Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1901-05-31

rude to her, so that she might see that
| was kind. l won her, l do believe,
more because she was grateful to me
than because she loved me; but the
love came afterwards. so that it did
not matter. | won her, and made her
my wife. in spite OF all the sneers OF
her cousins, and the discouraging cold
ness of her aunt.
'For a time, we were very happy.
Then some unknown correspondent
began to trouble my peace Anony-
nous letters came to me day after
day, which told me that my wife was
not what she seemed-that she loved
another-that she only waited her
time to play me false.
81 was foolish enough to read the
slanders-to think of them-at last. to
believe them. Circumstances, which
looked suspicious then, but which |
have seen by far clearer light since,
came up one after another to make me
distrust Marjorie still more. At last
l felt so convinced of her faithless-
ness that | deserted her.
Il left a letter saying why I had
gone. | left her money. and | have
never seen her face from that day till
tonight it beamed upon me out of the
darkness like an accusing spirit.
Aunt-Rose-she has been a school
teacher-a gOverness, a companion,
during my absence But she is one OF
the best and purest women on earth;
and | took her away just as she was,
from her drudgery, to come and tell
you so. l am sure you will all be-
friend her. Will you not?"
Every one of u.s." was the hearty
reply, and Mrs. Cowley folded the
young wife in a motherly embrace,
and Rose and Catharine kissed her or
the cheek in the most sisterly fashion.
Tears stood in Marjorie's dark eyes as
they did so; and her husband turneI
his head for a moment. as if ashamed
of the weakness which he could not
help feeling and showing at their
kindness.
What the good lady who employs
her will say to her elopement, l can
hot conjecture" remarked Mr.. Cowley
after a moments pause.
'Oh. she never had a very good
opinion OF me-" said Marjorie. cheer.
fully. And she will probably ute.
devOut thanksgiving when she finds
that she is to see me no more. There
never was much love lost between us.
| am afraid"
Was she a nice persona" asked
Catharine.
Not according to my definition of
the word nice. | can describe her to
you in very short time She is
stout women, who thinks herself i'll
when she is only lazy, and who never
gets out of her easy chair except to
/ go to bed or to fly into rage-which
she does on an average of twelve
times a day. No-decidedly | do not
call Mrs. Magnum nice person.
II should think mott" said Rose.
laughing. Il wish | could see her
face when she hears you are gone"
Never mind Mrs. Magnum. now.
said Mr.. Cowley. II want to hear
something about my uncle and this
mad freak of his. What could have
put it into his head to take a haunted
/ house,"
"Ah," said Catharine. ruefully.
"you must ask Rose that"
Why"
Because she was at the bottom Of
1t ALL"
us that so, Rose?"
81 am afraid | must plead guilty.
1 Charles. | thought it would be 50
nice and romantic to live with a ghost.
i Bat don't like it at all. There is a
dreadful cradle-rocking in the kitchen
every night. and not one of us dares
to stop there a moment after dusk
Papa heard it the first night We came.
and yet he won't go away | think
he is little frightened, but he fam
cies that people will laugh at him if
he goes away. And So
And so it will go on till we are all
carried off bodily by these horrible
cTadle-rOckinS creatures. and then
YOUR father will be satisfied" broke in
Mrs. Cowley, more in sorrow than in
anger
Her nephew broke out laughing
"Ah, you may laugh, Charlie; but
/ can assure you it is no joke to live in
place that gives you the cod shiver5
every time you stop to think what it
really is. And MIR. COwley actually
talks of spending his Christmas here.
But nothing shall tempt me to stay,
even if he does At any other time
can stand it; but | will not eat turkey
end plum pudding in company with
half a dozen grOwn-up hobgOblins to
please any man alive"
You are quite right, aunt. But
really was not laughing at your trou-
bles. only at your funny way of telling
them. But, joking apart, what is this
story about a cradle? Because I have
beard 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 mo-
ment; then his face cleared again.
"Oh, 1 see! George was his brother.
How long is it since they have lived
in this house-the Vernons, I mean?"
"Oh, great many years! Twenty or
twenty-five, / think"
"That makes the story clear You