The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-09-11
SELECT STORY.
A HAUNTED HOUSE.

live with me, and she did her best to
cheer me, but at times Cora was very
much out of sorts. She was delicate.
Accustomed to country air, London
disagreed with her the roses vanish
ed from her cheeks and her spirits often
enough were lower than mine She
put brave face ON matters,b but | could
see when her gayety was forced. Al
fred (Alfred was Cora's lover) was anx-
ious about her
They were to marry as soon as Al.
fred could see his way to a country
practice. could have helped him, but
Alfred was abominably independent l
could not see why they could not mar
ry in his present position. But | kept
my counsel. In Cora's present style of
health perhaps it was wisdom deferring
their union.
"Well, Selma, what is your idea ?"
Alfred asked, after l told him what DR..
Magnus had said.
1--WE must look out for house or
get you to do that for us
Then | have anticipated your
thoughts as well as old Magnus' fat
You've often romanced about living in
an Anticipated old place. Here we
are
Alfred read aloud the advertisement:
"An ancient stone residence near the
sea, to let for year or term of years.
Partly furnished; the owner abroad.
Rent secondary to suitable tenant.
Rails near. Orchard and paddock if
required. Apply to Mr.. Fortescue, Bar
ton-upon. Humber
"Rent secondary. that surely means
something would be given annually to
an approved tenant" romanced Al
fred.
"But we ought to see the place be-
fore we take it." said |. "How would
it be for you to run down and spy out
the land7'
The next morning Alfred sta.
and was back the following night.
He painted the house in roseate hues.
1t stood by itself, but was within a
measurable distance of the town. Fac
ing the Humber, the town of Hull
could be seen also village directly
opposite us. For company, there would
be the procession of sail on the estuary,
and the perpetual railway trains on the
other bank.
l won't call the agent Fortyscrew
again, said Alfred, with conjunction
"he is decent sort of man. He
seemed wishful TO meet me. He only
asked CPS rent &: when l asked him il
he did not think $40 would be suff
cient he closed at once. There is anoth
er thing, Selma. A cottage is near, ar
old woman lives in it, kind of care
taker. She proffered to help you ii
any way"
1t really was delightful. 1t nigh
be little rusty, but occupation woult
remedy that Staircase and corridor
were all wainscotted, some old portrait:
hanging on the walls. But in most o
the rooms the owners had so far ben
to modern ideas as to have them can
vassed and papered. 1t seemed ;
species of vandalism 10 me. Their
was one bedroom that had not beer
modernized, and without saying any
thing Just then l decided upon occupy
ing it. As l came out upon the stair
case l looked again at one of the old
portraits ; the face Rad peculiar at
traction for me. There was hardnes
in it, apeculia, CLEAN in the eyes
vindictive, suspicious, if not jealous
One hand grasped riding whip as i
with unnecessary tightness. The Oh
care-taker, noticed, seemed to edg
away from the portrait. Alfred ha
said that the old lady was agreeable
but we thought her extremely sef-cor
tanned she would give little NOR
than 'yes' or mo" to our question:
Maria, one of our maids whom we ha
brought down with US, declared tn
old woman boorish, but We read Mari
a lecture we told her we hoped sh
would not be disagreeable, for we wisf
ed to keep on good terms with our on
neighbor.
When we returned to the house
cent for a carpenter. We had brougt
I with us a couple of beds and other SUI
i dries. The II an had not been in th
house for ten minutes when Mari;
with white face, rushed in upon u
"lf you pleasem, the house is haun
ed ~
"Such nonsense cried !, exaspera
ed, "who has been telling you such
ridiculous tale?"
d The carpenter, ma'am, He ougf
to know
"He ought to know better than
frighten credulous girl, silly man.
Maria had barely gone, when th
old lady appeared.
"Are you going to sleep in the pal
. elled room, maam p
"Of course we are, it is by far II
pleasantest room in the house
Il wouldn't sleep in that room
ma am
"Why ?" l asked, little irritably.
Il wouldn't, ma'am.
That Is no answer. Do yon say
: is haunted T.
Q No, ma'am, but folks reckon there
s summuts."
Z "Summets," sneered |, ''why th
. corner of England is full of superst
% ton
n perhaps we had better choo
II another room," suggested Cora, wht
- the old lady was gone. I saw tn
Cora was nervous.
Pooh, are you frightened, Cora
You are as foolish as they Well, "
3 may sleep in Maria's room to-nigt
and l will sleep there alone"
mo, shall sleep where you slee
DEAR" said Cora, strenuously, forciI
herself to be courageous.
"To think that in this enlighten,
century there should be people VI
believe in ghosts = laughed in de
sion.
However, Maria was so frighten
by the foolish carpenters assertion, S
declared that she dare not sleep in al
A room in the house unless she had sor
- one for company. In the end We h
" to let her 60 the cottage, and bra
the night by ourselves.
A tarnished mirror over the frepla