, 1886-10-05
TEE GROANING GHOST.

Some Ave and-thirty years ago, when
WAS a Young man. my fathers business
ex perienced a sudden and severe check
We were many in family and the ex-
penses OF education were heavy. 1t was
necessary to retrench. Ny fathers place
of business lay in the heart of the city.
We had to keep horses, IL only to take
myself and my father to and from the
city. The most important articles Ii our
scheme of retrenchment were our horses
and carriages. For all these reasons we
resolved to move eastward to within easy
reach of our place Of business. My
brother and myself were commissioned
to find a suitable house.
Time drew on and we were still unsuc-
cessful.
We passed from house agent to house
agent; we inserted advertisements; we
answered advertisements. But 10 no pur-
pose. In the autumn evenings my brother
and | 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 catas-
trop 10 II so large n family as ours found
itself homeless. But iate on Saturday
afternoon we were investigating a quar-
ter 10 which we had not hitherto pene-
trated, anil we came on the very timing.
A simultaneous exclamation burst from
10th OF us. The lou e stood at the cor
ner of a gu iet. ~sooer-looking, very old
fashioned square. Being the corner
house, IL was larger than the otner
houses. We had gained some ex-
per.ence by this time. and we saw
at a glance that the place was almost
certain to suit US.
A kfII In -. ~ tho nrp,arn,,o xrfpdnra
announced that the house was to let:
Apply next door" We applied. Tine
door was opened by a tidy, gray-haired
elderly woman.
Can W. LOOK over the house next door,"
l said. A rather queer look crossed the
woman's face for u moment but she al
swered ciyilly;
Certainly. air. But 1t Is rather dark
now"
$50 1t H." said L ave may come in
daylight II the pace is likely TO suit US.
Can you tell Us the parL.cularsf" The
woman u rated tue rooms and tho
various features OF the mansion. All were
most suitable.
And the rent" l Inquired, ~nerving my
self Tor u d appointment. she named 80
low a figure tuut l uttered an involuntary
exclamation.
-fou see we've had 1t on our hands for
some time, she explained, and We would
offer easy terms 10 u good tenant"
And when can we look over III" /
asked. as II your own properly
mo, sir. But we have uhe letting of IL.
My husband would show YOU over to-
morrow. sir. il you didn't mind. He Ia
always away all day -and untii very late
at nignt."
as he a house agent"
"No, sir. He's employed behind the
scenes at one of the theatres. He is a
master carpenter" We hankeI her,
made an sppoi ltment for Sunday morn
ing, and went home delixnteL /. As we
turned out Of the square, | sad:
Did you notice now odd that woman
looked when | spoae to nerY WHAT did
that look meani'
Surprise" said my brother. who was
an Obsvryant fellow.
Il suppose she thought we were too
great swells Tor the nei snborhooI," sail 1
laughing.
"Gadl | Ike the look of the place.
Quiet, respectable and Odd fas hioned."
We our success at home, to
the great re ief OF everybody. Next
morning we kept our appo.utiH, ant and
were received by the landlord himself.
He WAS a staid. Responsible looking man
OF some 90 years, AMI we were favoraUly
impressed with hlm. He ,ook us over
tue house, and answered our questions
freely and fully. Everything was salts
factory. l was %deiIgnteI. But my
brother. who was of a cautious tempera-
meni, kept Oh asking questions until | got
fairy angry. FIRST he got on 10 tho mat
Ter OF drains, and wien he had been re
duced to silence Oh this head, he was
most perrinacious on the subject OF damp.
AT last he suid.
"You don't ask a very high rent How's
thnts
"Why.' said the landlord deliberately,
and turning his cap In his hands, you
see tins neighborhood is out of fashion
now 1t Isn't what it once was. We've
had this house vacant for some time, and
we're anxious TO let 1t. You can see
there's nothing wrong about the place.
IL 1t were in the West End, you'd pay six
or seven times the rent" His explsna-
ton seemed perfectly straightforward,
and certainly the house bore the closest
scrutiny. Eventually we close the
bargain.
the e X day l was lunching at my
usual chop house along with two or three
acquaintance.
still house hunting Dentonf' said one
OF these.
mo. thank heaven, l said. "We've got
a house at last. ln-Square.p
square" echoed lac thoughtfully.
@Why, Square is the - Winch
number have you gotin
Number as" l said. He threw his
head back and burst into a tit OF laughter.
Tn other men laughed too. l looked
from one tc the other for explanation.
when you've DONE" said / with
dignity.
Way, don't you know" said my friend,
recovering his gravity. Number As -
Square, Is hauntedy" / saw the other
men looking at me, SO I put on a bold
front
AS IL every one didn't know that" said
/ composedly. He was somewhat taken
aDacK, but returned to the charge.
"Nell. you'll have p enty OF company
Their he said. ave snail have you APP
] e. ring in the city with n fac neal OF
snow-wnite hair, acquired in a single
night Poor old boylp
4Don't you b. afraid, retorted. eTTinere
are enough of us 10 brighten any ghost.
We shall crowd him OUT
81 bet you a new hat Sou don't stop
there "A week. said he.
Done with yosa, Said l promptly. AS
often as you like. Any one else want to
betls
. one volunteered, and the subject
I'd. Bot | was extremely uncom-
In the uOur-e of the afternoon
no her aside and told him.
1 he. That explaines the
It's rather serious. The
and anything OF the sort
Gus he IS"
aid. And 1t strikes