The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-18

made Estella's heavy braids almost IN
coil from her small. pretty head. She.
{ of course. dutifully repeated them to
/ John Hicks. who only laughed as he
answered: I'VE get the place cheap.
ard until the ha'nt tries to force its
acquaintance upon us. let us ignore its
existence. if it does exist
And so they stuck 10 their quarters.
hearin= or seeing nothing out of the
ordinary. until early spring, when the
place improved so much in general ap-
Dearance under the beautifying touches
Of leaf and grass that the Hickses en-
tertained serious thoughts of trying to
become possessed of this property
One evening Estella sat at an open
window in the second story. The house
was very quiet. for John Hicks was
away. and the black woman had long
! since finished her accustomed labOrs
and departed. Estella was very happy
and satisfied. Outside on the lawn.
now softly green, q long phalanx OF
white hyacinths shot up. permeating
the oalmy air with their pungent 0dor-
Suddenly through the silent house
sound vibrated. the distinct patter or
a pair OF feet descending the stairs
Down il came with deliberate slOwness-
until the first landing was reached.
then a few steps. and the descent OF
the next flight was commenced Estel-
las eyes were riveted on the staircase.
a view of which she commanded
through the open door. Presently 1t
would come in sight, cutting her on
from an exit. for the last steD in the
staircase ended close to the door.
All vitality seemed TO leave Estella's
frame. creeping in a small. cold stream
uD her spinal column. the hair seemed
TO rise on her head and her cris3ly
frizzed bangs 10 uncurl. Unwinkinsly
her eyes were riveted upon the door. as
she sat back in the chair. incapable
OF casting off this spell of horror that
had settled upon her.
Down the thing came. deliberately.
Estella mentally counting the stairs
until she felt it had reached the last
step of the fight, when. in another
moment, il would pass the door. on,
what a moment, Then Estella's hair
returned to its natural position on her
silly little head. her limbs relaxed their
Mortified tension. and her blood began
TO circulate warmly through her veins
once more. She rubbed her eyes ard
winked. rubbed them ain and looked.
then burst into peal upon peal OF hys-
terical laughter. for through the door
the object of her fright came in sight
the largest. boldest old gray rodent rs
tella had ever had the i'll luck 10 see.
calmly propelling before him large.
round sweet potato his probable con-
tribution to some ratty feast. selected
from those stored away in the attic
for the family's own use The de-
creDit old chOre woman. returning 70
her evening task, wondered at the
high, shrill notes of laughter coming
from the window near which her mis-
treSs sat. and when a big, round potato
came flying out of the window. bound
ing along the walk before her. she
speedily decided that her missus mad
done seed de ha'nt an gone clean
'Stracted." She, therefore. turned about
and proceeded to put as great a dis
lance between herself and the haunted
house, with its distracted mistress. as
her rheumatic old legs would allow.
and Estella was again left servantless
and alone.
Estella never told her experience to
John Hicks, and a short while after
the occurrence. when he suggested that
they arrange for the purchase OF the
place, she gave a hearty assent
Some months after. when they had
come into full possession of Barry 5
acre. they changed its name TO Hicks
Hold. beautifying and improving it I'M
I'll it became one of the most charm
ing homes in the county. Though its
unsavory reputation still clings to II,
and the story Of its awful "ha mt IS
still told in more than one county its
mistress has never again
heard things creeping down the
stairs.