The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-05-04


II don't b'lieye. Squire" hazarded Jona.
than. "that sou will like that place. Seth
Holly says he's heerd awful sounds and
seen drclfal sights there arter nightfalln
"Fiddlesiicksr was The unappreciatipe
reply. Aud jonathan resumed bis whit
iling, with a scarcely preceptilio shrug Of
the shoulders.
"Taiu't no use,p he said, the next day
as he checked bis OK team in front Of the
wagon shop on tho bill, where George
Daer. thankful to escape on any terms
from the tyranny aud insult Of the pa!Cr-
nal rule. was hard at work on bic own
account. "Ynu and Nclly'll hasO 10 wait
. spell yet. The old mans gOia' TO live
At the Crozton cottage himself"
4 "Goin' TO live there bimselflp
"Jcs'so, exactly. I hope he'll have
good time oft and jonathan ehuckled.
what do you meahf"
liant ye never becrd2 The old place
is hauntcd!'
"Nonscnse,. Jonathan
He wont Rnd IL nonsense, guess"
sBut is he fully decided to refuse me
even this triaiug, kindnesss'
"Brimful runnin' over, kindness faint
bis way" briefly responded Jonathan
Hyde. but tell Nelly Baker not to get
low spirited; things may turn out not 50
bad, artcr all.p
II wish you would tell mo Oexlctly what
you mean. Jonathan
"HOW can I, when I don't precisely
know myselfi Gee, old crooEhorui whoa
-hnpl" s
Aud away went Jonathan leaving,
George. Duer to mediate on his dark
sayings at bis leisure.
Hnuntedl'' growledl old Able Dasr, as
he s.alked through tho solitary Spartnents
ofthe. Croxton cottage wsek atterwsrd:
eThat's what folksaIlers says when they're
too lpzytol lix up q place. fIain't afeerd,
of alithe ghosts tlst aTir ps
Yet i was eleerless enoughin the fros.
y aaluunal twilight, with the leaaess
sprays ofthe tall cinnamon roses brushing
against the window shutters, and the hols
low echoes rising up at every footstep or
sound. Able almost yishedtha his much
enduring little wife wcrd with him, or that
Jonathan Hyde had dnotgone over to Elem
dale to. corn shelling. 80
"I'll kindlo up! 6rO." thought Able,
"and ihafll make IL more ctieerful.V
Ho piled the woodouths hearth, igpited
the mass. and then drawing an old unpain-
ted chair close to its blaze. watched tho
spires Of fame with evident satisfaction.
"This 'erc's something like. " said Able.
grimly rubbing bis horny hands. Nov
ef l only had little moro wood"
And Able sailed forth to replenish' the
stock Of inaammable material.
AS be opened the door low sound like
a moan fell on bis ear hestopped abruptly
with something like chill at bis heart.
'sIt's the wind" be thought.
But the moan was repeated; this time
loud. and more shrill.
"Iescats, ",he decided. 2
And then the sound died away into mel
ancholy silence. with cadsuces which Abel
could not but decide camo from feline
throats.
he felt disagreeAblO creeping sensa-
tion between his shoulders, that was very
near ehudder.
"Ifs yory qheer,' he thought. "but I'll
go get the wood. There is nothing like q
good ERE to drive away the hypos."
The wood was piled in tho cellar.vay,
and Abel Duer descended the stairs aud
-Glledhis sinewy arms with a goodly heap.
But as he re-entered the room, which was
illuuined by the aickcring embers be had
just left, something tall aud white rushed
past him. with dismal rustling sound.
Abel dropped the srmful Of wood with
reverberaiing bang, while the blood
seemed to freeze in his veins.
"Je-rusa-lem!'' he uttered. in q trem.
mulous tone; whats thal2 Coufound tho
dark old hole; why didn't 1 think to bring
n c,,, oandIa.9 Hnsh.sh an. ;t,s ;nsk AZ