Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-01-27
OTTUMWA, WAPELLO COUNTY. IOWA. JANUARY p. 1885,

J.
"YOu are entirely TOO anxious [,
cOnsjyn me to obscuri,y and schoo
keeping again"
"No you should never go bac!. Il
that drudgery, if
He stopped suddenly, hesitated /
moment, thon held out his hand.
Really, feel like an obtruder here
Miss Lane. Id better say good NOR
ming and leave you, before / am be-
trayed into any further folly"
| He turned abruptly away. "Did
you know there was a ghost At Round.
wood" called after him
No, looking back.
"They say Madame Belgrave-a
sure indication tia, .!ic i. displeased
with something-pro.Abiy the unjust
disposition she made Of her wealth."
An expression I utterly failed to
comprehend foatcd over his express
sive face.
"Yon have NO occasion to be troubl-
ed ON that score" he answered, and
went his way.
I watched him until the windings Of
the road hid his tall, stalwart figure
entirely from view, aud then returned
TO the house In Q reflective mood.
"Aunt Jerusha." J" said I, abruptly. "I
am going to sleep in the haunted room
to.night.n
\ She started at me utterly aghast.
@Yon foolish child, yon would never
dare" SF3g@ s, k's asf
aHavc tho room throughly aired
and made comfortable" interrupted
IN tho brusque, decided tone Of one
who docs not wish 10 enter into any
argument. II ehall occupy the apart
mont tonight, 90 tho least said about
the matter the better
Occupy II / did-at Ieast for sea.
SON taking up the line Of march
about eleven O'Clock.
Aunt Jerusha followed me to the
door and said . In solemn voice as lugu
brious % though I were abont to be
hung. &s
aScream II you are frightened Mad
'elon, and we will ali hasten TO your
assistsnce. 1 hope you won't be q
heard Of such things"
"I'd rather b crazy than . fool"
wes my iMpAtient rofoinder.
Madame Delgraves room-ss We
called it-1ss 8 large room on the
second Aoor. The furniture was
qnaint old fashioned, odd and ridicu.
lous TO my new fashioned eyes. The
walls were Of oak, thickly panelled,
over the carved chimney piece was .
raised figure-typfcal Heaven only
knows Of what-with . diminutive
shield extended In one hand.
1 had barely glanced round at my
quarters when something fitted past
my head with whizzing round, and
lighted In the middle ofthe shield. A
quick, half frightened glance at the OBJ
ject In question brought smile to my
lips. It was . bat.
Now I had always great antipathy
to these vampire like creatures; 90
catching up the poker from the fem
der, aimed deadly blow at the in
truder.
Tho bat escaped unhurt through the
open window, being too quick for me
but tho poker descended with consid-
erable force on the spot where he
should have been. The same instant
/ heard aharp, clinking noise, and
the shield stid away, revealing TO my
Astoniahed gaze small chamber con.
structed in the massive chimney.
In this novel hiding place lay apile
Of papers. Trembling . good deal, l
caught up the topmost ono and hastily
sxanined # by the aid Of the flicker
ing candle. Instantly I know that
my startled conjecture was shrewd
one, and that / now held in my hand
Madame Belgrave's true and last will
and testament, and Lawrence Belgrave
and not was the rightful owner of
Ropndwood.
It Was scarcely pleasant discovery
70 make. Thr0u2hly bewildered, I
dropped into Que of tho quaint easy
chairs, trying hard TO command my
lIzsS lIzsSaeseaag !. q & senses s9hcleen,Iy @ rsa.
sputtered and went out, presently, 6mt
still sat there quite oblivious to the
fact thinking only of my Loneliness
and the treadmill of poverty to which
! must return. At last I was aroused
by rustling sound, and q muffled step
ON the balcony without. With q sud-
den thrill OF horror I beheid dark
figure risc mp before the window,
aud slide noiselessly over the
sill. The next instant dark lantern
fashed lie light over the room. I star
ted to my feet with shrek Of uncon-
trollable terror in an attempt to rush
to the door, my limbs failed utterly
aud I crouched pale and painting
against the wall.
Miss Lane you here !" said voice !;
and the man put down the lantern and
came towards me. II beg thousand
pardons for giving yon start"
1t was Lawrence. rose up again,
thoroughly ashamed Of myself for hav-
ing manifested such extreme terror.
My emotion WAS excussble,' said I,
with al the old sauciness, for had
grown bold as Hon again now there
wss no resi- horror to confront. II did
not expect to see you at Roundwood
to-night-hence my surprise
"The fact ID" he replied. manifcsting
c0nsiderable confusion, II have come
hero for Madam Belgrave's will. Law.
yer Gregg has told me she made one,
about ak m0nths since. Ho thinks che
destroyed II sfterward, as it has not
CONE 70 light. ! hold to . different
opinion. The viii wss In my favor, %
you lnust readily guess, end ] believe
1t 10 hidden IN some plsce which Nsd-
Ame was psevented from disclosing by
the awful suddenness Of her DEATH
"Then you were the ghost ?"I grasp-
ed. =
II suppose must have becn.'
"Well, il is laid forever. You have
NO further need to haunt this apart
mont. Hero IL tho missing document
for which yon have been searching !;
tomorrow / will abidate 40 gracefully
- possible, and Richard shall have his
own again" 4
And while he stood staring at me, 40
IL quite dumtounded, pushed the will
into HE hand. and made a second ef-
fort to gain the door
This time Il was Lawrence who de.
tanned me, forcibly.
.Don't 60, Nadelon," he whispered,
his arm gathering mo Close to his side.
Now I can speak my mind freely. I'll