Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-04-12

Y seems to me" said I, "that we
ara eating more crackers than usual.
There are only two of us. -
ftsey shrugged her shoulders.
1.-Two must eat, said she, ''as well
as ro and twenty"
Aud she went back into the kitchen.
fHired helpl Sort o sot in he
waIs, said MIS-. Smith, ''ain't shel"
fshe is very good, faithful ser
want said ], referring to my list of ar
ticles needed.
''How dye like it here?' questioned
AbsIsil, as she measured out modlcum
of 4pdensed milk.
cry we'll" | responded, secretly
wondering how many times l had al
ready answered the question.
lHain't seen nothin' queer bout the
place, hev Yo9"
pueer3o repeated. ''what should
| sef1quecr"
AFkial Smith craued her neck to
look Beyond me into the long, vain
scoted entry.
Hired help cant hear me, can she1"
WHISPERED she, mysteriously.
W hat do you mcaa:n
oval, it was a ister-in law O. mine
lived here, ten year ago" said Abigail,
with the self-satisfed air of one who has
a tail,to unfold, 'as told me there was
strange sights and sounds. Hain't the
hired help said nothin' to you about itl"
"No."
''ltls just as well, mcbbc," said Abi-
gail, gathering up her reins and prepar-
ing to drive on.
l stopped her with an imperative ges-
ture.
''StSpl" said I. 81 insist upon an
explanation. There must be some mean
ing to your words. What is it2"
sold Miles Moneygale built the
house, SAID Abigail Smith. 'He and
his wie were dreadful queer folks. They
had a little niece lived with 'em as peo-
pie said had money of her own-a like
ly child with long yellow hair and the
prettiesl complexion you ever seen. One
night tlley found her dead at the foot of
the cellar steps. Miles Moneygale was
the helH and they sold the house and
moved lut west, and lived like rich peo-
pie artd that But folks allays calcer-
lata.l though, there want no
proof t11tfat there was foul play;
that Il / child never came to her end by
fair means. And every family that's
lived here sence, they've seen a little
child, where there want nothin' but
sea and sky. And they've been most
sure they heard child's voice cryin' out.
down cellar
] felt myself growing chill all over,
but somehow / contrived to utter the
word:
''Nonsensel"
"That's what l tell en-" said Abb
gail, the wife of Peter. GLOW could it
be2 But, all the same, that's one rea-
son it amt been easy to sell the place
wouldn't let the hired help know if l
was you. They're dreadful apt to be
superstitious, hired help is. Nothing
more today Wal, good-m rnin' !"
And shaking the reins above the
drowsy pony's back, she drove away,
leaving me standing there on the thresh-
old in sort of maze.
OF course it was nonsense-supersti-
tion-the outcome of foolish nursery
tales; but, for all that, it made me feel
However, in the intense morning sun
shine, ! manage to laughit away. When
the night came on, dark and loaded
with the ominous murmurings of a COM
ing storm, things assumed quite diff
fereht aspect.
was half sorry that | had bought
the cottage. | began to wonder whether
it would be possible to dispose of it
without any actual loss. And-this is
the strangest of alas sat there I
heard the unmistakable sound of a
child's half-smothered laugh.
Il will not endure this" l cried
starting with nervous energy to nv feet
"l'll go and sit with Betsey in the
kitchen first"
The door leading into the kitchen was
fastened, but the bolt was old and rust
ed, and gave way instantly before the
pressure of my hand.
found myself in the cheerful lighted
room, where Betsey Balmford sat at her
needle-work, with little, fair-haired
child playing with some scaIlop-shel,s
At her feet.
1 looked incredulously from one to the
other.
''Betsey," !" said I, "what is this1o
Betsey's work dropped to her feet;
me rose up as stiff as hop-pole.
''Ma'am, " said she, 81 knowed you'd
md 1t out, sooner or later, and mebbe
is jest as well sooner. l can't say I'm
'orry. fer it's nnthin, mora -4ha.,-...~
oounden duty I've been doing. But 1 We
elt dreadful guilty, with this baby in
he house, and me a-keepin' a secret from
Tou. And if you say go, why go it must
Del"
While she spoke, the fair-haired child
ooked smilingly up into my face.
sBetsey," said /, family, "who is