Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-10-28
landlords as reputable as he.'

| 40 HUI ulSpule tndC. aio"SiS'
"But are there other landlords whose
houses are as we'll kept and whose
terms are so moderate? This man
lives in graveyard, Edith, and he
knows there is a popular prejudice
against such habitation as his. He
realizes that his rooms must consequent.
ly bring low prices. am not afraid
of graves or ghosts, and | mean to prof
it by the unTcpularity Of his house."
care You quite sure you are not
afraid of ghosts?' she asked, with true
feminine persistency. ut is quite easy
in this cheerful room and In u house
filled with living people, to believe we
are without superstition. But will it
be so easy, Herbert, in an almost de-
serted dwelling that is apart from all
other human habitations, and that is
surrounded by graves? There are dis.
NAL stories told of that cemetery, and
of the spirits lowering about it. We
don't believe in them, we laugh at
them here. But will they appear 50
ridiculous to you when you are in that
dreary place? May they not occur to
you unpIeasantly when you are alone
some night, and have nothing to look
at but those melancholy graves::'
laughed at her questions.
81 am quite certain that | will not
be troubled by any fears or magma
tons,' told her. II mean to spend
my evenings III work and study, and
my lights in sleep. have no time to
think Of death, or Of anything else that
is gloomy and unwelcome. | shall
think Of liie-ot the life | am going to
live with vou--of the life that shall be
well worth the living
For a inc she said no more about
"Death's LODGE but | noticed that
she was nervous, and wanted me to
leave her at an early hour When |
asked her banteringIv if she was al
ready tired Of my society, She confess
ed that she dreaded having me enter
the cemetery after dark. There was
nothing heroic about my littIe girl.
Nothing less than Il miracle would
have induced her to enter the cemetery
ut night.
Occasionally she had entered it by
daylight, and had been interested in
one portion of 1t that was owned by he
llullandprs III our town. " hen they
buried child there they laid his toys
upon his grave, and 1t is supposed that
he occasionally left ms melancholy
resting place and came upon earth to
amusc himself with these playthlngs
that were placed like oii.rlngs before IL
Shrine. One or two OF the Dutch set
tiers had asserted positively that at
midnight, on moonlight nights. a group
Of little Holland ghos's vcntnrrd out
of Their graves and induIged in all sorts
OF pleasing paStimes. Ethel referred
to tins supersttuus belief rather III one
tacedly.
II don t suppose that YOU will ever
see a ghost, Herbert" she SAID; "but
You may imagine that YOU see one and
that Will be quite as bad, If You see a
white dog in the distance, YOU ma i'm
agine that it is some little lIolandri
sitting upon his grave and PLAYING at
mumbjety.peg.
She was smiling now, but could
see that her eyes looked troubled. !
fancled that she wished | was sateI y at
home.
Il will take myself off, | said, "al
though | can see no cause for haste.
When YOU want to brighten me away
YOU must produce ghost Of my own
size, for don't mvan to be terrified by
any nun Der Of little Hollanders nor
their game OF mnmblety-peg."
took her in my arms then, and
babe her good night.
Don find fault with my lodgings,
| told her. "They are going to help
us to procure a home, and atterward
we will be too happy to think of any
thing that is unwholcsomc and uncan
ny
Months rolled by, and took consid
cradle credit to mv?elf because | had
not been rendered uncomfortable BY my
dreary surroundings. My appetite was
eoool--to that the sections wife could
tcstity-I slept extremely well, and
later than had been my custom. The
intense morning quiet in the cemetery
was in such great contrast with the
noise on the street, that | found diff
Guilty IN getting awake in time for