Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1901-06-14
CHAPTER III.

From that fatal evening a new lfe
longer monarch of all he surveyed"
for In every darkened room. in every
obscure corner of the haunted house
lurked something unseen and unheard
by others. but full of mysterious life
and motion for him. If mouse
squeaked behind the wainscot. it woul1
send him scurrying along the passage
at the rate of ten miles an hour: il a
door shut suddenly il made him trem-
bic and turn pale; if light shone in
a window. if a board creaked unex-
pectedly beneath his feet, he was apt
to start. and exclaim. Lord. bless
me-" in tone that did Mrs. Cowley's
very heart good In one word the
worthy banker. from a snug. good
tempered deniZen of Mecklenburgh
Square. had become transformed into
that strangest of animals. a haunted
man His sleep was no longer peaceful
for he was perpetually dreadng a
ghOstly visit; while Mrs Cowl " snored
placidly and provOkingIy at his side.
His coffee lost its relish; his tea it's
flavor. and his nightly glass of Holland
and water was taken more to screw his
courage up 10 the sticking point rather
than for an actual pleasure it gave to
him in the peculiar and unwonted state
of his mind
He was horribly frightened. He
hated that house with shivering ha-
tired. he told himself that if he saw an
other actual apparition there some
thing dreadful would happen to him:
ne would have a fit-an apopIectic one.
very possibly-or perhaps stroke of
palsy which would leave him with his
face awry, 1t was a horrible thought:
but be kept it manfully to himself. He
would have suffered those slow tor
lures OF agOnized fear hundred times
over rather than own to the wife of
his bosom that he had erred in select
ing such place for his residence. He
might have said as much to some GEN
tleman friend. if one had CHANGED to
come in his way; but his wife-never,
That was concession too great by far
for the worthy Englishman to make
No, the husband. like the king. could
do no wrong. and he was determined
20 uphold that doctrine to the last
gasp in his own family circle.
Do you think that same circle mean
while. was unaware of the struggle
unconscious of his fear? Not a Bit of
It, Mrs. Cowley. as she awoke each
morning from refreshing sleep and
saw him lying pale and uneasy upon
his pillow, smiled grimly to herself
and wondered how long he would take
TO come to his senses again. His
daughters. too. were rejoicing in the
pangs their own mischievous arts had
caused. even when they asked after
poor papa's headache" in such mel
linuous tones each morning at the
breakfast table. And Mrs. Mccarthy
deceitful old sinner that she was
laughed till she cried sometimes over
the broths and jellies which she made
each day and which she pressed upon
his acceptance with face as long as
an undertaker's.
The whole house was In league
against him. and the poor wretch knew
IL not. Yet he stood il out manfulIy;
and there seemed some danger that be-
tween his uneasiness and his obstinacy
he would grow seriously ILL., Besides.
Christmas was fast approaching and
the girls wanted to dance the New
Year in and the Old Year out. at their
own house in Mecklenburgh Square.
What was to be done with the banker
to make him strike his colors. desert
his ship and own himself soundly
beaten?
1t was Rose who formed a fresh
plan, which she thought might be sue
cess full. She proposed It that even
Ing when the conspirators met, az
usual in the turret charn' r. to hatch
new plots against the peace of the mas
ter Of the house But at hrst, Mrs.
Cowiey had somewhat to say.
I'm afraid we shall have to give Il
up a. bad job" she remarked, shak-
ing her head dolefully.
why. mammal" asked Catharine.