Wichita eagle., 1890-02-09

No traces OF unfair dealing were found
upon her, and she was buried with
great show of respect by Mr.. Harton.
| The mysterious death caused intense ex-
sitement, and Chorley Cliffs soon began
o have quite a respectable ghost of its
own.
Another incident occurred to give it
till greater notoriety. Allingham Choir
iey, the only survivor of the family,
tall, fine looking young man, came into
the neighborhood and demanded the
privilege of searching the old stone house.
Without directly accusing any one, he
boldly declared his grandfather's will
had never been found or else destroyed.
For the first day Dir. Harton followed
his steps like shadow, much as he
dreaded to enter the hated mansion. At
evening some sharp words passed be-
tween them, and whether it was a pre-
meditated assault or an accident of the
moment could not be clearly made out,
but Mr.. Harton was precipitated over
the edge of the decliyity into the water
below, and rescued by some fishermen
in a small boat. He Immediately made
a deposition against Allingham Chorley,
charging him with forcibly throwing
him from the cliff with intent to murder
him. At first the young man laughed,
and declared with cool audacity that Mr..
Harton had plunged into the bay him
self; but when he saw matters assum-
ing a serious aspect, and a warrant is
sued for his arrest, decided flight to be
the wiser course. Mr.. Harton seemed
quite delighted at thus being rid of his
adversary.
No one cared to live in the old house,
so it had gone on falling to ruin. For
several seasons Mr.. Harton had adver-
tised it for a summer residence, but with
no success; consequently he was delight
ed to find a tenant now.
The work of renovating went on rapid
ly. BY the first of May sufficient num-
Der of rooms were in order, and Mrs.
Bertrand, her daughter and servant
came to take possession. Mr.. Harton
brought his eldest child over to call upon
the ladies. Miss Harton was tall, naughty
and very mature looking for II. The
union races in this case had not in
creasedthe power of beauty. With her
mothers dark complexion, Miss Harton
inherited her fathers steely gray eyes
and brown hair; her features Were regu-
lar, yet lacked warmth and spirit, but
her figure was undeniably fine. She
looked five years older than Dora Ber-
trand, who was her senior by a few
months. The young people did not as
simulate very readily; indeed, Dora was
almost frightened by her guests state
and demeanOr.
Il am very glad we shall not live here
always" she said to her mother, after
the visitors had gone. Il am sure, if
Miss Harton is a sample of the young
ladies, shall find very few pleasant &C
quaintances. And, somehow, 1 cannot
like Mr.. Harton bit, although he is so
anxious for our comfort"
''Do not judge too soon," responded
Mrs. Bertrand. There is another sister
for us to see; she may be different"
And different she certainly was. They
met her when they went to return the
call; her sister being absent, she was
compelled to play the hostess. She was
a brunette, and though possessing neither
the fine figure or regula" features of the
elder, more than made up the lack by
her vivacity and gay good humor. Mrs.
Bertrand was really glad, for Dora's
sake, that they had found SO compan-
ionable young lady, and warmly in
vited her to make herself no stranger at
the Cliffs.
Olive Horton was no less delighted
with the prospect of SO pleasant a friend.
Not, indeed, that she suffered from lone
illness, for she was welcome at many a
ireside where Mr.. Harton and Clara
would not have deigned to show them
selves. Yet among the people who
visited the house Olive found few to her
down any attempt on her part to estab-
lish q circle of her own.
As Mrs. Bertrand found it impossible
to procure piano in the neighborhood, !
and judged it too great distance to |
have hers removed for the few months |
they expected to spend in the country,
she accepted Mr.. Harton's proposal that |
Dora should come over daily and prac- |
tice with Olive; and this led to a COM |
plete intimacy. Olive resembled her |
father and sister as little in character as
in person. Cool, calculating, suspicious,
and stealthy, Mr. Harton seemed ever on |
the lookout lest some one should gain an |
advantage over him; while Olive was !
frank, free and careless TO fault. |
There was not a trace of pride or haughti- |
ness in her. and many of the village |
people who shrark from her sister bright |
ened into smiles when her merry face |
appeared at the doorway
Mrs. Bertrand was not at all surprised |
as she saw the girls rushing in eagerly, |
one afternoon, their faces flushed with |
rapid walking, and heard Dora exclaim: |
20, mamma, Olive has the key to the |
tower. and we are going up to explore it. |
she says almost every one believes it's |
haunted" and Dora gave gay, bird |
like laugh.
''Im so glad you are not afraid OF |
ghosts, Mrs. Bertrand" Olive said, cross
ing the roorl to kiss her. Its so nice |
to have you and Dora live in this old |
house; but no one would ever come be- |
fore, they were ali so afraid OF its being !
haunted"
"A very foolish belief, my DEAR" re-
turned Mrs. Bertrand. in that placid tone
which most people use 10 iterate old 1
truths THAI few trouble themselves to ex
anime
Come, Dora" and Olive led the way.
They crossed the wide hall and entered /
4 small passage. The tower. althouoh /