Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-03-15
IF WE WOULD.
OUR HAUNTED HOUSE.

We had been hunting, for three
past, for cosy home of our
own and were growing more tired
of boarding, every day.
"Yes, the house, my dear. The
incest, quietest old place, you ever
saw, and just far enough beyond
the town to be delightfully."- rural
and pleasant"
"A suburban home, Harold. Oh,
am so glad! Have you been out
to it? What is the price? Can |
go to see it?"
"Three questions in one breath"
laughed Harold, gayly. ''Let me
see if | can answer them as glibly!
| have been out. The price is won
derfully low, and you may 60 out
this very afternoon, if you choose"
"Of course | choose. I'll be ready
in half an hour, and it is the most
lovely time of the day for walk
or a drive"
1--WE will walk. 1t isn't half a
mile from the main town. But,
Maggie, there's one thing ] ought
to mention, before you 60"
"What is it? Any disadvantage
about the place? Is the water
good? Are there amy fruit treesf
Any spot for howers?"
"Three more questions. Ill say
yes to every one of them. The
water is fine, there are plenty of
fruit trees. and you can have n
large Aower-garden on the richest
kind of soil. On the whole, ! be-
lieve III let the OBJECTION lie until
we have seen the place, so get ready
and we will go out"
An hour later we had been over
all the quaint, wide, low-ceiled
rooms, peeped into all the closets,
exclaimed over the delightful old.
fashioned 6re-places, and admired
the odd. old furniture, (for the
place was to be sold with part of
the furnishings to our hearts con.
tent.
But you have not told me the
price, Harold" ] said, as we returned
to the big parlor, and stood looking
out at the prospect from the win.
dows.
1.-THE price is twenty-five hundred
dollars, my dear"
Only that? Isn't that remark
ably cheap for so much ground?"
Eyes, it certainly is. The reason
of its cheapness is the disadvantage
] limited at"
well, what is itP" asked.
"The house is reported to be
haunted
"Haunted?" | repeated, invol.
unfairly glancing behind me.
Haunted, my dear"
But by what, for PHYS sake?"
by a ghost, to be sure!"
"Oh, NONSENSE! ] thought you
had too much sense to believe in
such stuff, Harold Bennett
MY beloved Maggie, have | SAID
/ believed in it? don't, decidedly
I'm not at all afraid to risk the
ghost if you are not. But you
know ! must be in town. at the
office, most of the time, and fear.
ed you might object to the company
of such 'shadowy gentleman,
that is all'.
"How does he or she manifest
his or her ghostly presence?"
asked, smiling, for | had not al
atom of faith in the "ghost."
"Well, ] haven't seen anything
of course. But the lawyer whom
visited in regard to the sale, con
fessed that he had not been able tc
keep a tenant for the last six months
on account of it. You see tn,
place belongs to a minor heir, who
lives in another State. There.
or was-an older brother, who
would have had it, but he got into
trouble, and was sent to the peni.
Tertiary. He was killed in making
his escape from prison, about seven
months ago, and it is said his spirit
haunts his old home. Lights are
seen, and groans and noises are
heard, mostly at night, which no.
body can explain. 1t is even re-
ported that he has been seen, him.
self, wandering aboutin the grounds,
all dressed in white. And people
are afraid to live here. Now, if yor
think it would make you nervous
Maggie, to live where such things
are limited at. just say so, and | will
let Mr.. Grigg know that we dom
want the house"
Are you afraid, Haroldp"
suddenly asked.
Harold laughed, and answered:
mot the least bit, my dear!
never believed In ghosts or appear
ances' of any kind"
Neither do /, Harold. If yor
can get this lovely old home for SC
small price, just buy it, and We
will take possession as soon as pos
sible.
"If the poor little ghost wants te
walk about, let him. He won't
hurt us. In all the ghost stories
ever heard, ] never did hear thai
one of the 'shadowy gentlemen, a.
you called them, did any one any
harm. Buy the place, Harold"
I'll will. You are my own brav,
little girl, and am proud of you.
And he stopped his tall form tc
give me kiss, before we shut the
doors, and returned to town.
Well we bought the pretty old
home and went to it at once. We
took with us a stout, red-headed,
good-hcarted Irish woman. who