The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-03-02

WHY ollOuluh Sou.
r 'Eh, Cornel, there's an awfu differ
ence. In the first place, ye tram
about the hail countryside, an
think naething of it; but a wal
tires me mair than a hunard miles
drise; and then ye're gentl mar
and do your ain pleasure; and your
no so auld as me; and it's for your al
BARN, ye see, cornell; and them
He believes in it, Cornell, and yo
dinna believe in it" the woman said
"Will you come with me?" [ said
turning. to her.
She jumped back, upsetting he
chair in her bewilderment. Me!
with a scream, and then fell into
sort Of hysterical laugh. Il wouldn
say but what | would go; but wha
would the folk say to hear of Corne
Mortimer with an auld silly woman
at his heels?"
The suggestion made me laugh too
though I had little inclination for it
I'm sorry you have so little spirit
Jarvis" | said. Il must find some
one else, | suppose"
Jarvis, touched by this, began tc
demonstrate, but | cut him short. My
butler was a soldier who had beer
with me in India, and was not sup
posed to fear anything-man or devil
certainly not the former; and felt
that | was losing time. The Jarvises
were too thankful to get rid of me-
They attended me to the door with
the most ANXIOUS courtesies. Outside
the two grooms stood close by, little
confused by my sudden exit. | don't
know, if perhaps they had been lis
tening-at least standing as near as
possible, to catch any scrap of the
conversation. [ waved my hand to
them as | went past, in answer to
their salutations, and it was very ap-
parent to me that they were also glad
to see me go.
And it will be thought very strange,
but it would be weak not to add, that
myself, though bent on the investi-
CATION / have spoken of, pledged to
Roland to carry it out, and feeling
that my boys health, perhaps his life,
depended on the result of my inquiry,
[ felt the most unaccountable reluct-
ance to pass these ruins on my way
home. My curiosity was intense; and
yet it was all my mind could do to
pull my body along. | dare say the
scientific people would describe it the
other way, and attribute my cowardice
to the state Of my stomach. | went
on; but if had followed my impulse
[ should not have gone on, [ should
have turned and bolted. Everything
in me seemed to cry out against it,;
my heart thumped, my pulses all be-
gan. like sledge-hammers, beating
against my ears and every sensitive
part. 1t was very dark, as | have said !;
the old house, with its shapeless tower,
loomed heavy mass through the
darkness, which was only not entirely
so solid as itself. On the other hand,
the great, dark cedars of which we
were so proud seemed to fill up the
night. My foot strayed out of the
path in my confusion and the gloom
together, and | brought myself up
with cry as | felt myself knock
against something solid. What was
it? Fhe contact with hard stone and
lime; and prickly bramble bushes,
restored me little to myself. "Oh,
it's only the old gable l said aloud,
with little laugh to reassure myself.
The rough feeling of the stones recon-
ciled me. As | groaped about this, |
shook off my visionary folly. What
so easily explained as that [ should
have strayed from the path in the
darkness? This brought me back to
common existence. As if | had been
shaken by wise hand out of all SILL
ness of superstition. How silly it was,
after all! What did it matter which
path took? [ laughed again, this
time with better heart-when sudden
ly, in moment, the blood was chilled
in my veins, shiver stole along my
faculties seemed to forsake me. Close
by me at my side, at my feet, there
was sigh. No, not groan, not a
moaning, not anything so tangible
perfectly soft, faint, inarticulate sigh.
[ sprang back and my heart stopped
beating. Mistaken no, mistake was
impossible. | heard it as clearly as |
hear myself speak; long, soft, weary
sigh, as if drawn to the utmost, and
emptying out load Of sadness that
filled the breast. To hear this in the
solitude, in the dark, in the night
Though it was still early), had an
effect which [ cannot describe. | feel
it now-something cold creeping over
me, up into my hair, and down to my
feet, which refused to move. | cried
out with trembling voice, "Who is
there?" as | had done before-but
there was no reply.
I got home | don't quite know how;
but in my mind there was no longer
any indifference as to the thing, what
ever it was, that haunted these ruins
My scepticism disappeared like mist
| was as firmly determined that there
was something as Roland was. | did
not for amoment pretend to myself that
it was possible could be deceived; there
were movements and noises which
understood all about, cracklings OF
small branches in the frost, and little
rolls Of gravel on the path, such as
have very eerie sound sometimes, anC
perplex you with wonder as to who has
done it, when there is no real mystery
but assure you all these little move
ments of nature don't affect you ONT
bit when there is something. | under
stood them. | did not understand th'
sigh. That was not simple nature
there was meaning in it-feeling, tn,
soul of a creature invisible. This i
the thing that human nature tremble
at-a creature invisible, yet with sen
sations, feelings, power somehow o
expressing itself. had not the sam
sense of unwillingness to turn N.
back uEon the scene of the myster,