The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-05-04
THE HAUNTED HOUSE.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

It was bleak November night. With
the wind whistling down. che chiDneys Of
the old Duer mansion, and the two locust
trees in front creaking aud tossing their
boughs in a weird and melancholy fashion;
but in the big "front room huge Gre Of
hickory logs blaled and glOwed. aud made
every corner Of the somewhat gloomy apart
-ment bright with changing CLEANS.
Able Duer, spare, hard featured man,
of the type now happily no longer III tho
predominant. which holds up work as a
demi.god, and falls down to worship at tho
shrine Of Money. staring at the Gre with
his two hands on bis pepper aud salt col
ored knees. aud his iron face shifting aud
changing strangely in the rudy light. =
Mrs. Duer, a wiIhered little old.woman
with timorous, halffrightenei Ipok in her
eyes, such as one often sees in those Of an
ill.treated animal, sat opposite, Industrious
y sewing together long strips OF cloth to
make a rag carpet; aud Jonathan Hyde,
the hired man, who in those republican
parts, was admitted to full and perfect
equality with bis employers, was whiting
away at q sot of gate pins insthe centre Of
the semicirelc.
!. Wind bless: don't observed Idsi
latter personage at length breaking The
silence which had prevailed So OslOhg as TO
become oppressive.
eyes" said Mr. Duer briefly.
"Wouldn't wonder Of We had speh o
snow afore uiorpin', pursued Jonathan.
II shouldn't neither" said Mr.. Daer.
Jonathan booked Slyly at his employer
from beneath bis eyelids, and struck out
into new channel of conversation.
so they say your son George is to be
married pretty soon."
more fool he!" groWled tho farmer,
giving the back log kick which made
lis wife start nervOusly.
Il don't see that that ar follows" OBJ
served Jonathan philasOphically. "Ifs
material enough for man to get married
we've Bible sanction fort"
"Humph!' grunted Able Ducr.
Nelly Bakers as smart gal as ever
lived. and George would do irst-rate, folks
say, if you'd only let him have the CrOx-
ton cottage on the hill, and"
IL sha'u't do itn brusquely interrupted
Duer. with a deep furrOw between bis
brows
at don't do you any good. stnndin'
empty" pleaded Jonathan, who was evil
IDENTIFY in the interest of the young lovers.
1T amt eoin' to stand empty
why. who's gofn' to live tlere'" guess
toned Jonathan, iu great surprise.
II be-" was the gruf answer.
"You be!n
Jonathan stared. Mrs. Duer looked up
with evident astonishment.
"why, father" sho said meekly "it
amt been lived in these Eve years."
IAN the more reason it should be lived
in uow," grOwled the better half
"And besides folks say its haunted" "
pleaded the timid little woman.
"Haunted!' Abel Duer gave grunt Of
contempt that nearly lifted him of his seat
with its energy of emphasis "L'll sec
whether its haunted or not! l tell you
I'm goin' to live there myself. If other
people choose to be fools, don't. Pela-
tiah Browne, he's goiu' to rent this 'ero
place, and Tn goin' to the GrOztOn cot
tage."
"Then yOu'll go alone, Able" said Mrs.
Duer. "for shan't go With you"
jest as yo please" Able said cOOlly.
II should think, with all your money"
went on the little woman. now fairly ex-
cited. on the principle according to which
a rat will if he is cornercd, you might
stay where you bo.and let George and tha.
pretty gal have the CruztOu place, il they
want it"
lyon should, ehTmeersd Able well,
tain. any o your business, 10 way"