Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1875-10-14
A STRANGE STORY.
BY CHARLES f. NEWTON.

l was seated before the cheerful
crate fire of my cosy little library, pc
rusing. the pages of new work on
psychology, which 1 had received a
day or two before, when the servant
entered and handed me letter from
my old college chum, George Ingram,
inviting me down to his placeto spend
the holidays. George and | had not
seen each other for upwards of fifteen
years, though we had corresponded
occasionally during that interval. l
had always thought great deal of
George, and am confident he enter
tanned toward me the strongest feeling
of friendship. read the letter over
several times. There was an air of
mystery about it which excited my GU
riosity.
"Be sure you uome," he wrote =
Though the place is very dull, l
think, as we have both passed the hey
day of our youth, we can manage to
enjoy ourselves in a quiet, sensible
manner l am anxious to shake you
by the hand again, old boy, and, over
something hot, review the past, and
youth. Besides. wish to consult you
about matter of much Importance to
myself and another. Don't mistake
my meaning. Though the person re-
fered to is a female, I am not insane
enough to contemplate matrimony at
my time of life. I shall expect you
on the afternoon train, and will be at
the station when it arrives"
"What can be the nature of the af-
fair upon which he wishes to consult
me p mused.
After some deliberation, 1 decided
to accept the invitation, Rising early
next morning, packed my valise
took an early train, and at three
o'clock that afternoon stood upon the
platform of the PlainvilIe station
warmly shaking the hand Of the friend
of bygone days.
George was a man on the shady sid'
of fifty, and, as his letter would imply
a bachelor. He had, after years o
poverty and disappointment, come in
to poss ession by inheritance, of th,
estate of distant relative. Not
large fortune, but sum sufficient t.
enable him to live comfortably ant
enjoy life in his own peculiar fashion
He had purchased the homestead
which, at his fathers death had beel
sold to satisfy the horde of clamorou
creditors, where as / had heard, h
lived in seclusion with only his book
and very deaf and half-blind house
keeper, Mrs. Badger by name.
l Az IL ho
frozen road, behind very aged, used
up horse, ventured to ask my com
panion the nature of the affair t
which he had so mysteriously referre
in his letter.
81 will explain that to you to- MOI
row." was his reply. "No busines
to day"
And so the subject was, much to m
I dissatisfaction, disposed of for tn
| time being.
An hours drive brought US to til
house, which was built of stone, afte
i the Dutch style of architecture, an
stood some distance from the road
the midst of clump of trees, leafles
and bare, standing out in bold relic
against the horizon, resembling tt
skeletons of some strange monster
thrown together in a heap upon I'll
rising ground.
1 Dinner was waiting our arrival, an
having made some alterations in m
e the spacious old dining room. W
> had just taken our seats at table aft
my Introduction to Mrs. Badger, VIII
l imagined, from the vinegary e!
preston of her countenance, was IL
over-pleased with my appearance
when the door opened, and girl (
perhaps eighteen-nOt mOre-quiet
entered the apartment, and crossed
the place opposite me. was vel
? much surprised at the appearance
one of whose presence in the house
had not the slightest intimation, al
must have stared at her in very aw
ward manner, for her eyes, which h;
first met mine, sought the floor, al
her cheeks colored deeply.
go, thousand pardons, Mat" e
! claimed my host; "this is my nieC
Miss Ingram
clumsily acknowledged the intr
duction, and it was not until the mt
was almost over that 1 regained I
selfpossession. I felt confident IL
my friends niece was the person
vaguely referred to in his letter /
ter dinner we retired to the library.
g. Miss Ingram bade us good night gu
3tf early in the evening, after viii
- George brought out some cigars a
made some negus, over which, env
y oped in cloud of smoke, we recall
many wild prank of daredevil
venture enacted in the madcap days