The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-02-10
[From Chambers Journal
THE MYSTERIOUS HOUSE.
In Three ChapterS.
In Three Chapt
CHAPTER II.


My first quest next morning on
leaving the apartment where | had
slept, was for the purpose of ascer-
tanning whether my bedroom had been
again entered after / had left 1t on
the previous evening | unlocked the
door, and cautiously looked in.
Enough light came through between
the draw curtains to show me that the
room was apparently as I left it. I
advanced to the window and found
the thread there, unbroken, and evi-
IDENTIFY untouched. | must confess |
felt somewhat disappointed. My fears
had probably exaggerated my concep-
tions Of the danger, and | had antici-
pated a second visit as more than prob
able. After thinking, however, |
came to the conclusion that it was
better as it was. Had my strange WIS.,
itor for any purpose entered my room
second time and found that [ had
Quilted it, the effect might have been
the reverse Of favorable to discovery
of the trickery, which discovery could
best be forwarded by my making as.
little change in my usual habits as
possible. It was not improbable, see
ing that no suspicion had been aroused
by the knowledge that [ had changed
my sleeping apartment, that the
"ghost" might be emboldened to pay
me visit on the following night; and
by that time | hoped to be able to ar
range for the interception of my
strange visitor, and the detection of
the trick.
In the course of the morning | had
made up my mind how | would pro-
ceed. Mrs. Weevil generally left after
breakfast on her errands to the neigh
boring village or elsewhere, not gen
orally returning for few hours; and
| thought this a good time to obtain
an interview with Andrew the old
gardener, who, | saw, was engaged
trimming the walks in front of the
door. / had no doubt now that what
[ had seen had been also appearing to
the servants who had so suddenly de-
parted ON the previous evening; and |
had no doubt also that Andrew knew
the whole story about the ghost hav-
ing been again seen IN the house. |
opened the parlor window, and spoke
with him over the balcony. "Will
You come upstairs. Andrew? Ishould
like to speak to you"
He stood for a moment in hesita-
tion, scratching his head. think he
would have preferred anything to en-
tering my house at that moment; but
evidently he did not see his way to re-
fusing. A few moments later, he was
in the drawing-room.
ANDREW | began, with some in
tentional solemnity of manner. you
see the position | am in" His ex-
preston indicated that he considered
the position an exceedingly unpleasant
one. 1.-THE story has got about" I
went on, ''that this house is haunted. :"
He turned pale. You think it is
haunted?" I asked, looking at him fix
edly.
He hesitated for a few moments,
shook his head slowly, and succeeded
finally in saying: "W'at is folks to
think, ma am?'
81 acknowledge | answered, that
the thing has queer look When
people appear. and vanish as suddenly
as they came, it is difficult to think Of
them as creatures of flesh and blood
ike ourselves.
""Tain't possible-like,'' was An
drew's comment: and | observed that
with the words, his face took more
healthy hue. The quiet tone | had
assumed reassured him. Ghosts, when
they can be reasoned about, lose half
their terrors.
No" l answered him; ''it is not
possible But, Andrew, if we look at
these things from another point OF
view -"
''Be there another?" he eagerly ask
ed, as | paused to allow him time fo,