The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-07-12
BREAKING THE SPELL.

How many acres of land did you
say?" 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 better property"
''And large house, you tell me-"
''Thirty-six rooms, Miss CaxtOn. In
tended for summer hotel, but proved
a 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.
mot the least in the worldI" 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"
''Pll go out and look at it, " said Miss
Caxton, who, if she was anything, was
prompt.
She did so. She saw Olney Hall out
lined against the orange glow of
March sunset, with the ruddy reflec-
tions yet lingering on the frozen river,
the woods rising up in the background
and the blue range of hills in the dis
tance.
Its nice place. said she. "rll
buy it. At the price, it is certainly
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 a few questions of the rosy land
lady.
.'Going to buy Olney Hall?'' said the
lady, as she brought in hot buttered
mullins. ''Well, I'm glad somebody's
going to buy it. It's been 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 napkin-cOvered tray.
Since when?" Miss Caxton asked
with alertness.
'.Since the neighbors got up that
ridiculous ghost-story about it." said
Mrs. Hutchings with a forced laugh.
.'Of course it's all nonsense, but people
will talk"
What was the story asked Miss
Caxton.
s'Oh, nothing to signify. Hutchings
wouldn't have no patience with me ii
he knowed / had spoken of it, pleaded
the woman.
.'Since you've said so much, ysu may
as well say the whole" observed Miss
Caxton, fixing on the shrinking land
lady that judicial gaze which had ap-
palled many of 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 horse, jest in front of the door,
with her head agin the stone step, and
never drawed two breaths afterward. "
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 a young man IN
the neighborhood," said Mrs. Hutch
ings. He locked her upstairs in he1
room, and she got out upon the ROOF
| and throwed herself down. Some says
so, and some says she lost her balance
| wavin' her pocket-handk' 'chif to hel
beau, and fell accidental Leastwise
| she was killed. And since that day,
Sossse of the neighbOrs declare solemn
| iy that they see her, all in white, on
| the E,oof every Ash Wednesday nightn
| Ash wednesday night! What has
Ash Wedne sday night to do with it?"
..Oh, didn't tell you? Everyone o
these dreadful things happened, takin
! one year with another, ON Ask Wed.
nesday. That's the queer part of it,
| said Mrs. Hutchings.
Miss Caxton set down her cup anC
SANGER with clatter.
That accounts, in some degree, fol
| the extraordinary cheapness of the pro
perty," said she. But shall not lei
| it daunt me. People will build up
| ghost-story on the most absurdly insult
| ficieut foundations, nowadays"
"Just what Hutchings says crieo
the landlady.
| Miss Caxton bought Olney Hall-a
a bargain. She fitted it up for a first
class Young ladies' seminary, and haI
| IL ulltu Win PuPilo "hOh AAAS
vacation drew to an end.
For Miss CaxtOn was an excellen
teacher, and did not lack in executive
ability.
| Undoubtedly, as she told herself, th'
ghost rumor detracted. from the desira
bility of the premises; but one or tw'
hints from specialized lawyer as t,
suits for damages, in case of too muci
neighborhood lOquacity, exercised
truly marvellous influence in silencln:
peoples tongues. and the ''sweet girl
graduates" and their mates disporte'
themselves on the moonlit lawns, floate'
down the sunlit stream in deli cious LII
tie boats, and organized botanical es
cursions into the woods, undisturbet
by any visions of the supernatural.
.'Olney Hall was bargain after all,
said Miss Caxton, as she turned owe
the leaves of her account-book an
ledger with satisfied smile.
But as the season approached where
in the ghost was said to make its an
nual unlimited visit, Miss Caxton coul
not repress certain uneasiness.
1T is very ridiculous OF me" sh
said to Mrs. Bibb, her housekeeper an
lconfidante, "but shall certainly tee
better when the month Of February
!wen oyeE."