Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-02-17
THE ROUNDwOOD GHOST

own, an imposing red-brick structure
roomy enough to furnish homes for
full score of demure little mortals lik
myself.
"You will lose yourself in this prea
barn of house, Madelon," said Aun
yerusha, who had accompanied me {.
Roundwood to be the ruling divinity o
the menage.
sit would not be much of loss {,
the world in general if 1 should"
"Humph L have no predictions fo
mistletoe boughs and old oak chests.
want no such skeletons rising ND /,
murder my rest"
Trouble comes fast enough without
borrowing it.
AT any rate, I've spoken nv mind
and not without reason. 1t is doubtful
If you have heard all that / have con
cernlng your new possessions.
Aunt Jerusha looked so solemn tha'
l quickly asked
"Wbat have you heard ?"
"Roundwood has a ghost. Yor
needn't laugh-it may prove to be N,
laughing matter. 1 got the story from
the servants. Not a soul of them bu-
is convinced the house is haunted.
''Teu me what they say."
at is really quite dreadful, Madelon
They declare that Madam Belgrave
can't rest quietly in her grave, but
comes back to her old room night after
night, and walks the floor until morning.
HAS anybody seen her ?"
''No; but all of them have heard hel
pacing up and down the apartment.
''Humph. The ghost must be laid
don't like the idea of being disturbed
at all hours of the night by any such
uncanny people,"
Nor l." dryly. "But who will dc
it?
Il Will, was my answer, as l caught
sunbonnet from the wall, and darted
out into the garden to escape Aunt
Jerusha's solemn visage while rumi
mated 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 thought:
of the ghost from my head.
"dhucicu up anu uoNH Tile DOA-
bordered paths, peeping into grape
arbors, and summer-houses, inhaline
the balsamic odors in the air, and
hugging to myself the delicious sense
of possession until grew quite iubilant
Of all my pleasures, that of proprietor
ship was the keenest Just then. And
why, indeed, shouldn't a nice bricl
house, with available grounds be 10y
ever"
had reached the lower portion of the
grounds, and was looking around upon
my domain with quite the air of une
grdnde princesse, when my gaze
suddenly encountered a free and easy
figure leaning over a wicket in the
hedge-row. Starting at the vision,
rubbed my eyes, looked second time
and exclaimed, involuntarily Law
renee Belgrsve p
The figure lifted its hat and smiled a
cheerful good morning.
81 am no spirit, Miss Lane. Do
pray, try to look a trifie less startled
and dismayed."
My emotion was quite pardonable-
and for his reason to this man | stood
in the light of a usurper-I had cheated
him out of his inheritance. He had
been nearer related to Madame Belgrave
in fact, sort of protege of hers,
whom she brought up with the under
standing that he was to inherit heI
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 in high dudgeon, and, to
retaliate, Madame Belgrave had made
a will, leaving all her property to me.
The quarrel was never made up, and
madame died very suddenly in fit.
which found her incapable of expressing
any last wishes she might have had, So
the will in my favor was the one pro-
duced at the funeral, and l found my
self suddenly transformed from a coun-
try schoolma' am with one decent silk
and two merinos, to a very rich woman
with the means to supply her wardrobe
indefinitely.
So you will comprehend that if l felt
somewhat dismayed on seeing that
vision at the gate, had abundant cause
for it. However, l mustered up courage,
and went and shook hands with him
quite cordially.
"You did give me quite start, Mr..
Belgrave. and l might as well plead
guilty to it
Il am sorry" Then he stood looking
at me curiously moment. 81 suppose
that ought to congratulate you, Miss
Lane, on your recent good fortune.
Shall 1 ?"
.'If you can do SO sincerely-not
otherwise.
He laughed. "Then I'll keep my
breath for other purposes.
''Shall you ever forgive me for having
supplanted you ?"
'.l don't know, my great expecta-
tions have turned out nearly as delu-
sive as those of poor Pip. ought to
hate you, Miss Lane, but I don't--quite. y
''Thanks for the margin that saves
me from utter condemnation.
s'I can't help thinking" he went on,
refiectively, "that Madame Belgrave
meant to restore me to favor finally, and
that only opportunity was lacking
Proud and obstinate as she was, I'm
sure she loved me"
"And so, on the strength of that
epinion-which may or may net be
correct-you expect me to abdicate In
your favor ?"
81 did not say so." Again his eyes
swept my face curiously. SIS it in your
heart to be so generous ?"
/ shook my head.
Remember, I've tasted the cup OF
poverty-and it is bitter to my palate.
1t seems delightful to be rid of the toll
and anxiety attendant on earning ones
own living; l don't think 1 could take
up the old burden again"
81 knew you would like lotos- eating.
"Who doesn't, for that matter? Be
sides it has all the zeal of a new sensa-
ton Just now. 1 may tire of it-bu'
that seems impossible"
"Not to me-"
"Appropos of this inheritance of mine,
I'll tell you what 1 am willing to do,
Mr.. Belgrave. I'll share it with you.
He opened wide his eyes, as if sus,
picious his ears had played him false.
..Are you serious ?"