Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-03-08
THE HAUNTED HOUSE.

'ODly one passenger Oy the evening
stage" said the landlady of the Travel
ers' Repose, as she turned away from
the window. where she had been watch
ing the cumbrous, old fashioned vehicle
that connected with the railroad ten
miles away.
Only one passenger-a tall, fresh
looking girl, with glossy masses of "a
ven black hair and eyes of liquid ha-
eel. Marian Couchly was pretty, in
the rare, blooming English style, which
is SO seldom met with more's the pity,
upon this western continent of ours,
as she entered the little inn parlOr
"Can you furnish me with convey
ance to Moreton Granger" she asked OF
the lapdlady, who hustled forward to
meet her.
"To-night Miss?"
"Yes, tonight"
"Then you must be the young lady
as is coming as companion to Mrs
Moreton?' asked the hostess, with q
spice of curiosity inherited from Mother
Eve.
II am" said Marian, as indepen-
IDENTIFY as if she was owning herself the
lady of the White House.
TITS a long drive, Miss" said Mrs
Ducey," land you'd, may be, better
take bit of supper while Toms har-
nessin' up the horses. This night air
amt good on an empty stomach, and
there's some of the incest brook trout
you ever see, my mans just brought
in"
So Marian sat down to walt; and
Mrs. Ducey eyed her in a sidewise
fashion. as she brought in blue edged
cups and saucers, and homespunl nap
kiDs and fresh butter and huge bar OF
honey comb dripping sweetness.
''She's a likely lookin' gall" thought
Mrs. Ducey and Mrs. Ducey was
right. Marian looked like queen as
she sat there in her sober black robes,
with a warm line of white about her
throat, aud the coronal of her jetty
locks wreathed about her marble fair
brow.
Marian Couchly was thinking too
She was wondering now this new ex-
pertinent of hers, to earn her own 1iv.
ing, would end. She was sick at heart
of the bread of dependence yet, just
now, she felt bewildered and strange,
like a child lost in the woods. The on
vertisement in the newspapers, and
that had led her thither.
She turned suddenly to Mrs. Ducey,
as that thrifty dame entered with a
plate.
els Moreton Grange very far away ?"
-Four miles, Miss"
ut must be very lonely"
'sMrs. Ducey shook her head. 49,
II wouldn't like to live there-that's
all I've got to say"
A thrill of apprehension ran through
Marian's nerves.
"Why not ?"
well, Miss, there amt no accountin'
for them things-but people do tell
strange things about the grange bein'
haunted"
''Haunted!" Marian's clear, belllike
laugh rang through the room with an
Understandable accent of relief. "What
nonsense as If any one in the posses
sion Of their senses could credit such an
idea"
'"Tea is ready. Miss" said the land
lady. primely. "WilI you please to sit
up and take cup ?"
The grange, as Marian Couchly saw
it by the light of faint spring moon,
was a glairing red brick house, its
northern gables entirely draped with
ivy, and its chimneys secluded from
sight of the road by dense-growing ev-
ergreens, cedar, hemlock and Norway
spruces.
Mrs. Moreton was on the steps to
greet the newcomer-a fair, pallid old
lady, with silvery curls and dress of
pearl gray silk.
u am glad to see you, my DEAR" she
said. pressing the cold little hand.
"1o GU must have had a dreary ride"
And Marion Couchly knew that she
should love her employer.
1t was all SO new and strange to her,
The wide halls, with narrow stripes of
Persian carpeting laid along the centre;
in the echoing corridors, where weird
faces stared down at her from the can
vass of old family portraits; the light
streaming down through stained glass
and criels, seeming to bar the |
doors with scarlet and gold and deep,
violet, while all the jewellers
in the roomy mansion. except the SER
wants, were Mrs. Moreton, her son AL |
debert and herself. 4
Aldebert MoretOn-the name was |
like knight of romance and so was it's
owner. Marian's heart throhbed with |
q singular sensation, as she ventured |
once or twice to look slyly at him, as
she sat opposite to him at the table.
II hope you like your room, Miss,n
said the old housekeeper, as she glanced |
around the apartment to which she had
conducted Miss Couchly.
1T is beautiful ROOM" said Ma
Ran. "but it Is large enough for half a
Dozen"
"The whole house is large. Miss" said
Mrs. Brett.
Tell me-" said Marian, drawing
closer to the old woman, "what is it
about this house being haunted.
Mrs. Brett smiled.
People will talk. Miss" she said
and it's small use trying to stop 'em.
And, the truth is, strange things have
in this house, although it's
'aunted by nothing worse than bad
memories. When I was in my prime