News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-01-16
GHOST OF VALLEYTHORpE,


GHOST OF VALLEYTHORPE.
well, / think it's a pretty good
sale" said Mr. Moneypenny, rubbing
his hands Very good considering
the dull state of the real estate market
and the bad condition that Valley
thorpe has fallen into"
Have you sold it?" said Diana Dart
suddenly dropping her needles and
turning pale.
Yes, I've sold it." said Mr., Money
penny, ''for $4,000.
But it was NINE" said Diana.
''Old Mr.. Thorpe gave it to my mother
in reward for the care she took of him
in his last days"
'4es, L kuow-I know" said Mr..
Moneypenny, soothingly, as if he were
speaking to fractions child. but,
you see, you C MT prove it There
an no papers later than the old will
OF 1880, and that leaves everything to
Rufus Miner And it amt YOURS or
his n now. It's Chartlev Fountaine's.
Il hate Charley Fountaine, 5 id
Diana, with an obliquc fash out of her
superb Andalusian eyes. He is al
ways crossing my path"
''Oh. come, now, don't be unreason-
able, !" said Mr.. Moneypenny. '.Fon-
taine's good a fellow as ever was. 1t
amt no ways to his discredit that he
knows bargain when he sees it
Diana Dart made no reply. She went
on sewing with dark frown outlining
her level black brows.
MIR. Moneypenny furtively observed
her as he ate his dinner
I'm almost sorry" thought he,
that Mrs. Moneypenny hired that girl
to sew for her by the month. She's
right smart with the needle to be sure;
but she's got that gypsy way with her
that nobody ever knows what she'll do
or say next Anyhow, I'll be glad
when her times up.''
'Dianar'
The sun had just disappeared behind
the purple spurs of the Berkshire hills.
Diana, at last released from the drudg-
cry OF the needle. was standing under
the fragrant silver-green blossoms of
the grape vines, watching the slender
curve of the new moon above her he d.
She started at the sound of Charley
Fontaine's voice.
What is it?"
Il want to speak to you, Diana"
You can't have anything to say to
mer'
But have. A great deal I've
bought the old place, DianaI"
You have bought it-yes. But who
had any right to sell it to you? It's
mine. Mine by inheritance from my
mother"
1T shall be yours, Diana, If you will
marry me-" he pleaded.
II won't marry any man who is an
imposter"
Charley Fontain WINGED a little at
this extremely plain speech.
IF had not become the purchaser.
DIANA" said he. some one else would
And it was for you, dear''
Diana imprisoned her red lips firmly
between her white teeth.
II decline altogether to receive it."
said she. What! receive my own at
the hands OF any man alive? I've too
much pride for that 1t is mine! 1t
was my mothers before me-"
You cannot prove il" he urged.
i ruth ought TO need no proofs"
There is no use in talking" said
Font inc. little impatiently. What
want to know is will you marry me?''
NO" Diana promptly answered.
Not portionless begger."
'.DianaI''
81 mean it." said she; and so they
parted -certainly not enemies, but not
quite friends
Charley Fontain took possession Of
the old Valleythrope m nsion with a
he
had expected and, instead of the beau
tiful young wife upon whose presence
he had counted, old Aunt Valencia
came to keep house for him-a fantast-
ic wincing little parsonage, with IL
year-old head upon 7O-year-old pair
of shoulders, Il combination which is by
no means so rare in this world as one
would think. She was at once rheu-
matte and romatic, sensible AID super
stitous.
such a dear old place, Chartw said
she, IS she followed her nephew
through the halls and corridors, her
skirts held daintily up. her eye-glassed
orbs glancing here and there like those
OF an elderly sparrow.
Only little stutfy though, isn't 1t?
Bv the way, what's this story that
very respectable woman, the house,
sSSssIJtsf esSis' me SfO0uC a scOdnGefcIaIin
set up by one Miss Dart to this proper
typ
Charley listlessly explained the com!
plication,
what nonsense" chirped Aunt Va
lencia.
.She believes firmly in it." said her
nephew.
'.But she can't prove itt'
mo. She has only had her mother S
word for it, and Mrs. Dart wasn't al
together right in her head at the time
of her death. 1t is more than likely
that the whole thing was delusion on
part"
what NONSENSE" again repeated
AuntValencia- Chart, dear, did you
ever hear that this house was-haunt-
ed"
No, aunt"
ats the very place for a ghost.
twittered the sparrow-like old lady.
This delightful corridor here, with
the suspicious stains on the staircase
that lovely vestibule with the colored
glass skylighti And oh. Chart. look
out of this window. Do you see those
white mists floating up from the
Iaburum walk down there? Exactly
like gliding, forInless ghosts COOK
tells me they come up every night,
from that very spot where the sun goes
down. Do you think, Chart, that a
murder could possibly have been COM
mitted there?"
Il think" Charley Fontaine absent
" answered, that the drainage OF the
mace must be horribly bad, and we
shall all have malaria unless L teie'
rr;,nh TO Sutton to send up some drain
tiles at once"
But the place is full of such de,
licious tall fern and water hlle5'
pleaded Aunt V. leucia.
Hang the ferns and water hlles'
said her nephew. you'll have TO con-
tent Yourself with indoor ghosts,
aunt. / can't stand low pool like tha
under my very windows"
Aunt Valencia sighed, but ChartleJ
was memorable, and within a week the
numbers men were at work, bounding
The white. floating mist-specters from
their fragrant businesses with no more
romantic implements than pick-axe
and drain tiles. She and her nephew
had come down to superintend the
operations one evening, when laborei
came toward them, touching his frowsy
hat
"Please, zur," said he, " 'ere's what
/ found under the roots o that big
willer tree. It's yum zort OF box
1.-The ghostm whispered Aunt Valen-
cia, giving her nephew's arm an ex-
circulating pinch. "Open it. Chart
u, v,,ofad fbrouUblf