The Cecil Whig., 1881-11-19

to bed. mean threw back the covers
and began to undress; then | thought o.
the stories about the house
! What stories, Rosie %
Not exactly stories, but hints. innu-
endoes. mysteries, you know; so | was
determined, whatever happened. not to
be surprised. | was perfectly cool, wasn't
| ,"
Very cool-very''
SO lighted all the lamps, drew the
couch into the middle of the big sitting
room, and there | was, bolt upright, all
night long
"Well?"
"Well, Ned, heard noises as of mov-
ing about up stairs. But that might
have been the servant l own that; for
l asked her if she rested well, and she
answered. No, num- not very well.
However, fell back on my dignity, and
said the house was very nice, and one
ought to rest well. Then | tumbled my
bed, SO she couldn't see it hadn't been
used; and-and the next night l went
through the same agony
"What agony. dear9'
"Why, net knowing if the stirring
about was the servant or ghosts
why didn't you go up stairs and
see -
"Now, Ned. do be reasonable. How
could | 60 up stairs? | could hardly
keep from screaming out. and sat there
watching, all in a heap, at the end of the
couch"
"You were dreadfully nervous, my
little wife,
"No, indeed responded Rosie. in an
aggrieved tone; "don't say that. Ned"
"Well, well, how about the third
night" >"
just the same But in the morning
the servant said, quite impudently. The
'ouse isn't fit ter live in. mum. as l sup
poses you know ] didn't show bit of
weakness, Ned, nor did I ask questions.
but, of course. | knew why she went"
why was it -
Ned, the house is haunted.' and
Rosie really affected me so with the
white terror of her face that l felt awe
struck for moment. But | said, with
light sarcasm:
Nh oil rirhf pnein.
" brought the good-natured Irish girl
from the city, and before daylight she
stole off. Then the black woman STAYED
TWO nights, and informed me: Tell yer
what, missy, yer won't get no servant
ter stay III this yere house. They Sc
roun' heah nights, they is, an up an
down an in an out fit ter make body
crazy l was trembling. Ned, but very
bravely told her not to talk nonsense.
She went off. and posted to town and
to the intelligence office again. The man
there was polite, but firmly said, Mad
am, / M sorry to say so to any lady, but
there's objections to your house. We
can't furnish you any more servants.
Then, dear, gave up. came home and
waited for you. The woman who used
to be here refused to stay with me. Got
enough o bein' Worried ter death all
night long she said So I've sat on the
couch in the middle of that big room.
with my feet drawn up, and looking be-
hind me. and then up at that gallery
just the place for something dreadful to
then half falling asleep, and
waking with the fear of something CAST
ly at my side, and-and, oh, Ned. it's
horrible-horrible." The poor child shiv-
cred and hid her face.
"1es, dear, but what did you see or
hearo'
"See or hear? Why, nothing yet; but
there must be something. Ned. You
ought to be convinced of that when three
in succession leave the house."
answered Rosie. almost reproachfully.
Still, my darling, You heard moth
ing
"Ah. that's because wasn't off my
guard il minute. You know 4 haunted
house is most dreadful when people are
asleep. Things wake 'cm up. and noises
come, and strange faces, and oh, Ned
cries Rosie. I'm so worn out -
From sheer exhaustion she half tainted
away. and carried her-such limp lit
tie white bunGle.-up to the couch in the !
middle Of the big picturesque sitting
room, which looked quaint and home
like and beautiful, with the morning sun
streaming through the stained glass win
lows.
The ease did seem peculiar. Here was |
, charming house, rented for about one
tenth of what was fair for it. Could |
here be something wrong? | deter
mined to find out. Not nook or corner |
lid have unvisited, not panel of the
inc old stained wood walls but sounded |
carefully. What the mystery was |
couldn't guess; so unpacked my pistols,
aud resolved that night should unravel |
t. |
With the afternoon came our guest, |
Professor Carter. frankly told him the
state of affairs: and Rosie, from her sofa, |
gave him her own graphic version.
"Rats, was his first suggestion.
"Oh, no, for Rosie has heard no noise |
since the servants left"
"Well," said Carter, in his slow way.
there is probably some scientific solu-
ion of the mystery
Rosie shook her head, unconvinced, |
ind as twilight came on, hardly consent
I'd that Carter and | should leave her |
while we foraged for dinner in the kitchen
md searched the house thoroughly. AS |
the evening wore on she grew feverish
md really ill. tried to make her go to
bed: but no, she dreaded to be near that |
lark paneled WALL Something might
open, and something might come out
She was in no state for an argument, and
,lung to me. and begged me to sit by |
her.
Carter wished to go to his room, and
chose to occupy the one that the success
sive servants had found so terrible
I offered him a pistol. but he refused |
it, and remarked, with his queer, unfath-
1mable smile, as he rubbed that long,
strong upper lip that speaks the indomi-
table man: "My dear boy, if there are
ghosts, they're intangible-can't be shot.
Yet, if they don't strike me dumb with