Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-12-17

the house bvre the closest scrutiny
Eventually, we closed the bargain
The next day, / was lunching a
my usual chOp-house, along Will
two or three acquaintance.
"Still house-hunting, Denton 2
said one of these.
"No, thank heaven, l said
"We've got a house at last. In -
Square"
"--Square, ECHOED he thought
fully. "Why, - Square is the
Which number have you got 2
"Number 49," | said.
He threw his head back and
burst into a fit of laughter. The
other men laughed, too. | looked
from one to the other for an expla
nation.
"%hen you've dOne,' said !, with
dignity.
"Why, dOn'tyou know r said my
friend, recovering his gravity
"Number - - Square Is haunt
ed"
| saw the other men looking at
me, so put on bold front.
GAS if everyone didn't know
that" said /, composedly.
He was somewhat taken aback,
but returned to the charge.
"Well, you'll have plenty Of com.
pany there he said. ave shall
have you appearing in the city
with fine head of snOw.white hair,
acquired in a single night. Poor
old boyw
"Don't you be sfraid,' l retort-
ed. "There are enough of us to
brighten any ghost. We shall
crowd him out"
~ bet you new hat you don't
stop there a week." said he.
"Done with you" said l, prompt
| ly. GAS often as you like. Any
one else want to bet y
No one volunteered, and the sub
ject dropped. But l was extreme
| ly uncomfortable. In the course
Of the afternoon l took my brother
aside and told him.
"Phewp p said he. "That eI-
plains the low rent. But it's rather
serious. The governor can't stand
anything of the sort. You know
how nervous he is"
eyes; l know said. "And 1t
strikes me that the best thing we
can 90 is to move into the house
ourselves, so that we can tell him
the story is a myth, if anyone lets
it out to HIM. Just you and l."
Fright said he. eve have
taken the house, and we can't
afford to lose the money. Besides,
it's such capital place."
The whole family were to move
in about three weeks time. We
had no difficulty in finding a pre-
text for preceding them, and it was
arranged that some of the bed
room furniture should be immedi.
ately sent in to our new domicile.
We were going to sell most Of our
furniture in our West End house,
and the new furniture could be
bought Immediately and placed in
Number 10.
So, at about ten o'clock one eve
ming, after substantial dinner in
town, we let ourselves into our new
abode by means of the key, and
took possession. A bright fire, lit
by our Iandlady, was blazing in the
kitchen. We had plentiful sup
ply of whiskey and tobacco, and
we made ourselves comfortable
with our slippers and louDging |
coats, prepared for night of it.
"Uncommonly comfortable said
my brother, approvingly. "Gad,
the old lady knows how to make a
fire."
"And what a CRATE And a
chimney as big as a blast furnace.
There is nothing like one of these
DId.fashioned kitchens for COM
Fort.7
Ensconced in our chimney cor
hers, we passed the time luxurious
Y enough. We had made up our
minds to sit up all night and show
he ghost what manner of men he
lad to deal with.
,"We'll take the ghost by the
lorns," said my brother. 81 only
lope we shan't have to take the
Ievil by his.'
1 was not quite so complacent,
or inherited something OF my
ather's nervous temperament
However, / had company, and there I
vas Dutch courage in the whlSkey
'Ottle, so | kept up a stout heart.
We we're very cheerful and light
earted at first. We talked over
srious boyish escapades; we &
riticised the characters of our |
rienGs and relations; we got the {
dgets; we found we could not {
mOke forever without burning our
louths. Finally, the fumes of q
-hiskey aud the heat of the fire I
ad their inevitable effect, and we a
egsn to doze. I
/ do not know how long had I
cen asleep, but suddenly awoke
it'll 4 violent start. A cold shud.
er ran through me from head to 7
,ot had an indohnahla Samoa. I