The Sunday herald., 1886-08-15
The GROANING GHOST.

some nve-ant thirty years ago, when
was young man, my fathers business ex-
psrienced sudden and severe check. We
we're many in family and the expenses Of
education wers heavy. II was necessary to
rctr.ncil. My fathsr's place of business lay
in the heart of ths city. We had TO keep
horses, If only to take myself and my father
to aud from the city. The most important
articles in Our scheme Of retrenchmsnt were
our horses and carriages. For all these .ea-
sons we resolved to move eastward to within
easy reach of our place Of business. My
brother and mysslf were commissioned to
find suitable house.
Time drew on aud we were still unsuc-
csssful.
We passed from house agent to houss
agent; we inserted advertisements; We an
swered advertisements. But to no purpose.
In the autumn evenings my brother aud
used to prowl about the streets and squares,
hoping to hit upon likely habitation. We
had given notice to quit our own house, and
matters we're getting pressing. It would be
q perfect catastrophe II SO large family as
ours found itself homeless. But late one
Saturday afternoon We were investigating a
quarter to which We had not hitherto pene.
tratsd, and We came ON the very thing. A
simultaneous exclamation burst from both
of us. The house stood at the corner of a
qniet, sOber-lOoking, very old fashioned
square. Being the corner house, 1t was
larger than the other houses. We had
gained some experience by this time, and
We saw at glancs that tho plsce was almost
certain to suit MS.
A bill in one of the numerous windows an
nounced that the house was TO let: "Apply
next door" We applied. The door was
opened by tidy, gray haired. elderly woman.
~. l1.R. al t,a,, A.,r
l said. A rather queer look crossed the
womans 8 face for moment, bat she answered
civilly:
"Csrtainly, sir. But 1t is rather dark
nOw."
$50 1t is" said I. "Ws may come 10 day
light II the place is likely 10 suit MS. Can
you tell us the particulars ?" The woman
enumerated the rooms and the various fsa-
lures of the mansion. All were most suit.
able.
"And the rent i'' inquired, nsfving my.
self for disappointment. She named sC
low . fgurs,t hat uttered an involuntary OK
clamation.
"Yon sse We vs had it on onr hands fol
some tune" she explained, "and WI would
offer easy tsrms TO q good tenant"
"And when can We look over II I" asked
"Is II yOnr own property ~
Ny husband would show you over tomorrow
sir, II You didn't mind. Hs is always away
all day, aud until very late at night"
"Is he house agent 2"
"NO, sir. He's employed behind thu
scenes at one Of the theatres. He ia master
carpenter" We thanked her, made an ap
pointmsnt for Sunday morning, and wen
home delighted. As We turned out OF the
square, l said:
..Dld You notice how odd that womsu \
looked when ! spoke to her What did ths
look mean"
"Sarpriss," said my brother, who was al
Observant fellow.
81 suppose she thought We were to-
great swslls for the nsighborhOod." said /
LAUGHING. =.
respectable, and old fashioned"
We announced our SUCCESS at home, to tn
great relief Of every body. Next morning W
kept our appointment aud we're received b.
the landlord himself. lie was 'staid, rs
sponsibls looking man of some sixty ysars
aud We were favOrably impressed with him
He took us over the house, and answered on
inquiries freely and fully. Everything wa
satisfactory. | was delighted. But M
brother, who was OF . cautious temperament
kept on asking questions until got fairl
angry. First hs got on TO the matter
draiLs, aud when hs had been reduced
silsncs ON this head, he was most pertina
cious ON the subject Of damp. At last Ia
said:
"You don't ask very high rent How
that 7"
"Why," said the landlord deliberately
and turning his cap in his hands, "yOu 30
this neighL0rhood is ont Of fashion now.
isn't what 1t once was. We've had th
house vacant for some time, and we're an,
ious to lot 1t. You can sss there's nOthin
wrong about the place. II II we're In th
West End, you'd pay six or seven times th
rent" His explanation seemed perfroll
straightforward, aud certainly the hOui
bore the closest scrutiny. Eventually v
closed the bargain.
The next day was lunohing At my usul
chop house along with two or three aoqusin
ances.
"stiil house hunting. Denton :" said OIL
of these.
"No, thank heaven" Ii said. "Ws'ys &,
. house at last. In - Square"
g. Square," echoed hs thoughtfuli,
"Why, = Square Ia the -. Whio
number have you gotf"
Number as" l said. He threw Ia
head back aud burst into 1T Of laughts
Tue other men laughed too. 1 looked fro
ous to the other for explanation.
"When you've done" said wit
dignity.
"Why, don't yoa know" said my frien'
recovering his gravity. 'Nambsr 45 -
square, Is haunted 7" | saw the other mt
looking At me, 80 put on bold front.
"As II every ons didn't know that" sa
oomposedly. He was somewhat TAKE
aback, but returned to the charge.
"Well, you'll have plenty of compsr
thers," he said. "Ws shall have you q
psaring In the city with fine head Of sno,
white hair, acquired in single night. Po
old boy