The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-04-25


street. The sun was setting and the seven
elms that stood in row little further
down the street, separating the schoolhouse
from the little village shop, cast long shad-
ows over the winding road and the prim-
tive apology for pavement. The low,
thatched cottages on the opposite side were
bathed in a crimson glow, except where
the trees threw their shadows, and the
little diamond window panes flashed and
sparkled in the light.
GLOW pretty and quaint said Mrs.
Ferrars. Il never saw anything at all
like it, All p breaking off suddenly, "look,
Hubert, there is that woman again. Let
us see if she will look at me this time"
The woman in question had just come
out of the dark little shop and was stand
ing, dazzled for moment by the bright
reflection from the windows opposite, shad-
ing her eyes with her hand. She was an
woman enough, with one
of those rather stern, strong, wrinkled
faces to be seen by the dozen in any country
sillage. She crossed the road, out Of the
way of the dazzling light, and as she did
so she suddenly became aware of Hubert
Ferrars and his wife. A sort Of spasm
passed across her face and she came slowly
up the street, fixing her eyes on Mrs. Fer
rars with look which it was hard to de-
fine-half recognition, half question, all
perplexity, and-yes, there could be no
doubt about it-fear She never moved
her eyes as she went by, and as she passed
they turned with simultaneous movement
and looked after her until they saw her at
little distance stop and look back again,
and then with sudden gesture wipe her
brow and neck with her coarse apron.
They looked at one another in amaze
ment
"What can she mean, Hubert? She
looked like that when We passed her yes
terday evening and again this morning when
she was standing at a cottage door as
went by. Let us ask Mrs. Haynes if she
can tell us anything about her.
Mrs. Haynes, their landlady, was, after
the manner of her kind, loquacious but
not enlightening. The woman was Mrs
Green. she told them, widow woman
fairly we'll to do. She was bit proud like;
kept herself to herself; but, deary no, she
was not mad-nobody less so. She had a
brother who was not to be called just right
in his head since he lived by himself in the
haunted farm; but she were all there right
enough; She
But here her flow of information was in
terrupted. Hubert Ferrars was conRois
seur of haunted houses. In the ideas CON
nected with them, and often in their mate
rial aspect, he found form of the pictu-
rescue in which he delighted, and he took
up the word at once.
"That haunted farm" he said. "Where
is that, and what haunts it ?"
GAS to what haunts it, sir, that | cant
say, not believing in such stories nor wish
ing to hear them. 1t lies about two miles
out in very lonely part, and a pretty
place it must have been before it went II
rack and ruin through no one living there
because of-whatever it is as is seen there
The land was sold, of course, all but the
garden and bit of wood at the back
which no one didn't want, and there ole
Sam lives a-minding of it, he says, though
who for no one couldn't say. They do say
as him and his sister-thats Mrs. Green
sir-was servants there years back; but In
never in those parts, so to speak, and can
tell for certain"
ais the place in ruins? Can one ge
in?"
''Lor no, sir; not to say in ruins. IT.
whole enough; only deserted like. Bu
it's Mrs. Green as could tell you all abOu
it, sir, only she don't always care to b,
questioned. They do say as she hay'
seen-what there is to be seen-times anC
again; and as for getting in, you coulc
mention it to her, and maybe she'd se'
Sam about it. He's bit crusty, sir, ole
Sam is.
Mrs. Felrars had turned away. Haunted
houses had no attraction for her; she wa
Gtoo practical" she said. But she wa
very curions about the woman who ha,
looked so strangely at her, and she nov
said;
"Let us do that, Hubert. You woult
like to see the house, and | should like t
see Mrs. Green. Shall We go now? Iti
not too late, is it, Mrs. Haynes ?"
So Mr.. Ferrars took up his hat again
and they walked down the street, pursued
by Mrs. Haynes's voluble directions, to tn,
little cottage which she pointed out
The knock was answered Immediately By
the woman who had passed up the street
little while before, and as her eye fell oil
Mrs. Ferrars's face the same expression
sprang into them again. She turned then
away however at once, and kept then
fixed on the ground by an obvious effort
while Hubert Ferrars, coming straight t.
the point, said, pleasantly:
"Good evening. Mrs Green, believe
Mrs. Haynes, our landlady, has been tell
ing us about Il haunted house in thi
neighborhood, and, as | was anxious t.
hear more of it, and if possible to see it
she referred me to you. | shall be Sc
much Obliged if you can help me in thu
matter.
She looked up as he finished, hesitateC
moment, then with another furtiv,
glance at Mrs. Ferrars, she said: Evil
you please to walk in, sir ?" They follow
ed her into the little room, Hubert Ferrar
apologizing for troubling her, in his gentle
courteous way, and she said "Woul'
you be pleased to tell me why you want I,
hear about The Glen, sir?" Her manne
was quite respectful but guarded and very
reserved, and he answered with a smile
"Well, | have no special reason; but
have always a weakness for such places anc
the stories attached to them, and | shoulc
be very glad to hear anything you can tel
me. What is it that is seen at-'Th
Glen is it called? | am told that yol
can tell me from personal experience" "
The woman's brown face changed colo
slightly, and she stole another glance a
Mrs. Ferrars before she said:
ayes, sir; [ have seen it often an'
often
She spoke very quietly, and Ferrars
who had never before found himself fac
- fAoo ,y;th on,, ono who laid claitn Il