Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-04-19

she so cool He would state his bust
ness, apologize and retire.
"I am here to obtain some informa.
ton about piece of work we are max.
ing for your brother" he said, with diff
Guilty maintaining his voice from falter-
ing. "You may tell him, if you please,
to call and see Mr.. Shaw, the first time
he goes to Alton.
81 presume you mean my uncle, Mr..
Venneman."
Mac rested his eyes full upon the face
of Mrs. Wares daughter; he might have
known she could not be thirty-three
years Of age had he thought calmly. And
yet so like the mother of her age. He
recollected having seen Dora Ware three
years before; but what contrast is there
between a girl of thirteen and young
lady of sixteenl
At this moment a servant come into
the pOrtico, bearing plate of strawber-
ries and cream. Miss Ware motioned
her to hand them to the gentleman, and
requested another supply for herself
" How easy her manners, and how beau
tiful More beautiful than her mother
ever was" thought Mac, as she blushing-
| ly presented him with the scarlet fruit.
There is nothingso conducive to acquain-
tance as eating; the restraint that
strangers feel is thrown of, sociability
subdues fOrmality, and the conversation
progresses freely.
So it was in this case; Mac forgot his
haste, ate, smiled and chatted, until the
rattling of wheels attracted his attention
from the lovely object before him, and
he saw Mrs. Ware and her brother in
the carriage. How old and homely
Becky had grown; there was not a par
ticle of color in her once rosy face, and
she was indeed gray. Mrs. Ware was,
however, quite hospitable, insisted upon
his remaining to dinner, which was now
upon the table, and more than once dur
ing the meal permitted a sigh to escape
that did not fail to reach the ears Of her
old lover But how obdurate had his
heart grown; he could look Becky in the
face with immobility of granite. He had
become a mystery to himself!
Mac did not depart without discussing
the subject which was the ostensible OBJ
ject of his call and he was gratifed to
find in Mr., Venneman's "a bachelor of
his own age, a most agreeable and COM
panionable man. An hour was passed in
looking over the farm and admiringa pair
of blood horses which had just been pur-
chased, and Mac was glad to find himself
positsvely unable, with any degree Of
propriety, to decline Mr.. Venneman's in
vitation to join him in a ride the follow
ing Sunday.
When Halmon Shaw was informed of
wha. Mac called 'the perfect success oil
his visit, he related VIII Burt's account
of the ghost. Mac puzzled, and went i'm
mediately in search ofthe minister's son.
What" said he, do you know concer-
ming that house?"
"Aboutthat old wreck of former things?
Oh, know, and my ghost knows, and
that's enough to know, said VIII, shrug-
ging hisshoulders and winkiug at nothing
with the eye on the opposite side Of his
face from Mac.
"Tellme; honestly, really think
you saw anything supernatural ?"
As good as anything we read of in
Revelations, only without seven horns
and golden candlesticks."
CandidIy, VIII, tell me what you
really did see and hear, and will tell
youeverything connected with the history
ofthat old house and 1t shall be repaired"
CHOW that's business like; you and I
can deal. You see was rambling about
in your abonlination of desolation one
day examining the partitions and closets
to see if there was any chance for spookers
to hide away if I should get after one
with long pole some dark night, when
I discovered thata panel of the fire. board
was loose Removing it, I found the
note torn in four pieces, copy of which
read your ancient"
81 remember tearing that note up and
throwing it into the stove; the draft has
doubtless carried it through the short
pipe, and then it must have fallen where
it has laid ever since"
Every true, and I thought genius
might turn it to toaccount--perhaps through
It, have the rookery demolished or re-
paired. I made inquiry and found that
Becky was Mrs. Ware, whom you had
once addressed, now a widow. l natur-
ally connected the desertion of your
house with the disappointment revealed
to me in that lady's note, and 1 knew if
she and yon could be brought together,
the removal of that old pile OF lumber
would be insured. And that's all that I
know about the ghost"
Both laughing nOisily, viii jumped up
and down with his hands in bis panta-
looms pockets.