Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-11-27
The Ghost of Holly Lodge,


The old lady has taken Holly Lodge
for three years"
A low whistle escaped from the lip;
of somewhat ''swell" specimen of the
clerk variety, on this announcement.
Rather be myself than you, I'm thai
case, Charlie. Although from nine tC
i've iS rather too much of a good thing
when that thing is a desk, still there i.
compensation 10 a certain Degree
Not a bird fellow can shoot, !" weni
ON Charlie, ''or a hare, or a rabbit
not bit of hunting; not u pack OF
hounds for miles around. These Grim
shsws have done it-got round my
mother, knowing that she has dangh-
ter's, and-son" with meek emphasis)
''and now she is In for that horrid old
rookery for three years. The Grim
shaws have just gone out, and made a
convenience of the matter"
"If were in your place, I'd soon dc
the business; but, Charlie, you're a
muT.-such a dear darling pet! you
could not think of being naughty. No,
not you"
Now Charlie was good fellow in
every sense Of the way, but he had a
weakness. Who has not? He admired
his brother as "a town swell" as he
called him, and also for his personal
appearance and sdroir tGire, but he was
not above feeling iusta little jealous OF
him. especially when the last recon-
mediation was considered; and Frank
could stimulate him to oattemptany thing
by merely saying he could do it.
Charlie puffed his short pipe for some
moments in silence, the putting becom-
ing more rapid as time flew, until at last
be seemed to have CLEAN of inspira-
tion shed on him through the hazy
clouds which filed the room.
AZ would not mind betting hamper
Of champagne that before six months
are over our heads, we are out of this
unpleasant hole"
"Done; a dozen drank on the premi-
see here or there. How do You mean
to effect ejectment?"
"Thzt remains to be seen. have not
hit it of yet; butif you could do it why
should l not, being your senior by eigh-
teen months?"
Frank looked at him to see If there
was 6 CLEAN Of humor III his brothers
meaning, but his face confirmed what
his lips uttered in singleness of pur-
pose. He evidently believed In his su-
perior age.
And then each went his way for a
time. Charlie to the country, to help
move his people," as he called his
mother and sisters, to their new home.
Up to the house and down the house,
and round the house, and loitered and
moved, and racked his brain TO think
of something as knowing and sharp as
Frank would have thought of, TO make
the house untenable; but lie was at his
wits end, and there seemed TO be no
weak point to assail. He thumped the
walls for hidden passages, in hopes OF
getting up ghost, but even there he
was baffied. There was what is called
a well staircase-that is, spiral-with
no break TO the succession of sharp
pointed stairs encircling rail OF bal
listers which wound up three stories
above, and down to a celler below.
There was no door TO the cellar be-
low, and as the kitchens and offices
were behind in wing, over which were
the servants rooms, Charlie dwelt in
the horror of rats, but his sisters did
not mind: the rats would so If Charlie
would only get terrier or ferret;
while his mother hinfed at cellar door
some day. So he had toilet the stair
case, and the danger to the household,
and all his other arguments, be as they
say; but still he haunted the house dur
ing the interval of moving in. After
peering into garrets, and getting him
self into a state of dust and whitewash
which would have Mortified his fastidi-
GUS hC W i- dDOus W .
and forfeit the champagne, when, ac-
cidently Kicking an iron bolt from the
skylight which was lying on the hoor,
1t started on its travels, and, to the
amazementof our hero, gave him long
chase before he regained ii, in conse-
ouence of the obnoxious staircase, that
gave out echoes in its descent which
would have startled any nervous fami-
w into convuls;ons. AS he first rushed
down to secure the fastening. and pant
ed Up again to replace it. the mind OF
Charlie Dalton took in new hash OF
inspiration. He stood midway and look
ed up, and then he looked dcwn, and
then he locked into all the rooms, to
see if he were alone, to make sure ms
secret was secret still, and then ne
went away, whistling gently, medita-
ting meanwhile Suddenly ne became
reconciled to the house. He told MS
mother he would give up the idea OF
hunting. fshingan shooting, and take