The Press., 1892-07-28

Near the roadside, but almost hidder from sight and darkened by dense shade trees, stood a square stone house, old and wearing deserted air. The neigh bors were gone who had gathered to sec the late owner, the last of his name carried to the little family graveyard which, with it's broken stone wall and neglected graves. lay in a distant corner of the property.
 A strange light which betokened a coming storm shone for few minutes through the narrow windows of long, low room, and showed the features of the two men, who sat silent before the fire of logs that burned in the great fireplace. The elder, a small, gray haired man, with clear cut features and dark piercing eyes, was the family law yer. Opposite to him and gazing gloom fly into the fire was the only representa- tive of the family, dark man of mus cular build and strongly marked fea- lures. "He looks like all the men of his race, with a difference. Better blood has come in- somewhere; he has a good face-more than could be said for the others. Hard men they were to deal with" The younger man looking up caught the old lawyers eyes fixed on him.
 "You will stay here tonight, will you not, MT. Nelson? There is every sign of coming storm, and the drive to the cars would not be pleasant in it. need not tell you that shall be grateful for your company in this dismal old house. l used to hear whispers of it's being haunted, when was boy, and tonight 1 would not be hard to convince" and he looked around the darkening room, in whose corners the shadows lay deep with a smile that was far from cheerful "There comes the rain," as a few drops splashed against. the windows.
 ''Thank you, l will stay if it is con. venient," said the older man.
 "Then it is settled, and perhaps you can give some information that want But l will go first and see old Han. nah and ask her to bring us lights In few minutes he returned and threw himself into deep old chair Perhaps when hear what you car probably tell me, and what l ought tc know about my mothers family, shall find it is case for darkness rather than light" he said. ''As my uncle's will leaves everything to me, except legacies to his old servants, ought to know ii there was any truth in queer stories and hints used to hear from old people who lived around here when I was boy and visited my uncle. Was there any flaw in our title to the property?'
 "What do you remember of theil stories?'' asked the old lawyer. looking keenly at the speaker.
 'sThere was name they used to refer to mysteriously-an old couple named Douglas. l remember an old colored woman who lived in little cabin or the place. It used to stand out there, pointing through the window, where by the dim light, might still be seen through gap in the dark evergreens heap of stones and rubbish in a field adjoining the lawn. ''Once she grew angry with me for some slight cause and she said to mel can see her yet pointing her shriveled finger at me Go way, boy, yore hearts bad, jes' like all yore peoples. When yore old gran. father died saw 8 snake come out from that swamp where ole Douglas pore little house stans, and follow after the hearse- saw that with these ole eyes. A hard death he died, too, ole Carney said, swearin and. d.screaanin. guess he remembered ole Douglas curse then but there, honey, ''as shuddered, never min ole Ann's talk, yo' couldn't help it, and yore father hasn't their blood nor name, so the curse won't come on you, pore chile,' and she petted me and talked of other things; but 1 never forgot her