The Holly chieftain., 1901-05-10
sAiy,r. saeu IN - ann .s4 vs.s

sAivsr. shes ~ - sspn asd ve.s
71s tu,. - { 81 80 pre-
psrsd ~ Ass u 4 reenest Mis-
coNle3's roeal Rse&ly opppsits.
20 that the etntsl6 ~ easily cola-
municsts WITH esSH slhsr Il nscssaasy.
Nr. and Mn. Cox1ag had chosen .
larry, Square chednAef u thu back oe
ths house, ass4 ~ revolver was Al
ready ttt1t % = hhas eloss s6osids ~
bed. Fires were lasih4 brightH II
all these rooms. nv booked Sxcesd-
ingly snug and cosy y ths tuddy glow.
Still, mot the less tor AFe and candle.
did Ross feel the unseen presence of
some former inhabttant u the place.
She hurried nsrvouaIy down the pass-
ago. entered hsr own room. took Z
book from her dressing bag and re-
treated withod4 darins. even to give
glance 4. the oaksn cabinet in the corr
ner. Quicker and quicker she went ON
her way back, breathing short and feel
ing terribly frightened. though
ashamed that she should do so. She
to live In q hausted house, and have
no more nerve thar this. The thing
was ridiculous @ould be moro
sensible. And making brave effort
to feel collected 1t the head Of the
stairs; shs stsafa or ifancied she heard
one breathing close behind her-felt,
or fancled she felt, the touch OF a cold,
light hand upon her own. She shNeked
wildly, aud ran headlong, down, only
to find the whole family in the hall,
looking pale and frightened. and EVIL
IDENTIFY ready TO- face twenty ghosts. for
the benefit of whose feshless noses MT.
Cowley grasped the tongs.
Good gracious. Rose!" exclaimed
her mother. trembling from head to
foot. What is it? Have you seen
anythinsr
.'No." said Rose. looking extremely
silly; but xaa,all In the dark at
the head of tho stairs. and fancied
some one touched met"
81 wish to goodness you would be
sure OF your danger, young lady, be-
fore you scare w al out OF our wits
another time!s said Mr.. Coxley. lead
ing the way back to the drawing-ro
and disposing OF the tongs in their
place once more. II made sure by your.
that old Queen Bess. at the
very least, was after you. II you are
going to fancy ghosts in every direc-
tion, you had better go back and take
shelter with Mrs. Grimes as soon as
you can. Why, here's Kitty, who
couldn't bear the idea Of this house,
and look at her now. She don't like
1t, and she may believe there are
ghosts here. but / don't think she
would invent them for herself before
hand, a. you seem, 70 have done. No
more nonsense. Rose. II you please.
or every ono in Banley shall know
that you. who were SO eager to get
here. were the f,rst to cry out Wolff
half an hour after you came"
Mr.. Cowley, having delivered his lee
ture, resumed the perusal. of the Times.
Catherine said nothing, 1t is true. but
even her crochet needles, as she
worked, seemed to assume an air OF
superiority over Rose. That young lady
sat. looking sulky beside the fire. HUI
man nature prompted her to throw her
book at GATHERINGS head. but young
lady nature came to the rescue, and
prevented any such untoward act. At
last her sense of injury subsidized as she
drew near the lamp and began to read.
Certainly she hadRchosen the queer
est volume possible for such a place.
1t was Mrs. Groves Might Side Of Ma
ture." q book we'll calculated to give
sound nightmare even to the most
incredulous opponent Of the ghost
theory.
For some minutes she was very
quiet; but Mrs. Cowley, looking up
from her knitting, got glimpse Of
the illustrated cover, where. beside the
old hall clock, and BY the light Of .
splendid harvest moon, . genuine or
thodox ghost. in Winding sheet. v
appearing to terrified maid-servant,
Just preparing to faint upon the floor.
One look was enough for Mrs. Cow
ley. She uttered an exclamation that
drew every eye to the unlucky book.
Mr.. Cowley looked over his spectacles
at his daughter, as II he had thought
she had suddenly gone mad.
What could have possessed you to
bring that horrible thing here?" he
asked sternly. "It Is the greatest non
sense. only At to go into the IRE. I.
have half mind to make you put It
there noww M