The weekly standard., 1869-09-15
The House on the Moor.

There was a tumble-down, deserted look
| about the entire premises. Taken altogeth-
er, it was the last place hungry and weary
| traveller would have stopped at; but night
was coming on, and the sky threatened a Sc
| we're storm; so there was no choice. Riding
directly up to the door 1 dismounted, and
| entered without ceremony. But if the sur
roundings were uninviting and dismal, how
much more within
An old woman sat in a broken chair on
one side ofthe fireplace; another of about t
half her age, probably thirty-fve, was seated
In the other corner; and two children, a girl
ofabout twelve, and boy about ten years
of age, were huddled together on the floor
close to her who was evidently their
mother, all wearing pinched and squalid
look, a terrified air as if in mortal fear.
"Can l stay here tonight Z" l asked.
"Yes, yes, l fancy So" was the hesitating
answer of the younger woman, after look
ing first at me, and then at the old one.
Yes, fancy so. But there is a house
three miles further on where you'd be bet.
ter off,"
Three miles! The storm would catch
me before l had got half the distance.
Hark! You con hear the rain on the roof
now.
II know'd it was going to be q terrible
night, for"
Here she stopped suddenly, and in appa-
rent confusion.
Would your little boy be kind enough
to show me where to put my horse ?
would not like to leave him out in the
| rainn
go, Willie, and show the stranger
Il dursent," was the reply; and the child
crept still more closely to his mother, and
hid his face in her skirt.
If you will direct me, will wait upon
myself"
There is the stable, such as it is" she an
swered, pointing to the shell 1 had already
noticed; land if you will look about, YOU
Will find some hay and corn. l would 90
with you myself, but"
And again she stopped in confusion.
There is no need oft" replied.
mat there was some mystery connected
with the family l was certain. The re-
strained, terrified manner of all in the house.
and the expression of the little boy, were
enough to convince any one of that. De-
termined to be on the watch, l returned.
and gladly accepted an invitation to the
supper which had been prepared.
Il thought you'd be hungry, SIR" said the
mother.
''Yes, long ride over your moors makes
one so.''
I'VE haven't much to offer you. But you
are welcome to it, such as it is"
The frugal meal of bacon, eggs and
brown bread was soon finished and 1 took
my place in the circle gathered about the
hearthstone, and tried to induce CONVEX
satlon. All my attempts, however, were fu-
tile. A very short answer was all l could
gain and, and as one and all were constantly
looking around as for, the coming of some
one whom they expected, yet dreaded, 1
could not refrain from asking, "Are YOU
looking for company tonight Gh
"No, no, but"
Still the same confusion, and sudden
breaking off.
perhaps your husband is-n
"No-oh no." And she shuddered ter
ribly.
III there is any one you fear" contin-
ued, Il will protect you" And displayed
my pistol rather ostentatiously.
ut isn't no mortal" mumbled the old
grandmother, speaking for the first time.
iflsn.t. no. mortal; its spirits III
"Spiritsi Pshaw! YOU are not afraid oftt
spirits ~ --A'' Vi
May be you don't know nothing about
them, sir ~
had to confess, not only my ignorance
but disbelief, and was attempting to prove
logically that such things could not exist
when the storm, that had been long gather
ing, burst in fury, shaking the house to the
very foundations.
'There 1 told you SO N whispered the
old woman. Il knew he was coming.n
"He2 Who is he ~
was going to ask again for the father of
the cildren; but the pleading look of the
poor woman restrained me- I could not be-
lleve her guilty of any crime, and so waited
Tor further developments. And come they
did, with vengeance.
First the rocking jarring ofthe house was
renewed, although, the storm had lulied fora
moment; then dog appeared to howl direc-
tly under the window; then the shutters were
slammed, and the doors opened and shut
violently; then there was hollow. mockine
laugn In the chimney; and then humping
directly beneath my chair, as if some one
was pounding with huge sledge
Don't sit there, sir for heavens sake
don'tr' gasped the poor mother, drawino
herself and children away.
"Why not9n ~ ....-....
"lt's always on that spot.n
"ls there cellar under the house2
"No.n
Icould not understand this. 1 would