The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-06-10
MRS. CROWLE'S GHOST.

NV sister Deborah had always had
.Ssncy for the house--a gable-roofed,
broad -porticoed old stone house, standing
hack from the house in the midst OF
square garden and fruit trees. And SO
when, in driving past one day, we saw the
notice "To Let" posted upon the rront
gate, we alighted and walked up to the
graveled pathway to make inquiries.
An old negro woman opened the door
and showed us into the parlor, men tne
lady Of the house soon appeared. She was
q tall, slender and rather handsome
woman, with bright, jet-black eyes anu
hair, and perfectly clear ana coioftess
complexion She explained that she was
the owner of the house, and hao iTeo mere
alone with one servant since her husDanus
death, about two years previous. Aue
house was too large for her use, ana sne
desired to let the main portion OF H. re-
tanning the wing Of three rooms 1or he1
use The arrangement and terms sultlnS
us. ne soon came to an agreement, and IN
less than two weeks thereafter, Deborah
and were quietly established in our new
abode, contented old maid and bachelor.
Deborah was ten years older than my
self, and had ever since my motherless III
fancy acted towards me a maternal part.
We were in what is called independent
circumstances. 7 had good business ID
the city, and, finding my comfort wei
cared for at home, had been very wen
4contented, and reached my fortieth year
without having thought much upon the
subject of changing my bachelor conai-
tion. Nor did such q thought seriously
present itself until may as well confess
it--until 7 had known our landlady, MIS-.
Arabella CroWle, long enough 10 come
under the influence of her fasclnatlons.
Under other circumstances, perhaps, it
might have been different, but being
lhrown so frequently into her presence
seeing her at first nearly every day, IN con-
necticn with certain proposed arrange,
ments and Improvements OF the place. anu
afterwards so often meeting her about tWl-
light accidently in the grounds, which ny
mutual agreement remained open 10 poth
lamilies-it was not strange, l thouent'
that we should have been unconsciously
drawn into closer mutual interest 1han
might have been the case under Ordinary
circumstances. She was not over ~ at
most was clever and agreeable, and hao
many little bewitching ways and express
ions. sometimes lively and sarcastic, some
&imes pathetic and tender, which eXer-
else over me peculiar fascination, almost
in spite of my own will. And so it came
to pass thee OTIS evening in the twilight,
after supper, with some embarrassment
yentured to broaeh to my sister the suo1ec6
of my marrying the Widow Crowle:
Deborah had never particularly fancled
her, and she now swept her pet tortoise
shell tabby cat out of her lap, and looked
at me aghast.
@Gracious goodness, Oliver! You don't
mean to say that you really-that she
that you are edgaged to marry that
Woman"
aNot exactly engaged; that is, have
never directly asked her to marry me, but
she knows-ahem. there Is what may De
called IN understanding between u.s..
Understanding" exclaimed Deborah,
Indignantly. TN my opinion you've no
understanding whatever in the matter.
You don't understand that she's an artfuL
designing woman, who has probably from
the very first been planning and mannuY-
ring to get you in her power. You don't
understand what her temper or dlp"si'lo91
or history may be. Now l nave neu,u III
things from the neighbors- -conceinaS O. -
-cshis winch I scarcely cared to repeat 10
>you, but which, under present clrcum-
stances, it is of course my bounden duty 10
infom you Of"
aIThat things?" I inquired, family.
ssFirst about her temper. She's terma.
giant! Look at her eyes! and if you could
hear her some days scolding that old black
syonan. you'd know her better. A nice
aenDecked husband you'd make! Why,
neic,hbors say tits more than suspected
that her husband committed suicide Dy
voluntarily taking the dose OF morphine OF
which he died-driven to it by the life she
led him And she's quarreled with all her
relations-which is the reason she happens
TO be living so solitary and alone"
Ipondered Deborah's words. l came
80 the conclusion that l had been hasty
and. imprudent, and had made narrow
escape. And thenceforth avoided Ara
bella Crowle.
But she didn't avoid me. Oh, no. On
the contrary, she sought me asslduous!y.
She met me around street corners; she
waylaid ne in the gerden-alleys; and I'm
ally she went to my office, and directing
the clerk 10 say that lady wished to see
me on business, followed him into my IN
ner Office room, and there majesttcally de-
nanded to know the meaning of my late
conduct.
What could Isay-or do? Only dell.
~,ately suggest that she had misunderstood
nv intentions. Only hint that though it
would delight me to remain her good and
devoted friend, yet that closer and more
intimate tie would scarcely contribute TO
the happiness of either; and that-but
here she interrupted me. .
"Do I understand" she said, looking
straight at me with her black and glitter
ing eyes, @that, in so many words, in short,
after all that has been said, after all our
plans and arrangements in regard to the
future, you now decline to keep. your
promise to marry me?"
"Pardon me; but there was no promise,
mo positive proposal, on my part. A little
dirtation such as ours"
And then she interrupted me again, and
.l.sIx