Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-08-18

DoS6ON A4o fdAOOu-uluu In nj
anything about it; it was self-eviden
fact.
The old fellow grinned. "Suppos.
you come in and have some breakfast
You haven't had any, I suppose ?"
l said had not"
Well, come in and have some"
After breakfast Mr.. Humphreys lee
the way into the library and motionei
me to take chair, while he explained
what my work was to be. He had beer
writing history, or text book, of ferns
he was an enthusiastic botanist-and
wanted it copied for the press. The
work OF rewriting the whole thing
legibly was more than he wished to I'm.
dertake, so he had advertised for an
amanuensis.
After this had been explained to me,
MIR. Humphreys started up. "Get 70 u
hat, Mr.. Wolcott. 7 want to show you
around"
ALI through the house and all over
the place he took me, and when he got
to the farther extremity of the grounds
he paused, and pointing to a huge
stone house beyond, said: "Pm trying
to buy that house; Pm very anxious to
get it, but my daughter objects"
/ asked him why she objected.
Well, you see it hasn't been occu-
pied lately, and she says it's gloomy;
says it's haunted, and she wouldn't like
to live in it."
"Miss Humphreys can't really believe
that to be true" I answered.
81 don't know whether she does or
not. She's away now, but she'll be
home tomorrow, and perhaps she'll be
more reasonable"
The next day Mabel arrived. She
met me politely, went through the in
production gracefully, and acted as if
she had never seen me before. There
was not the slightest half-glance of
recognition-she evidently intended to
consider me recent acquaintance.
With curious inconsistency could not
help being little disappointed, while
ct the same time l was immensely re-
heved. I don't know what I had ex-
pected-a start, a blush, just the shy,
pleased look of girl toward an old
friend not yet forgotten or was it
haughtiness, hardly yelled anger, dis
gust? Whatever I had expected, I got
nothing at all but pleasant, meaning
less words, great politeness, great civil
ity. l had nothing whatever to do
with, and could have no interest in, the
intimacy that formerly existed between
Mabel Humphreys and James W. VOL
colt; he was one man, and I was
another. And so the days went on,
and she was always friendly with her
fathers copyist.
Toward the end of July Ned Hum
phreys came home, and brought Mr..
Butter-Scotch Steele with him. Mr..
Steele's baptismal name was William,
but he had been rechristened by his
friends Butter-Scotch, on account of his
fondness for that particular kind of
candy.
Ned was quite boy, and a capital
fellow at that, and he and I soon became
firm friends but Butter-Scotch I
loathed. I really don't know why 1
loathed him SO much, unless because
there was a rumor afoat that Mabel
was making up her mind to renounce
the bangs and bangles of single life,
and henceforth stick to Butter-Scotch.
Of course this of itself was enough to
make me contemplate placing an ex-
traordinarily bent pin on his chair, or
converting his overcoat pocket into
repository for litter of baby kittens.
But Independently of this rumor, had
distinct and positive impression that I
loathed the man just as he was, whether
he ever succeeded in marrying Mabel
or not. OF course it was none of nv
business, but it did seem pity to stand
by and see her become the missing rib,
thereby completing the anatomy, Of
such molly-coddle.
One morning was standing on the
piazza finishing very nice cigar
Mr.. Humphreys had presented me with
the day before, with the remark that
he didn't mind man smoking once in
a while, if he smoked tobacco, but he
abominated cabbage when Mabel
came out.
"Mr. Wolcott," she said, "are you
going to be busy for few minutes p
" I think not" I replied. "Mr.
Humphreys doesn't want to begin for
half an hour yet"
"Then will you come to the croquet
ground and finish your cigar there p
Certainly" I answered; " with
pleasure"
Overto the croquet ground we strolled,
and Mabel sat down on one of the rustic
seats. Without preamble OF any kind,
she began:
i" I know you have friendly feeling
for us all, Mr.. Wolcott, and I want to
ask your opinion and advice"
| bowed, for she was unquestionably
right about my friendly feeling, but +
wondered what was coming.
She went on: '' What do you think of
Mr.. Steele?"
Well, that was poser What did
think of Butter-Scotch That he was a
fool, of course; but I reflected it wouldn't
do to tell her so, particularly if she was
going to- Oh, mol it wouldn't do at
all
"Why do you ask, Miss Humphreys %
IT will tell you frankly. There is a
very strong inclination on papa's part to
buy the stone house."
eyes, / know there is."
"And I don't want he to-"
May ask why not?"
"Because it's haunted"
81 don't see how that affects Mr..
Steele-he isn't haunted
Mabel laughed. i" I don't suppose he
is. But that isn't what I mean. I want
to know if he is courageous enough to
go there and see if it really is haunted. I"
"Oh, I guess he's pretty brave; he
says he is, and Mr.. Humphreys thinks
so too, believe"
Yes, papa is SO enthusiastic over
Mr.. Butt mean Mr.. Steele's kind
heart and religious feeling; he thinks
he must be good man, and not easily
frightened" She looked at me squarely.
"And / want to know if he's a man
fully to be trusted"
With untold wealth."
"No; to see a ghost"
"Ahl I see !"
ss ssYou'ra brave foo aran't Won mr.