, 1883-07-05
THE HAUNIEH WE'LL.

L am an old farmer, living in the oid
est house in Oldtown. The trees q bon
the place are the trees OF the prim sava
forest. L have plenty of farming lanj
beyond their delightful shade, and tl.
only thing new upon the place Is ny
well. We have al ancient well with sh,
old-fashioned sweep, but no one c, -el
tastes the water there, though it is n
cold and clear as crystal.
[ suppose the place is worth q gre 4.
deal. 1t was valued 900 when ]
bought it years ago. The house is
handsome mansion the sort of O pIac,
a gentleman retiring from business
usually buys to end his days in, and city
people came to see it and the grounds,
and seemed to be delighted. Nov.
when l tell you that I came into Old
town with exactly Gl2O pounds IN nv
pocket, and that had no idea what !
should do when that was spent, you will
feel surprised that, SIX months after,
owned this place. But I'll tell you al
about it. 1t was what folks call a
haunted place, and for ten years it had
stood vacant. People tried to live there,
but were always frightened away. II
it had only been the house, that could
have been torn down /; but nobody would.
even farm the land on shares.
Twelve years before this, the proprie-
tor had been jealous old gentlersis.
who had young wife whom he woul;
never permit out of his sight, if Ae.Gs,llisl
avoid it.
However, she was as sly us he wa
watchful, and she managed to flirt suf-
ticlently to make herself talked about.
Being very pretty, she set one or two
silly young fellows wild about her, and
one used to follow her around, making
great eyes and signing desperately like
a lover in a play.
The postmistress said that he -yrose to
her, and suppose he did. And at last
the news spread through the place that
she had run away with him.
He was gone, and she was gone; ard
the old man came one morning 10 Law
yer Tartlvy, and sold his property at
great loss to man who had wanted il
for years-a rich man, who liked to h;,v
it said that he owned the finest place !,
Oltltown.
1t was plain that the poor old &C nile
man did not care what became Of Inn,
and when he had got the mo ,ev II,
wandered away, and was ne yer se,a
again.
The new proprietor moved up to III.
great house in state, but 6ovp g.,
whole family-servants and all-re.
med TO their old quartz, s.
What they had seen, OF whattbev In,
not seen. it wGs hard to tell, but ih.,
were all nearly frighten ed to dealt. r.
doctor was sent for 70 the ladies an,
they spoke OF the aost awful an:,.,r,
tions.
After this the hee i of the family an,
the constable spe' It a day end \ nj n
there. They lie Il their tongues. iii
those who saw TT "'.: .irst knew tha. lie
Aad lsean Sc. . -.u-F. and t., "a
''t the piac. / ...,.... ..,..r.,,.s nj ono.
Lawyer Ian' ivy privately told people
eiiat only ,oward would have been
n'elied ny rats in an old wall, and he
sou II 10 a c ity man. Much the same
'ihih5 h"pp' 'ned but this time the house
was no' so ID again. The city man went
elsewhere and tried in vain to get rid OF
MS oarga N. 1t was let for the summe,
once oW the people did not STAY a week
Ai'er d while nobody would farm the
ground. -'-- - 'N'
SOM said they saw woman with her
throat cut. Some that they saw a man
" WIN = wound in his breast. Some both
voice 5 Were ieard hands were felt. and
mere when came to the place the old
n"us stood, with moths ana spiders for
Its olly tenants.
L went up and looked at it, and then I
'"ih ed to Jane She had not a hit of
Sup' 'rstltion in her, and she apraed to
Wha t 1 proposed.
went to oh Tantivy and offered him
- year f% a four years lease of the
P-'oe' The 9iOe 10 be paid in one lump.