The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-31

AkGv hin, and there was q
long garden at the back
7 and big court yard IN
front. 1t was . slim
house with as little
body e possible. The sun. however. shone
IA at al the Window and in every direc-
tion. from Every point Of view. might be
sean the sparkling blue waves and the low
hills It the other side Of the bay. and the
nShing sznacks and pleasure boats sailing
on the bosom Of the water.
The view was all that was picturesque.
ana the house itself. Notwithstanding that
the winds howled through It In winter.
and the sun seemed to scorch It In sum-
nner. was favorite residence. II was
never long empty. but there was one curl
Gus thing about i. The tenants who came
went away. AZ rule, at the end Of the
hrSt year. They made no complaint what
ever, they never said that they fcund the
place uncomfortable or that the moaning
of the wind kept them awake, but, never
theless. they gave notice to their landlord.
One Of the chief characteristics Of the
place was the profusion Of red roses which
climbed up the walls OF the old gray house
and bloomed In the garden-red roses Of
every shade and variety, blossoming
abundantly and shedding their petals all
over the ground. Some Of them grew in
clusters. Some singly-some were Of deep
crimson. some were Of q paler shade. but
all Of them had damask hearts and the
sweetest perfume and seemed to betoken
lavish plenty and happiness and good will
Nevertheless. there was q legend about
the old house which referred to the fact
that there was certain mystery about
these roses. that they had been planted by
ono whose lot had not been happy. and
whose death had been dark and terrible.
There was room in the house with q
stain on the floor which no amount Of
scrubbing and soap and soda could remove.
It seemed to be indented into the very
boards. and this room was not Q restful
chamber, and only those whose nerves
were Of tho strongest cared to sleep In 1t.
Putting all these circumstances together
the house was let at q low rent and when
on certain summer day came to Alver-
stoke to look around me for cheap and
cheerful hAbitation was much taken with
the slender house and its graceful sur
roundings. inquired Of the landlord, who
told me that could have It for the moder-
ate sum OF ESQ q year.
There were plenty Of rooms-good sized
ones. too-the air was Of the freshest and
sweetest. the roses were in perfection. and
closed with the matter immediately In
months time arrived on the scene with
my sister. a little older than myself, and
great invalid. Our furniture had gone
on before US, and soon we were comforta-
bly, settled in the tall house on the top OF
the hill
We knew few friends in the place. who
called on Us and expressed surprise at our
settling down In their midst.
Enough why Miss Lowell and you
! should have como to this especial house
baffles me-" said Mrs. Hornibrooke, a buzz
ON LADY OF about thirty years Of age.
And why not this house?" said my sis
ter She came forward to chair close to
MIS- Hornibrooke. and looked up into her
face. -
MY sister Josephine had a thin face. pale
Dig blue eyes, and light brown hair She
had the somewhat worn appearance Of a
person In bad health, but there was look
OF much dignity about her, her manners
were % gentle, her voice so sweet that
mcst people fell In love with her on the
spot.
Ar for me, my name was Patricia, and
was round and buxom and rosy and pro-
fessed to laugh at nerves. and as to ghosts
did not believe in them.
Well. Mrs. Hornibrooke now looked mys-
terious. and nodded her head and said:
Notwithstanding all those red roses in
the garden and the sunshine and the big
rooms. would rather have little house,
with no garden at all, in the town"
''Why?" asked Josephine.
Because. my dear. value my quiet
nights" was her ambiguous reply.
Another visitor who happened to be pres
emit gave her warning look, and she did
not say anything more. Josephine glanced
at me. ! shook my head emphatica.ly.
Now you want to tell us the place is
haunted" I said, ''and neither Josephine
nor believe In the very least in ghosts"
"Ah, well, dear. ah, WE'LL" said Mrs
Hornibrooke, In q. still more ambiguous
manner.
Nonsense. Mary. the girls have como
now and must make the best of things"
said Miss johnson, who was also one Of
our guests. For my part I think 1t is
very courageous of the Lovel.s to come
here. and they may break down the sursr-
stition. All can say is this. Miss Lowell:
hope you won't go at the end of the first
year"
why should WEI" answered Josephine;
1--WE have come here to live all our days"
Poor soul. poor SOUL" said Mrs. Horni-
brooke. well, there are plenty Of houses
to be had In Alverstoke, and 1t Is a pretty
little place and healthy. too. You'll enjoy
the spring here, both Of you with all the
fishing. The mackerel fishing Is enc of the
features Of the place, and 1t is a sight
worth seeing when the nets are drawn up"
She turned the conversation. tea was
brought In: the ladies had cup each and
went their way.
When they were gone Josephine and l
sat by the open windows of the drawing
room. The scent of the roses came in;
they were in perfection at that moment.
what pity that they shed their petals
90 fast" / said. IT hate waste of any
sort. I tell you what It is. Josephine,
we'll make some potpourri. I have an
oId-fashioned recipe Of my grandmother's.
I'll collect the rose petals Immediately.
and that shall be your employment"
Josephine sat quite listless and still as
I spoke. She often got into that state OF
mind. and / wondered what she was think
ing about.
II would rather not" she said then.
very slowly.
.sBut why. dear? You are so fond OF
roses"
$50 fond Of them that have come hero
against my better judgment" she an
swered
s.Now what do you mean by that?'
II had 1 dream tho night before I
came, ono OF those three times repeated
dreams which make such an impression.
In each OF those dreams I was haunted
by I man who said the one sentence
sT,orst % N the house with the red