The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-02-10
expression of opinion.

expression OF OPINION.
"Yes,'' I said; s'there is another
Before I believe in your interpreta-
tion, Andrew-before | believe it pos
sible that spirits can wander about the
world for no other reason than to
frighten people, | must test mine"
, His eyes, awakened to new interest.
were looking at mine inquiringly.
[ explained at once. what l mean
is this | suspect trick. Somebody
has spite against the owner Of this
somebody has an interest in
keeping it empty"
Andrew was naturally shrewd. AS
| spoke. there came into his face a
new look of keenness. He smiled
"There has been queer things done, "
he observed, with cautious impair
tiality.
you have been here some weeks, y
| said. "Have you heard anything
during that time about this house,
about the people who own it? am
told they lived here once"
Thus stimulated, Andrew told me
that the house and grounds had ORR
ginally belonged to Lord B, father
Of the present lord, whose park was
commanded by our front windows.
On the marriage of a favorite sister
with Mr., Roupel. man somewhat
beneath her in position, he gave her
the house. Here the married pair
lived, in much unbappiness it was
said; and here their only child, a
daughter, was born. After running
through his wife's money, the husband
died. When left alone, the widow,
and her now grown-up daughter, de-
termined to let her house, and live
abroad. The rent Of the furnished
house, withits excellent garden, would
bring them in an income sufficient to
enable them to live quietly in some
foreign town. But while this project
was being discussed, the widow died,
suddenly and mysteriously. An in
quest was held over her; for strange
suspicious were circulated abroad.
The verdict was, that she had died Of
the family complaint, heart-disease.
But there were those who still spoke
mysteriously about the circumstances
Of the death. and declared that the
poor lady had met with foul play.
Now, this was the germ of the
ghost-story; for it was said far and
near that Mrs. Roupel,. if she had re-
ally been murdered-and murdered by
her own child, as some dared to whis-
per-would never rest in her grave
And when singular appearances came
and went, and strange sounds were
heard In the house, now empty save
for an ancient housekeeper, the suspi-
cion, scarcely spoken Of at first above
the breath, so dark it was and mon
strous, was by-and-by openly discussed.
On this part Of the story old An
drew was very ready to dilate. He
warmed to the theme indeed. and
would willingly have given me, had |
desired it. full and particular account
Of the various people who from time
to time had been driven from the
premises. But ], holding still to my
point, that trick had to do with it.
restrained his flow Of language, and
endeavored, by close questioning, to
find out what he knew about the
daughter of Mrs. Roupel, who if his
story We're true, was the present OWL
er of the haunted house.
Ieicited the following facts. Miss
Roupel was nineteen years of age
about the period Of her mothers death.
She was then a young lady of high
spirit and cheerful temper; she was
accomplished. witty, and unusually
attractive in appearance. Thus, in
spite Of the drawbacks entailed by
poverty, and sad, melancholy mother,
the young lady, was not without suit
ors. The suit Of one Of these was,
according to her mother and herself
they remembered their old antecedents
and were proud-little short of an i'm
pertinence; for the man was neither
more nor less than Lord b. house
steward The old housekeeper, to
whom, before he bestowed the house
upon his sister, the old lord had ap-
portioned two rooms. was Mrs. Wee
vii, the stewards mother
It was natural that Miss Roupel.
niece Of his former employer, should
reject his suit with disdain. 1t was
perhaps no less natural that the re-
lection, i'm mbittered by contempt. should
sink deeply into the stewards soul
The fact was that from the day when
ne was forbidden the house where his
mother lived, the young man changed.
People spoke Of his black looks, of his
hard ways, of his cruel, cynical speech
es, and some predicted bad end for
him.
Meanwhile, Miss Roupel, now left