Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-05-23

AfAhAfeNANAf'N II T. ~ ILL
How many acres of land did You say ~
asked Miss Caxton.
"Fiye-end-forty, ma'am," said Major
Bluff leaning back IN his chair with the
oomolacenoy of one who sees ia the future
snug commission. "Just on the edge
of the river iue arabic land and part
of 1t well wooded. Couldn't be a better
property.
And a large house, you me-"
"Thirty.slx rooms, Ms, yaxton. In
tended for q summer hotel, but proved a
dead failure on account of being too far
from the railway station
"Thst would form NO sort of objection
20 me- said Miss Caxton twirliug her
eyeglasses meditauveiy.
Not the least in the world!' said
Major Bluff balancing the ofiice-ruer on
the third huger of his left hand. "And if
you want to secure bargain now is your
time
"I'll go out and look at it," said Miss
Caxton, who, if she was anything, was
prompt.
She did so. She saw Oluey Hall out.
lined against the orange glow OF March
sunset, with the rudy reflections yet
lingering on the frozen river, the woods
rising up in the background and the blue
range OF mills in the distance.
ITS nice place" said she. I'll buy
it. At the price, 1T 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 lanGiady.
"Going 10 buy Olney Hail" said the
lady, rs she brought in hot buttered muf
fms. "Well I'm glad somebody is going
to buy il. Its been drug on the mar
ket ever since"
She checked herself here and pretend
ed TO be busy arranging the neat little
butter pat and pitcher of cream on the
napkin covered tray.
"Sincs whenY" Mise Caxton asked with
aertness.
"Sinoe the neighbors got up that ride
ulous ghost story about it," said Mre.
Hutohjngs, with forced laugh. "Of
course it's all nonsense, but people will
talk"
"What was the ssoryf" asked Miss CaI
ton.
"Oh, nothing to signify. HutohiRgs
wouldn't have no patience with me # he
knowe1 / had spoken of it," pleaded the
woman.
"Since you've said SO much you may
as well say she whole" observed Miss
Caxton, fixing on the shrinking landlsdy
that judicial gaze which had appalled,
many of successive generation of school
girls.
"Well, tho Oneys was a dreadful quar-
relsome family" Reluctantly spoke Mrs.
Hutchings, land something was always
wrong there. Old Jabez 0lney hung him
self in the big circular hail, with a rope
hitched over the banieter rail- ana 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 sfterward."
"That might happen to anybody" said
Miss Clayto as she added another lump
of sugar to her coffee.
ION, yes; that might. Bat there was
Alice OlneyW
"Wfat OF Alice GlneyY"
SHE and her father mad troubled about
the attentions of young man IN the
neighborhood" said Mrs. Hltohings. "He
locked her up stairs in her room, and she
got out upon the roof and throwed her
self down. Some Gays so, and some says
she lost her balance waviD' her pocket
hendk shief to her beau, and fell accIden'
tai. Leastwise, she WAS killed. And
since that day some of the neighbora
declare solemnly that they see her, all IN
white, on the roof every Ash Wednesday
nightw
@Ash Wednesday night! What has Ash
Wednesday night 10 do with itS'
ooh, didn't I tell your Everyone o
these dreadful things happened, tskin
one year with another, on Ash Wedues-
day. That's the queer part OF it," said
Mrs. Hutch ,ngs.
Miss Caxton set down her cup and sau
Ger with a clatter.
"That accounts, in some degree, foi
the extraordinary oheapness of the prop
erty," said she. "But / shall not lot i
daunt me. People will build up ghoF
story on the most absurdly insufiioien
foundation, nowadays"
Gust what Hutchings says" cried thu
laDdlady.
Miss Oa1ton bought Olney Hall-st
bargain. She fitted II up for R first cIas
Young ladies' seminary, and had 1T fIle'
with pupils when the summer vacation
drew 20 an end.
| For Miss Caxton was an excellen
teacher, and did not lack in executive
ability.
Undoubtedly, as che told herself, th'
ghost rumor detracted from the desira
, bility of the premises; but one or tw'
hints from a specialized lawyer az =
suits for damages, in case Of TOO muel
neighborhood loquscity, exercised uul.
marvellous influence in silenoing people
| tongues and the "sweet girl graduates
and their mates disported themselves OF
the moonlit lawns, hoated down the sun
lit stream in delIoiOus little boats, al
orgaDIz ID botanical excursions into tn
wood, undisturbed by any visions Of tn
supernatural.
"Oluey Hall was bargain after all,
said Miss Caxton, Is she turned over tn
leaves OF her account book and ledge
with a satisfied smile.
Bot as the season approached wherei
the ghost was said to make its annut
uniuyited visit, Miss C4Iton could 90
repress a certain uneasiness.
iIt ia very ridiculous OF me" she ssi
70 Mrs. Bibb, her housekeeper and conn
dant. "but ] shall certainly feel bette
when the month of February 10 We