Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-10-02
A Strange Story.

fore, when the servant entered and hand
ed me letter from my old college chum,
George Ingram, inviting me down to his
place to spend the holidays. George and
| had not seen each other for upward
Of fifteen years. though we had CORES
pOnded occasionally during that interval.
| had always thought great deal of
George. and | am confident he enter
tanned toward me the strongest feeling
Of friendship. 1 read the letter over sew
eral times There was an air Of myste-
ry about it which excited my curiosity.
do not fail to come" he wrote cal
though the place Is very dull. | think.
as we have both passed the heyday of
oar youth, we can manage to enjoy our
selves in quiet, sensible manner.
am anxious to shake you by the hand
again, old boy, and over glass Of some
thing hot review the past. and laugh
over the thousand follies of our Youth.
Besides, / wish to consult you about
matter of much Importance to myself
and another. Do not mistake my mean
ing. Though the person referred to is
female, am not insane enough to con-
template matrimOny at my time of life.
shall expect you on the afternoon train
and will be at the station with a con-
veyance when it arrives
What can be the nature of the affair
upon which he desires to consult me ?"
mused.
After some deliberation, decided to
accept the invitation. Rising early the
next morning, l packed my valise, took
the early train, and at three o'clock that
afternoon stood upon the platform of the
Plainville station, warmly shaking the
hand of the friend of by gone days.
George was a man on the shady side
of fifty, and, as his letter would imply,
bachelor. He had, after years of pow
erty and disappointment, come into pos
session, by inheritance, of the estate of
distant relative. Not large fortune,
but sum sufficient to enable him to
live comfortably and enjoy life in his
own peculiar fashion. He had purchas-
ed the homestead which at his fathers
death had been sold to satisfy the horde
of elamnrons creditors whers- as I had
heard, he lived in seclusion with only
his books and very deaf and half-blind
housekeeper. Mrs. Badger by name.
As we made our way over the rough.
frozen road, behind a very aged, used-up
horse, ventured to ask my companion
the nature Of the affair to which he had
so mysteriOusly referred in his letter.
81 will explain that to you tomorrow, "
was his reply. mo business to-day"
And so the subject was. much to my
dissatisfaction, disposed of for the time
being.
An hours ride brought US to the
house, which was built of stone, after
the Dutch style of architecture, and
stood some distance from the road, in
the midst of clump of trees, leaHess
and bare, standing out in bold relief
against the horizon, resembling the skel-
eton of some strange monsters thrown
together in heap upon the rising
ground
Dinner was waiting our arrival, and
having made some alterations In my
toilet, was ushered by my host into tht
spacious old dining room. We had JUS
taken our seats at the table after my in
PRODUCTION to Mrs. Badger, who lmag
ined, from the vinegary expression o
her countenanee, was not over-pleaseC
with my appearance, when the door open
: ed. and a girl of perhaps eighteen-nO
l more-quietly entered the apartment
and crossed to the place opposite me.
was very much surprised at the appear
anee Of one whose presence in the hous
. | had not received the slightest intima
t ton of. and must have stared at her i
D a very awkward manner. for her eyes
which had at first met mine, sought th
: floor, and her cheeks cOlored deeply.
I .aOh. thousand pardons, Mat !" ez
' claimed my host /; this is my niece
Miss Ingram"
0 1 elumsily acknowledged the intrOduC
> ton, and it was not until the meal wa
: almost over that i regained my self-pol
i session. | felt confident that ms friend
d niece was the person 50 vaguely Ieferre
to in his letter. After dinner We retire
z to the library. Miss Ingram bade l
= goodnight quite early in the evenini
II after which George brought out ciga
? and made some negus, over which. e
3 yeloped IN a cloud Of smoke, We recall'
y many a wild prank or daredevil adve
!, : ture enacted IN the madcap days Of YOut
l. Ii was not until the clock struck ol
,. that 1, lamp in hand. followed By GeoEg
q assembled the stairs to my room y
parted at the door. be promising to va
u y me early.
~ Il hope you viii sleep well. Mat
: he remarked. Il do not think anythl
y. will disturb you Burglars are unknO'
d in this out-of-tbe-way place, and l Ia
gu never heard that the house was frequeI
"a ed BY ghosts