Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-08-16

ness and seltshnosS- They shoveled
snow, when it came, took care OF tho
poultry-she encouraged them in their
ambition for prize chickens-and kept
in wood and water. There was not a
brighter little homo in tho village.
Cara had finished the rooms herself
with pretty artistic touches. On the
pale buff paper of the sitting room she
had painted. hero and there. bunch
of red Bergundy roses She had
gilded the cornices and hung before a
doorway crimson curtain. AS for
ghosts-when people queried her. she
simply answered: mo- l have not
seen any,"
But perhaps the air Of the noun
tain village did not agree with Cara
Clarke. for she grew pale. She was
always sweet, but sometimes she had
little wearied air. DIR. Leighton
asked her if she did not work too hard.
"lt is not that" she answered. He
wondered sometimes, with secret dis
quiet. if she had not somewhere a
sweetheart who did not write to her.
But Cara kept her own counsel.
The fall and winter wore away with.
out bringing any revelation to him of
what troubled her. Jack and Willie,
the boys. were jubilant over the pros
pect of a vegetable garden with peas.
potatoes and squashes of their own
raising. But their sister looked so ill
that the young physician felt called on
to expostulate.
Cara" he said. II want to speak
to you. You must have a change or
you will die"
20. no, i shall not" she replied.
incredulously.
your countenance gives token OF
unmistakable exhaustion. You are do
ing too much labor or you have some
trouble. Cara, why do you not con-
fide in me? Do you not believe am
your friendp"
"Oh. yes. It's nothing, only do
not sleep very well.'
why ?"
She made no reply, and seeing that
his insistance distressed her. he ceased
10 urge her confidence Mt that time,
though more certain than ever that she
had painful secret. He was satisfied
that she had no organic disease; and
her mind seemed to have no morbid
tendency. But the colorlcss cheek,
the hollow temples, the air of languor,
betrayed that something daily and
hourly sapped the young girls
strength.
One morning. Willie. the younger
boy, raped at his office door.
Something's the matter with sis
ter" he said. 1--WE can't wake her up.
Won't you come over?"
DIR. leighton found Cara in a stupor
and delir Gus. with every symptom of
brain fever. He lost no time in getting
assistance. Mrs. Hodgdon, the village
nurse, was at Cara's bedside when she
awoke.
DIR. Leighton had just left the room
and was in the next apartment. He
did not go in Immediately, though he
heard the girl talking
"Am so very sick?' she asked.
mo, dear. You was feverish and
your mind wandered little, and l
was out of place and told DR.. Leigh
ten l could stay with you day or two
as we'll as not for nv board. l hahn
forgotten the jackets as Willie out
grew that YOU sent to nv Bobbie; and
/ had feeling for n Young girl with no
mothers hand in the hour o. need"
oh, moaned the Young girl. "fm
not sick. I'm worn out Oh. this
dreadful house! | have not slept
soundly all winter
"Why. dearieP"
"Oh. Mrs. Hodgdon. there is some-
body in this house besides ourselves.
Besides me and the boys l mean.
Somebody creeps about and am al
ways listening for that STEP 1t is
killing mel Oh. don't tell any one! |
did not mean to tell you, but I'm so
weak. Don't. don t say word 70 DIR.
Leighton. / must bear it, because its
all the home we have. and the bows
never had such a pretty, nice home
before, and they are doing so we'll.
and are SO good. l was not afraid at
first am not afraid now, only for
them. There may be some evil about
though nothing has ever harmed us.
But as soon as l fall asleep l start up
and listen"
Cara was begging the old woman
not to betray her onlidence when
Dr. Leighton came into the room.
you shall tell me the whole story,
Cara he said You shall not lose
anything by it," he added.
But Cara broke out, crying, in her
weakness giving way to her emotions.
and for time the tumult would have
its way. She was brought to listen 10
reason ut last
ut was two months after we came
here" she said. that l first heard
those creeping. creeping steps. | tried
to think it was the trees, or the wind.
or the cat, but heard them when there
was no wind Mt all. and the cat was
asleep on the foot of my bed, and then
things were moved from their places
about the house. and lately have IN S.
ed food. That's since / would not al.
low myself to believe that spiri,
haunted the place. have searched
every spot and nook in this house.
There is only the space above the scut-
tie in the roof and there are nc
stairs"
"Oh. DR.. Leightonr' groaned Mrs
Hodgdon, Then of course. it.:
spirits"
'.Nonsense.
DIR. Leighton contented himself with
prescribing for the sick and over wear.
led girl. and after few days Of care
| arranoed n drive for her in hia new