The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-02-15

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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 Mr.. Harton followed
his steps like q shadow, much as he
dreaded to enter the hated mansion. At
evening some sharp words passed be-
tween them, and whether it was n 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 declivity 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 cliG 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 il for = summer residence, but with
no success; consequently he was delight.
ed to find a tenant now.
The work of renovatipg went ON rapid
ly. By the frst of May sufficient num-
Der Of rooms were in order, and Mrs.
Bertrand, her daughter and servant
camo 10 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 of races in this case had not in
creased the power Of beauty. With her
mothers dark complexion, Miss Harton
inherited her fathers steely gray eyes
and brown hair; her features were regll-
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 . few
months. The young people did not as
simulate very readily; indeed, Dora was
almost frightened by her guests state
and demeanOE.
II Am vOsy glad we shall not live here
alwoyv," she said 10 her mother, after
the visitors had gone. ''I am sure, If
Miss Harton is a sample Of the young
ladies, IshaIl And very few pleasant &C
luzintanoes. And, somehow, l cannot
like Mr. Harton a bit, although he il so
riaxious for our comfort"
s'Do not judge too soon, responded
MIs. 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
,all; her sister being absent, she was
compelled to play the hostess. She was
brunette, and though possessing neither
he fine figure or regular features of the
lder, more than made up the lack by
her vivacity and gay good hunnor. Mrs,
Bertrand was really glad, for Dora't
sake, that they had found 70 compan-
enable q young lady, and warmly in.
vited her to make herself no stranger al
he Cliffs.
Olive Horton was no less delighted
with the prospect of 80 pleasant friend
Not, indeed, that she suffered from lone
.iness, for she was welcome at many 4
lreside where Mr.. Harton and Clara
would not have deigned to show them
elves. Yet among the people who
listed the house Olive found few to hel
liking, and both father and sister frowneC
lown any attempt on her part 70 sstab
ish circle of her own.
AS Mrs. Bertrand found it impossible
TO procure piano in the neighborhood
md judged it too great a distance t.
nave hers removed for the few month
they expected to spend in the country
she accepted Mr.. Harton'S proposal tina
Dora should come over daily and prac
ice with Olive; and this led to a com
,lete intimacy. Olive resembled he
'ather and sister as little in character a
person. Cool, calculating, suspicious
md stealthy, Mr.. HartOn seemed ever o.
the lookout lest some one should gain Al
advantage over him; while Olive wa
rank, free and careless TO . fault
There was nosa trace Of pride or haughti
ness In her, and many Of the villag
people who shrank from her sister bright
ened into smiles when her merry fac
appeared at the doorway.
Mrs. Bertrand was not at all surprise
rs she saw the girls rushing In eagerly
one afternoon, their faces flushed wit
rapid walking. and heard Dora exclAiIE
80, mamma, Olive has the key 70 th
tower. and we are going up TO explore Il
She says almost every one believes it
haunted;" and Dora gave = gay, birI
like laugh.
"rm so glad you are not afraid {
ghosts, Mrs. Bertrand" Olive said, eros
ing the room 10 kiss her. "Its % mic
70 have you and Dora live in this ol
house; but no one would ever come b,
fore, they were ell 20 afraid Of Its bain
haunted"
"a very foolish belief, nay dear" n
surned Mrs. Bertrand, in that placid ton
which most people use to iterats ol
5ruths that few trouble themselves 10 el
anime.
''COme, Dora, and Olive led the way
They crossed the wide hall and entere
4 small passage. The tower, RlthOug
joined 10 the main building, was quit
separate from it interiOFly, There wei
more rooms In the house than Mrs. Ben
srand cared to use, 90 nothing had bee
aid about tho tower further than the
Mr.. Harton had informed her 1t wa
Sept as a sort Of store room for useles
rubbish. More than once Dora ha
svinoed a restless curiosity eOncernin
it; and Jane, the domestic, had BpecI
lated considerably about the ghost, an
wondered why Mr.. Harton kept Ii
premises 30 closely looked.
The two girls had 20 uss their utIno
strength to turn the key, and as the doS
slowly opened it displayed 9 wide stor
staircase thick with dust, over whic
loated "a few hlmy bars Of BunshiI
from q window higher up. The dam
musty odor and strange silence aw'
them q little, but quickly FecoveriI
themselves, they began 10 ascend. 4
this hrst landing door opened into
room, and = narrow flight 0f stairs B
side Il ran up 20 the next sloFy, whi'
was much smaller, and from thenoe %