given soft, white nets and glass jars to catch the fireflys? Well, Mary and I were doing quite well with our jar and nets when a Mr. Aiden Hart and his younger sister, Ruth, joined us and intruduced themselves. I have rarely come across a more well behaved young girl, and she was just turned eleven! But I digress, forgive me. As I was saying,the four of us began to hunt fireflies together, using our numbers to quickly catch the most fireflies ever seen according to Mary. We were called back to the house for the evening drink, Mary insisted that all the fireflies be set free, and set off with Miss Hart to do just that.

I was sitting with Mr. Hart, Mrs. Lefron, and our other good aquantince Miss Jennings, when Mr. Hart remarked that he had seen a great iron gate on his way to the party. I quickly chimed in my own curiosities about the gate, for I was excited at the chance to find out more about the mysterious property. Mrs. Lefron and Miss Jennings both remarked that they did not know anything either. However, while Miss Jennings continued to speculate with Mr. Hart, I noticed that Mrs. Lefron was smiling into her evening drink, much like you do dear sister when you are eagar to share a secret. I, of course, was instantly intrigued and set about seeing to it that I had a moment alone with Mrs. Lefron. I managed to do just that, later in the evening when all the guests were getting ready to make their departures.

"It is strange, don't you think Mrs. Lefron, that no one seems to know anything about the strange iron gate down the road?" I asked as innocently as I could manage under the circumstances. I'm afraid I was not very successful in being coy, for Mrs. Lefron saw right through my ruse and, I think, enjoyed toying with me in her return.

"My dear, I'm sure you care nothing for idle rumors that pass about the help and farmers..." She certianly succeeded in being coy. I quickly responded.

"I am more than willing to hear any information that you have. I'm afraid myself and my sister are quite curious about the property."

"Well my dear, I'm afraid it's nothing good. Most of the stories that I've overheard make the estate sound something of a horror. One particular story, was told to me by my scullary maid. Her cousin, Ella, decided to cut across the property in haste to arrive home before the sun set. She was gone for more than a fork night, and when she was found, wandering down the road; she insisted to all that she had only been gone for a handful of hours. She told anyone who would listen of the great house at the end of the lane behind the iron gate. She told of black ivy that crawled up the face of the house, and window panes of clouded glass. Ella told, pale faced, of things that crawled in the shadows, and beings that chased and haunted her until she managed to find her way off the property. No one has dared return to the property, the rumor has circulated the entire island and it is given quite a bit of room."

We concluded our conversation shortly after that. Mary was quite tired, and was eagar to return home. I was just as eagar, but for another reason, I wished to arrive home so that I might send off what I had learned to you. Unfortunatly, it was not to be. As our carriage was brought about; it decided at that moment to break its axel and rendered itself unuseable. We were lucky however,to find extreme generosity in our new friends Mr and Miss Hart. They both insisted that we share their carriage. When I pointed out that Mary and I lived across the river on James Island, not here on St. John's, Mr. Hart persisted. He explained that he would accompany us all the way back to our estate, and then return home. Mr. Hart was quite the gentleman in this matter, I could scarcely believe his kindness.

Oh botheration, there is someone at the door, dearest. I must cut this missive short. I will write again when I have another spare moment. Forgive me for leaving you in suspense.

Your loving sister,

Eva