The Lamar register., 1901-06-05

heard something in Australia. which
think relates to this house."
"In Australia? Why. how could
any one know of it there?" asked
Rose opening her eyes very wide.
who owns this house?"
"A Mr.. Vernon"
Exactly so. Do you know what
his first name is?"
Alfred said Mrs. Cowley. Her
nephew looked perplexed for a mo-
ment; then his face cleared again.
"Oh. see! George was his brother.
How long is it since they have lived
In this house-the Vernons. mean?"
"Oh, great many years! Twenty or
twenty-five. think"
THAT makes the story clear. You
must know that I met Mr.. George
Vernon in Australia-a man about for
ty years old. He drank to excess and
gambled desperately; and. in fact.
there were a great many queer stories
told of him one way and another.
"One night he was in my tent with
several of his friends. and the con-
versation turned upon the reality Of
ghosts and the amount of credulity
required to believe in them. Vernon
said little at first, but later in the
evening he suddenly looked up at me
and exclaimed. at Is true, every syl-
liable of 1t. They do come back l
have seen and heard them, too. by day
and night. for twenty years past. They
can come in any shape. They can turn
their hands to anything. Why. have
known one to rock a cradle four-and-
twenty hours without ceasing and sing
all the while into the bargain!"
"'What a useful ghost to have in
the house with small family said
some one, laughing.
81 never saw any one turn as pale
as Vernon did.
"'Useful! You would not crack your
jokes about them If you staid night
alone in my old house at Banley.' he
exclaimed. Cad! What with the but
ler's pantry and the turret-room. it's
little like laughing you'd feel by MORN
ing, l am thinking. Pass me tho
brandy and let me get 1t out Of my
head
"And sure enough he did get 1t out
of his head; for 1t took two men to see
him safe home when he left my tent
at 10 o'clock that night"
"And what do you infer from that.
Charles?" inquired his wife.
why. my dear. this is near Ban
ley, and the only house that l have
ever heard of where a cradle rocks.
To make assurance doubly sure, Mr..
Vernon's brother owns the place now.
| would be willing to take my oath
that the rocking of the cradle has
something to do with one of these
men: but which Of the two I am not
prepared to say"
81 saw George" exclaimed Rose.
who had been deeply interested in the
story.
"And should like to hear the cra-
dle." remarked Mr.. Cowley.
'Oh, don't think OF such a thing!
It's too horrible!" exclaimed both tie
girls. ..-
"I only want to convince myself that
1t does rock"
But we all heard 1t.
"Then confess am like the young
lady whose grandmother told her that
she had found out by her own expert
ence that love-making was very dan
gerous work. want to find out by my
own experience. too. Where is this
cradle?"
"In the kitchen"
docs it rock every night?"
"Yes."
"At what timer"
"It begins about nine"
"And it now wants a quarter to ten.
1t must be in full swing by this time.
Rose. will you do the honors of the
ghost to your old friend?"
Not l."
"Catharine?"
az must beg to be excused"
"Well. aunt. will you Gomez"
mo. Charles: I'll never set foot In
that awful kitchen again. by day or
hight, while have my right senses"
Then l am sure that good servant
OF yours"
Mrs. Mccarthy shrieked a quick de.
nial before he had time to finish the
sentence, and Rose laughed.
(To be continued.)
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