Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-21
BREAKING THE SPELL.

BREAKING THE SPELL.
How many acres of land did you
say?n asked Miss Caxton.
..Five-and-forty, ma am" said Major
Bluff, leaning back in his chair with
the complacency of one who sees in the
future a snug commission. "Just on
the edge of the river-tine arabic land,
and part of it well wooded. Couldn't
be a better property"
''And large house, you tell me-"
''Thirty-siX rooms, Miss CaXton. In
tended for summer hotel, but proved
dead failure on account of being too
far from the railway station"
THAT would form no sort of obiec-
ton to me-" said Miss Caxton, twirling
her eyeglass meditatively.
Not the least in the worldr' said
Major Bluff, balancing the office-ruler
on the third finger of his left hand.
''And if you want to secure a bargain
now is your time"
III 90 out and look at it, said Miss
CaXton, who, if she was anything, was
prompt.
She did 50. She saw OIney Hall out
lined against the orange glow of a
March sunset. with the ruddy refec-
tions vet lingering on the frozen river,
the woods rising up in the background
and the blue range of hills in the dis
lance.
Its nice place. said She. III
buy it. At the price, it is certainly a
cheap piece Of property"
While she was waiting for her hot
cup of coffee. before the one-horse
chaise started to convey her to the
railway station, five miles away, she
asked Il few questions of the rosy land
lady.
''Going to buy Olney Hall?n said the
lady. as She brought in hot buttered
mullins well, I'm glad somebody's
going to buy it. It's been a drug on
the market ever since"
She checked herself here, and pre-
tended to be busy arranging the neat
little butter-pat and pitcher of cream
on the apkin-covered tray.
'.Sincc when?" Miss CaXton asked
with alertness.
Since the neighbors got up that
ridiculous ghost-story about it." said
Mrs. Hutchings with forced laugh.
'Of course it's al nonsense, but people
will talk
What was the story" asked Miss
Caxton.
''Oh. nothing to signify Hutchings
wouldn't have no patience with me If
he knowed had spoken of it, pleaded
the woman.
''Since you've said so much, you may
as well say the WHOLE observed Miss
Caxton, fixing on the shrinking land
lady that judicial gaze which had APP
palled many of a successive generation
of schoolgirls.
well, the Olneys was a dreadful
quarrelsome family" reluctantly spoke
Mrs. Hutchings. And something was
always wrong there. Old Jabez Olney
hung himself in the big circular hall,
with rope hitched over the banister-
rail; and Mrs. Peter Olney was flung
from a horse, jest in front of the door,
with her head agin the stone step, and
never drawed two breaths afterward.' y
THAT might happen to anybody"
said Miss Caxton, adding another lump
of sugar to her coffee.
''Oh. yes; that might. But there was
Alice Olneyr'
''What of Alice Olney?"
''She and her father had trouble
about the attentions of young man in
the neighborhood,n said Mrs. Hutch
ings. He locked her upstairs in her
room, and she got out upon the roof
and throwed herself down. Some SAYS
so, and some says she losther balance
wayin' her pocket-handk' chif to her
beau, and fell accidental. Leastwise,
she was killed. And since that day,
some of the neighbors declare solemn
ly that they see her, all in white, on
the roof every Ash Wednesday nightr
Ash Wednesday night! What has
Ash Wednesday night TO do with it?''
-'Oh, didn't | tell you? Everyone o
these dreadful things happened, takin'
one year with another, on Ask We'd
nesday. That's the queer part of it,
said Mrs. HutchingS
Miss CaXton set down her cup and
saucer with clatter.
THAT accounts, in some degree, fol-
the extraordinary cheapness of the pro-
perty," said she. But shall not let
ghost-story on the most absurdly insult.
ticient foundations, nowadays"
Just what Hutchings says" cried
the landlady.
Miss Caxton bought Olney Hall-at
bargain. She fitted it up for a first
class young ladies' seminary, and hat
it filled with pupils when the summer
vacation drew to an end.
For Miss Caxton was an excellenr
teacher, and did not lack in executive
ability.
Undoubtedly, as she told herself, the
ghost rumor detracted from the desira
bility of the premises; but one or two
hints from a specialized lawyer as tc
suits for damages, in case of too mucI
neighborhood loquacity, exercised +;
truly marvellous influence In silencins
peoples tongues, and the ..sweet girl
graduates" and their mates disportet
themselves nthemoonlit lawns. tloate(
down the sunlit stream in delicious lit
tie boats, and organized botanical ex
cursions into the woods. undisturbed
by any visions1of the supernatural
'.Olney Hall wasa bargain after all,
said Miss Caxton, -;is she turned Over
the leaves of her account-book anC
ledger with 4 satisfied smile.