Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-12-17
1.-THE GRe.NING GHOST.
E ET ARTHUR READY.
lFron ths thoLOndOp:BeIgravia.l

uNlIR uO TUG tlulo III an OAPOhOi' "
lgapsrter of the West End. Gu
establishment was large, and W.
entertained literally. We were
many In family, and the expenses
Ilof education were heavy. 1t was
necessary to retrench.
My fathers place of business lay
in the heart of the city. The means
of communication in the metropolis
we're not so complete as they are
at the present day. Now, the ON
hibus service and the underground
railway put a man down almost in
his office armchair. But when we
lived in the West End we had to
keep horses, If only to take myself
and my father to and from the city.
The most important articles IN our
scheme of retrenehment were our
horses and carriages. For all these
reasons we resolved to move east
ward to within easy reach of our
place of business. My brother and
myself we're commissioned to find
suitable house.
We found the greatest difficulty
in sritiug ourselves. We were
thirteen in family, and we had all
to be at home. The children were
to be taken from school, and the
elder girls were to teach them
Consequently, we required a larger
number of bedrooms, and a house
of the description we wanted was
hard to find.
Time drew Oh, and we were still
unsuccessful. We passed from house
agent to house agent; we inserted
advertisements; we answered adj
vertisements. But to no purpose.
In the autumn evenings my brother
and 1 used to prowl about the
streets and squares, hoping to hit
upon a likely habitation. We had
given notice to quit our own house,
and matters were getting pressing.
1t would be a perfect catastrophe
if so large a family as ours found
itself homeless.
The DAYS began to grow short
the autumn was unusually cold
and bleak and our evening walks
became anything but pleasant. But
late on Saturday afternoon we were
investigating a quarter to which
we had not hitherto penetrated,
and we came on the very thing.
A simultaneous exclamation burst
from both of us. The house stood
at the corner Of a quiet, sOber-loOk-
ing, very old-fashioned square,
Beng the corner house, it was
larger than the other house. We
had gained some experience by this
time, and we saw at glance that
the place was almost certain to
suit us.
A bill in one of the numerous
windows announced that the house
was to let: "Apply next door," We
applied.
The door was opened by tidy,
gray-haired elderly woman.
"Can we look over the house next
door p ! said.
A rather queer look crossed the
woman's face for a moment, but
she answered civilly:
Certainly, sir. But it is rather
dark, now
$50 it isl said /. ave may
come in daylight, if the place is
likely to suit US. Can you tell us
the particulars :"
The woman enumerated the
rooms and the various features Of
the mansion. All were most suit
able.
"And the rent 7" l inquired,
nerying myself for a dissppoint-
ment.
She uamed so low a figure that l |
uttered an involuntary eIclama.
ton.
"You see, we've had it on our
hands for some time" she explain
ed, "and we would offer easy terms
to good tenant"
"And when car we look over itlr
/ asked. as it your own prop
ertyl"
"No, sir. But we have the let
ting Of it. Ny husband would
show you over, tomorrow, ii you
didh't mind. He is always away
alY day, aud until very late at
Ebt.D
'lS he a house agentT
tNO, sir He's employed be.
bind the scenes at one of the
iheaters. lie is a master carpen-
ier.n-
We thanked her, made All ap.
pointment for Sunday morning,
lldlwent home delighted. AS we
turned oRt of the square, said:
"Did you notice how odd that
woman looked when l spoke to
ler? What did that look mean ~
"Surprise,' said my brother, who I
vas an observant fellow.
81 suppose she thought we were
700 great swells for the neighbOr.
bod, said I, laughing. "Gad /
ike the, look OF the place. Quiet, :
respectable, and old-fashioned."
We announced our success at
ZONE, to the great reliet Of every
'ody: Next morning, we kept our .
appointment, and were received