Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-08
THE GHOST AT HOLLY LODGE.

THE GHOST AT HOLLY LODGE.
''The cd lady has taken Holly lodge
for three years"
A low whistle escaped from the lips OF
somewhat swell" specimen of the
clerk variety at this announcement.
"Rather be myself than you, in that
ase, Charlie. Although from nine to
five is rather too much of a good thing,
when that thing is desk, still there IS
compensation to certain degree"
"Not q bird fellow can shoot.n went
on Charlie, 'or a hare, or rabbit; not a
bit Of hunting; nor "a pack Of
hounds tor miles around. These Grim
shaws have done it--got around nv mo-
ther, knowing that she has daughters
and-sons' with meek emphasis) "and
now she is in for that hor1id old roolsery
for three years! The Grimshaws have
just gone out, End made convenience Of
the matter"
eff were IN your place, I'd soon do
the business; but, Charlie, you're a rnuff!
such dear, darling pet you could not
think OF being naughty-no, not you!r
Now, Charlie was good fellow in
every sense Of the word; but he had a
weakness. Who las not? He admired
his brother as "a town SWELL" as he called
him, and also 70, his personal appearance
and sdDsor fnl9e, but he was not above
feeling just a little jealous OF him, es-
pecialiy when the last recommendation
was considered; and Frank could stimu
late him to attempt anything by merely
saying he could do it
Charlie pulled his short pipe for some
moments in silence, the putting becom.
ing more rapid IS time flew, until at last
ne seemed to have CLEAN of inspiration
shed on him through the Lazy clouds
which filled the room.
~ would not mind betting hamper of
champagne that before six months are
oyer our heads we are out of this unpleas-
ant hole"
'Done; a dozen drank on the premises
here Or there! How do you mean to
effect ejectment?'
THAT remains to be seen. I have not
nit it off yet: but if you could do it, why
should not, being your senior by nearly
eighteen months?"
Frank looked at him to see if there was
a geam of humor in his brothers meaning,
but his face confirmed what his lips
uttered in singleness of purpose. He evil
IDENTIFY believed in superior age.
And then each went his wav for time.
Charlie to the country, to help move his
people, as he called his mother and SIS
tiers, to their new home. Up to the house,
and down the house, and around the
house he loitered and moved, and racked
his brain to think of something as know
ing and sharp as Frank would have
thought of, to make the house untenai9le;
but he was at his wits end, and there
seemed to be no weak point to assail.
He thumped the walls for hidden pass
ages, in hopes of getting up ghost, but
even there he was bat1led. There was
what is called we'll staircase-tha5 is.
spiral with no break to the succession
OF sharp pointed stairs encircling rail
OF balusters which wound up three stories
above ground and down to cellar below.
There was no cellar below, and as the
kitchen and offices were behind in a wing,
over which were the servants rooms,
Charlie dwelt in horror of the ra.s, but
his sisters did not mind; the rats would
60 ii Charlie would only get a terrier or
ferret; while his mother limited at a
cellar door some day. So he had TO let
the staircase, and danger to the house
hold, and all his other arguments be as
they say; but still he haunted the house
during the interval Of moving in. After
peering into garrets and getting himself
into state of dust and whitewash Which
would have Mortified his fastidious broth
en-, he was about to give itup, and forfeit
the champagne, when, accidently kick
ing an iron bolt from the skylight which
was lying on the floor, it started on its
travels. and to the amazement of our
hero, gave him long chase before he re-
gained it, in consequence of the obnox-
lous staircase, that gave out echoes in its
descent which would have startled any
nervous family into commissions. AS he
first rushed down to secure the fasten-
ing, and painted up again to replace it,
the mind of Charlie Dalton took in new
flash OF insperitlon. He stood midway
and looked up, and then he looked down,
and then he looked into all the rooms, 10
see 1t ne were alone, to make sure his
secret was secret still, and then he went
away, whistling gently, meditating
meanwhile. Suddenly he became recon
ciled to the house. He told his mother
he would give up the idea of hunting,
fishing and shooting, and take to litera-
ture and farming-that being in allusion
to the few acres, called grandiloquently
1.-THE domain" which surrounded the
house.
At length an event occurred which dis.
turbed the serenity of the whole family,
servants included, which became the
talk OF the neighborhood for DAYS, and
which finally effected domestic revolu-
ton. 1t was between II and 12-near
the witching hour-when all the servants
were asleep, and the ladies were nearely
SO. Charelie declared he was dreaming
of opening hamper of wine, with
Franks acceptance, when he was awaked
by one of the most "awful rows" he ever
heard in his life, and jumping up to find
out the cause, met his mother, her head
an editice of white frills, and her person
inclosed IN crimson flannel dressing
gown. In second one door opened,
then another, and then from each emerged
a scared, ghostly figure, in unrecog-
nizable attire.
Did you hear that2" sob, what was
ltY Cannot imagine" What can it be?"
Perhana Charlie h;r,,o1f -,,o, II, -, . /, =