The Press., 1899-08-24
The Frobishers had their nous

warming in the form of an afternoon
reception, in Difference to the prejudices
of the villagers. The guests came with
trepidation. The Widow Silnpkins was
observed to look furtively about her be-
tween the serving of the chicken salad
and the ''passing" of the ice cream.
Miss Belinda Sommers uttered pierre
ing shrek and nearly tainted when a
table was accidentally overturned. AS
evening approached the guests FASTENED
to take their departure.
Sam johnson, the nearest neighbor,
was awakened shortly after midnight
by some one pounding at his door. He
opened it, and Rebecca Frobisher fell
fainting across the threshold. Behind
her, with eyes in which there was
strange terror. half clothed, shaking
like leaf. stood Peter.
"The mound builder!' he cried
''The mound builder!'
It was several days before tie cid
couple could be persuaded to tell OF
their experience Peter Frobisher said
that he had been awakened by some
one swaying the portieres in the door
way of the adjoining room. The dra-
perry parted, and he saw the form of
man clothed like the Egg ptians depicted
in his subscription "History of the
World The intruder pointed at the
full, round moon, which could be seen
from the window, and waved weapon
resembling a battleax. He remained
for a moment and then seemed to fade
away. The aged couple fed shrieking
from their new abode and ran for a
mile along the dusty road to the home
of the Johnsons.
The Frobishers deserted Moundmere
for all time. The stock and farming
implements were sold for half their
value. The rich acres became fallow
ground and the lawn waste of weeds.
Peter and Rebecca moved to Valley
City and made their home in three lit
tie rooms over the dry goods store Such
was the state of affairs when Mcguire
obtained his option. Astonishment
grew in Mingo one morning when a
curl of smoke issued from one of the
chimneys of the Frobisher homestead.
Investigation proved that Gracious Ma
guire had actually made his home in
the lair of the disembodied mound
builder. He had transported mis- trunks
to Moundmere and carted several loads
of cheap furniture out to the place.
The boards were taken down from the
windows and the house began to look
again like a human habitation. The
rumor spread all over Valley City that
Gracious Mcguire had obtained money
from some mysterious source. The
young schoolteacher had even taken
leases upon some of the adjoining farms.
These documents were couched in am
biguous language and provided that the
agricultural operations of the owners
should not be disturbed.
Packing cases arrived at the little
railroad station and in the night were
hauled through the village streets to
the old farm. There were hundreds of
feet of iron pipe. odd looking wheels
and gigantic tool chests. Half dozen
men alighted from the Columbus train
one evening and were driven to Mound
mere. The signs "No Admission and
"Trespassing Forbidden" were posted
on all the fences These seemed like a
work of supererogation, for nobody
then dared to even stop his horse within
a mile of the gateway.
The young schoolteacher withdrew
himself more and more from the society
of Valley City. Hardly Sunday passed
in the old days when he did not walk
home from church with Ellen Spencer
The girl now saw him seldom. There
were several young women who secretly
| rejoiced at that. for Gracious Mcguire,
| the learned, the affable and the cour-
| teous. was regarded as one of the nsst
| eligible young men of the town. -
AS to the railroad crossing incident,
that had long been forgotten. No high
er tribute could be paid to any man
than that, for in the village the aristoc-
racy was firmly founded on Family. "
The elect were the direct descendants
of the sturdy New Englanders who had
come to the region early in the cen
fury, chopped down the trees, killed
Indians and made the wilderness to
blossom with white churches and red
schoolhouses.
Ellen Spencer was descended in the
direct line from the man who carried
in the first surveyors chain through
the primeval forests of Mingo.
Strange stories were whispered about
Gracious Mcguire. The mothers of the
whole country spoke of him as one who
had obtained fabulous wealth by rob
bling the mound builder dead of their
golden ornaments. There were those in
the village who limited that no right
thinking young man could occupy the
house from which old Peter Frobisher
had been driven by the Christening hand
of Providence
Valley City was filled with uproar
not long after this by intelligence of a
most alarming nature. The news came
that Gracious Mcguire had begun to
drill hole into the earth in the very
center of circle of Indian mounds in
the east meadow of the Frobisher place.
Coincident with this several cows died
on adjoining farms and a colt broke his
leg.
Behind the shelter of the turfed
tombs, mysterious operations were con-
Quoted A skeletonlike scaffolding
arose. the sight of which filled those
who saw it with nervous apprehension.
One day stationary engine was set up
near the structure and surrounded by
| q ShCN. "A AOAAO" dACy way, ICSculU11uS
a rope walk, was built between the tim
Der skeleton and the boiler. Before very
long the farmers noticed rope tight
ening and sagging within the network
of wooden braces. Sometimes a rod OF
iron rose from the ground and they
heard a persistent drubbing sound.
The patience of Mingo county could
fA,t further go. A mass meeting was
held in the town hall one night which
resulted in committee being sent to
the gates of Moundmere. A mastiff
prevented them from going any farther
Gracchns Mcguire came down from the
house.
"We have come" said Bolivar
Wright, a lawyer and therefore the
spokesman, "to protest against your
disturbing the graves of a prehistoric
| :ace and thus bringing misfortune upon