The Cecil Whig., 1881-11-19


My darling,' | murmured, ian
villa or any hovel is happy. so you ar
there waiting for me-
"Ned. dear" (this very solemnly
don't think there's anything quee
abont the place. do you?'
"Queer9 Howe
"Why, the woman who has lived ther
and taken care of it acted strangely
was peering about, planning places 70
the furniture, and | caught her laughin:
mischievously behind my back. Sh
said, i hope yer won't be disappointed
in the villa So said, Why: Isn't i
wholesome? 'Oh. yes the woman an
swered: waters splendid, amt II,
shakes nearer nor ten miles; but there
other things here-things yer don't Sc,
in daytime; things that come round O
nights. I'm kinder used to EN-: but cit,
folks might git scared"
What folly. Rosie. The woman wa
spiteful at being dislodged-that's til,
secret
Il thought so directly" said Rosie
$50 | laughed and asked, Is the house
haunted:' 'Wa'al, yaas.' said she. il
air kinder haunted, as yer'Il find out
SO, Ned, | just informed her with proper
spirit. that it was very silly to be super
stitious.''
After dozen journeys to and fro, anC
the pleasant work of placing the new
furniture, and after rather too many
hours off from my duties down town,
the time arrived in carly May for our re,
moval to Happy Villa" Just that
very moving day, as bad luck would have
it, my firm had to send me off to Boston
to attend to a grave business matter
But Rosie declared that. with the re.
spectacle English woman whom. upon
high recommendations We had engaged
as general servant. she felt perfectly
brave in going without me. On the boat
at parting | whispered to my wife, who
was very much of child yet. to keep a
severe dignity with the new servant and
govern the house strictly.
After two days in Boston I heard from
Rosie. The letter ran in this wise:
my DARLING NED-I am getting
nicely settled. though | do long for you
to come. l find the English woman does
not like the place. remember all you
said about dignity. l don't laugh and
talk as | did with papa S Old servants at
home. Ned, | love you so-''
And then pages Of the dear nonsense
that is better than philosophy.
Rosie next letter ran:
My DEAR IIrsBAND-The English
woman left this morning You ought
TO have told me. mum, what the place
was like. mum, and not brought a re-
spectacle woman. mum, to such ouse,
mum. Those were her parting words.
Ned. and she grabbed up her satchel and
sailed ont Indignantly. I've been in the
town and brought hearty, pleasant, BIG
Irish girl. | didn't go to papa's. want
him to think my housekeeping is smooth
and perfect. Dear darling-'' And
the usual gush of affection.
Rosie's third letter troubled me. 1t
said
The Irish girl ran off before daylight
this morning. At the intelligence Office
l am informed servants often leave in
that uncivil way. I've brought home an
old colored aunty."
The fourth letter reported:
Cook says De wages is high missy
q forgot to tell you l had to offer eigh-
teen dollars month"; but | dunno as |
kin stan it.
For two days had no word from
Rosie, and so | telegraphed The an
swer came:
" Dinah gone. Am off to intelligence
office for another servant"
At night, thinking my wife would be
At home again. inquired "IIave you a
-
The answer was. II am all alone
I" Send for 4 neighbor." was my next
dispatch
lseless. Do come to me-" Rosie
telegraphed
left business matters all at loose ends
and caught the night train for New
York. The next day, as | remembered.
Professor Carter, my most valued friend,
was to be at Happy Villa as our first
visitor. Carter was scientist. man of
forty. very shy, reticent, careful of the
feelings Of others, given to prodding
about in muddy river banks after speci-
mems, and in short just the sort of fell
low that would not mind our domestic
plight: so let his invitation stand.
In the morning arrived duly at home.
There was nobody to be seen up stairs.
SO ran down the basement way to the
kitchen door. which stood open. Inside
was Rosie. She had some cooking uten-
81! in her hand. On seeing me, she let
fail with a clatter, shrieked wildly and
ran to my arms. When, after moment
H.,
instead of nay rosy, girlish wife, pale,
haggard little woman. with red eyes and
lips.
"Why, my darling" | exclaimed,
g what is the matter -
Rosie only clung to me and sobbed
h. Historically. AT last she managed to
Il was try-trying to get something to
eat. | couldn't eat all the we-week
long"
Not eaten. Why. my wife, what
has been the matter: There, there. I'm
with you now. Don't cry SO. Be calm.
and tell me-
Dear Ned" said Rosie, between
short, gasping sighs of nervous exhaus-
ton, "you see came here with the En-
glsh woman, and-and living at home
with the old servants at papa's wasn't
like being all alone. and-and, OH at the
first, when the woman who had charge
here looked so mysterious. | began to
believe there was something wrong about
the house"
Wrong" How
"Oh, Ned, I'm not superstitious, but
the place is haunted
Haunted: Pshaw."
Yes, yes. All the village people
that scrubbed here gave queer hints, as
if there was something uncanny; but
was determined to let them see that |
couldn't be scared. and | was an old
(Here I stopped the old
narrative with kiss.)