The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-06-16
THE YOUNG FOLKS.
INTERESTING READING FOR TIE
YOUNG PEOPLE.
How a Soldiers Daughter Solved n
Haunting Mystery-A Tiger Story
"Gimme u Bite'-Not So Easy as 1t
Looked.

"Gimme u Bite"-Not So Easy as 1t
Looked
'"That house on the hill is haunted"
was the remark that every citizen of
Todville always made to any stranger
who happened to visit the little town.
The remark was always made in a low
tone, as if the speaker was afraid Of
bringing down the wrath Of the spirits
| that visited the house on the hill
The people Of Todville stunned the
haunted house, and fought shy of the
unfortunate people who lived therein.
Even the grocery boy, who had to car
~ food to the house, never dared ven
ture further than the edge of the kitch-
en- steps and when he dumped his pack
ages on the stoop he turned and ran
as if pursued by a mad bull. Those
people who lived in the neighborhood
took the longest way around to reach
| their homes in order to avoid passing
| the house.
| Even the people who occupied the
| haunted abode were in constant fear
and trembling. They thoroughly be-
heved that some mysterious influence
was at work in their home, that might
at any moment destroy their very
lives.
The OCCUPANTS of the house were the
Widow Wilson, her daughter Jennie
and a faithful servant. The circum-
stances of the widow did not permit her
to move, else she would not have lin
gered in the place.
The visits of the spirits, or whatever
they are called, were made in the dead
of night, and their presence was made
known by the vigorous rocking of an
old chair that sounded throughout the
house like the song of death.
AT such times the widow would clasp
her little daughter in her arms and
silently pray for protection. Under the
nervous strain both mother and child
were rapidly becoming invalids
They dared not pursue the wrath
and solve the mystery of its being,
for weak women and children are not
expected to battle with an unreal force
that men would hesitate to investi-
gate.
This was the condition of affairs
when, after the visits Of the spirit had
been of nightly frequency for two
Informing her that her ten-year-old
niece, Fannie Long, was going to make
her visit. 1t was-too late to stop the
coming of the child, for the letter stated
that she would arrive few hours
after the letter was received
Mrs. Wilson was in despair, for she
had no place to put the little girl eN-
cept in the haunted spare room, and
what to do under the circumstances
she was unable to determine
She finally concluded that she would
tell Fannie the story Of the haunted
chamber, arrange her lodging for a day
or two with a neighbOr, and then send
her home
Fannie came on time and when she
entered her aunts home it seemed as
if thousand rays of sunshine had
come in with her. Her eyes snapped
with the fire of health and happiness
as she kissed the widow and her cousin
/ Fannie was quick witted, and instant
~ saw that some trouble clouded her
aunts mind. She bided her time, and
was soon called upon to hear the story
Of the ghostly visits.
The little visitor laughed merrily at
her aunt's story, and said she WASH t
afraid of a whole army of ghosts, and
that she would love to sleep in the
haunted room. She insisted. despite
the widows protests, that she was a
soldiers little daughter and delighted
IN solving mysterie&-
The day Wore on, and Fannie gave
no signs Of fright. She explored the
room in which she was to Sleep She
found it a pleasant little place, on
the second floor. There was but one
| in, tIn 4o 4lo
way. two windows and no closet. The
windows were some distance from any
tree, and too high from the ground
to be reached except by means Of a
ladder. The furniture was plain. On
one side of the room was an old-fash-
ioned open fireplace that looked as if
it had not been used in many years.
Fannie looked up this and could see
the blue sky through the chimney top
The rocking-chair that was said to
have caused all the trouble was plain,
comfortable affair.
At Q o'clock Fannie went to bed
She was rather nervous. as little girls
are apt to get when confronted by un-
seen dangers, but still she kept up a
brave heart. She had put out her
candle and opened wide the window
blinds, letting in a food of silvery
moonlight that made the roOm very
bright.
Fannie determined that she would
not so to sleep, but would watch all
night long for the coming Of the ghost
But she was tired, and, despite her
good intentions, she was soon in Shut
eyevillc.
How long she slept she did not Ino W,
but she awakened with a half stifled
scream out of a bad dream, and was
at once conscious that the old rocking
chair was swaying violently Then
Fannie was frightened. Her heart beat
rapidly, and a cold perspiration broke
out all over her.
All thoughts of further sleep were
at once dispelled Propped up in bed,
the little girl, her eyes blazing with
terror, fastened her gaze on the old
chair. Its rocking slowly ceased. Still
she gazed.
The moments appeared to be years,
but she was too badly scared to leave
| her bed Oh scream. Suddelly she heard
a sound, as if something was moving
| along the floor by the bed; she knew