The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-08-26
THE RouxDwoOD GHOST.

~ i1Sl sAa bobAt0NACo ~
own. an imposing red brick strnc-
ture, roomy enough to furnish homes
for a full score of demure little NOR
tails like myself.
"You will lose yourself in this
great barn of a house, Madelon,"
said Aunt Jerusha, who had accom-
panied me to Roundwood to be the
ruling divinity of the menage.
1T would not be much of loss to
the world in general, if | should"
"Humph, | have no predictions
for mistletoe boughs and old oak
chests. | want no such skeletons
rising UP to murder my rest"
Trouble comes fast enough with
out borrowing it."
"At any rate I've spoken my mind
and not without reason. 1t is doubt
ful if you have heard all that | have
concerning your newpossessions z"
Aunt Jerusba looked 50 sulemn
that | quickly asked:
"What have you heard p
"Roundwood has ghost. You
needn't laugh-it may prove to be
no laughing matter. got the story
from the servants. Not soul of
them but is convinced that the house
is haunted"
"Tell me what they say"
at is really quite dreadful. Made
Ion. They declare that Madame
Belgrave can't rest quietly i'll her
grave, but comes back to her old
room night after night, and walks the
floor until morning"
"Has anybody seen herr"
"No, but all of them have heard
her pacing up and down the apart
ment."
"Humph, the ghost must be laid.
| don't like the idea of being disturb
cd at all hours of the night by any
such uncanny people"
"Nor l." drily ''but who viii do
it?"
al WILL" was my answer, as |
caught up a sun bonnet from the wall
and darted out iato the garden to
escape Aunt Jerusha's solemn visage,
while l ruminated upon the ways and
means
However, the prim, old-fashioned
garden, with its quaint angular walks,
and funny little beds, from which
the flowers lifted bright and smiling
faces, as if in welcome, soon drove
all thoughts of the ghost from 10y
mind.
| wandered up and down the box
bordered paths, peeping into grape
arbors, and summer-houses, inhailing
the balsamic odors in the air. and
hugging to myself the delicious sense
of possession until | grew quite jubi-
liant OF all pleasures that of pro-
prietorship was the keenest just then,
And why, indeed, should not a
nice brick honse, with available
grounds be a source Of enjovment !?
had reached the lower portion
81 the grounds, and was looking
around upon my domain with quite
the air Of princess, when my gaze
suddenly encountered a free and
easy figure leaning over the wicket
in the hedge-row. Starting at the
vision | rubbed my eyes, looked a
second time, and exclaimed involun-
tary, Lawrence Belgraveln
The figure lifted its hat and smiled
a cheerful good morning
81 am no spirit, Miss Lane. Do,
pray, try to look triae less startled
and dismayed."
Ny emotion was quite pardonable
for this reason to this man I stood
in the light of usurper@I had
cheated him out OF his inheritance.
He had been nearer related to Ma
dame Belgrave-in fact a sort of
protege Of hers, whom she brought
up with the understanding that he
was to inherit her coupon bonds and
bank stock some day. But twelve
months prior to this time there had
been a violent quarrel between the
old lady and Lawrence, he had left
Roundwood il high dudgeon, and. to
retaliate, Madame Belgrsve had
made a viii, leaving all her property
to me.
The quarrel was never made up,
and Madame had died very suddenly
in ft, which found her incapable OF
expressing any last wishes she might
have bad, so the will in nv favor
was the one produced at the funeral
and found myself suddenly trans.
formed from a country schoolm am
with one decent silk and two meri.
nos, to q very rich woman. with the
means to supply her wardrobe inde6-
nitely.
So you will comprehend that If ]
felt somewhat dismayed on seeing
that vision 1t the gate, ! had abund
ant cause for it. However / muster
ed up courage, and went and shool
hands with him in q cordial manner