The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-08-23

ted chimneys, and, above all, that great
dismal pine wood at the back, whose
spire tops by moonlight always looked
to me like an enormous army of giants
with their javellns piercing the sky
these might justify such popular be-
lief but never heard that there was
even any suspicion of the kind attached
to that melancholy y-looklhg place. This
however, Is an idle DEPRESSION.
1t was the last week In September, the
weather was remarkably fine, we were
large party at the 'squire's, he was In
the best possible spirits, for he expected
visit from an old school fellow whom
he had not seen for many years, but who
had just written to say that he would
come and give the pheasants benefit
on the first OF October, as he had done
twenty years before The major as
now learned from my host, was born
and had spent his early youth in this
neighborhood the two boys had gone to
Eaton together, ard had always kept up
friendly correspondence, though their
way in life had been so different that
they had not met for twenty years.
On the last day of the month just as
ewere sitting down to breakfast, the
Squire evidently little disappointed at
not finding letter in the post bag from
the major, to our great surprise, the old
soldier walked in. He had come down
from London the day before, slept at the
In, Nf l,a orlra a. t,Nt IF
land, where the coach stopped in the
evening, had risen betimes, and now
walked over to his old friends house.
After the first hearty salutations had
passed between the two friends, and
sundry rough and schoolboyish jokes on
the alteration that time had wrought in
their personal appearance had been ex-
changed, it was decided that when break
fast was over, the rest of this day should
be spent in accommodating certain favor
ite old haunts of their youth, and in
paying visits to some halfdozen aged
laborers and fishermen, whom,the ma
jor's kind heart had not suffered him to
forget. The next day was to be dedica-
ted to the slaughter of partrdges and
pheasants. Well, there is no need to
dwell upon the unimportant events of
the day. We dispersed in small parties
according to our different tastes and in
clinations, and assembled again when
dinner-time approached. The evening
came, and the time had passed away
very quickly the old gray headed clergy
man, believe it was, reminded the
company that it was drawing close up
on midnight. Knowing our hosts dis
like to late hours, we arose to take our
candles and depart
"And where am l to perch pn de-
manded the major, as we were shaking
hands and bidding each other good
night.
90, you are to go to your o5Un room !;
you recolect it, don't you, Charles L
fancied you, would like it best.''
"To be sure do--recollect it, indeed !
I'm not likely to forget your almost
blowing me up with gunpowder, one
New Years night, in that room-singed
half the hair off my head 'Tis Won
der that recovered my beauty as 1 did.
Yes, remember it; the third door on
the right-hand side, opposite-ah, by the
by, who sleeps there The old house
keeper, in your good fathers time, used
to try to frighten us boys about that
room she declared that nobody"
Foolish old woman ~ interrupted
our host, rather hastily; he was oblig-
ed to threaten her with instant dismiss
al if she spread such absurd reports
why, you would hardly believe it, but
assure you, at one time, my father could
scarcely get servant to stay in the
house--you know how superstitious
most of our rural population is; howev-
er, the thing is forgotten now."
was struck with the hurried manner
in which these words were uttered, and
and still more with the uneasiness which
the Squire betrayed when several of the
younger part of the company, whose
curiosity had naturally been aroused by
the foregoing conversation, began eager
ly asking questions as to what the house
keeper had related. 1t was in vain that
he tried to put an end to the conversa-
ton, or turn il Co some other subject
our curiosity was excited, and we were
not satisfied till we heard all the major
could tell us about the matter. 1t was
not much, certainly.
Mrs. Lofty-that was her name
used to tell us that nobody could sleeI