Marshall County independent., 1901-05-03
CHAPTER w.

Grave enough was Mrs. COwley's face
as she sat down to that first meal in
her new house. The tea was hot and
strOng-the toast nicely buttered-the
cold ham cut with Vauxhall nicely, yet
she could not eat. If door creaked,
she started nervously in her chair-if
a mouse gnawed at a wainScOt, she
looked as if she was about to faint.
Yet the habit of obedience to her hus-
bands wishes waa so strongly i'm
planted within her breast that she
never dreamed of saying how uncom-
Portable she felt Mr. Cowley had made
up his mind to live in a haunted house
consequently a haunted house must
be the best place possible to live in.
She was serving her fellow creatures
by proving to them that the doctrine
of ghosts must be false. No martyr
ever underwent more agony for the
sake of a good cause than she.
At last the meal was over. and the
ex-charwoman had cleared away. The
group drew around the blazing fire.
Mrs Cowley took her knitting; Miss
Catherine, with an air of making her
self at home, performed wonderful
feats with her crochet needles; Mr..
COwley pished and pshawed over the
columns of his Times, which in the
hurry of removal he had not had an
opportunity to read before. All were
employed except Rose, and she evil
IDENTIFY found it very hard to settle to
anything. She walked about the room,
till her father growled out a request
that she would not fidget him; so then
she lifted the curtain and gazed out
for long time upon the bare and DESC
late lawn, looking more desolate still
beneath the pale light of the wintry
moon.
A thought struck her as she stood
there. She gave a little delicious
shiver, then left the room and went
upstairs.
The turret chamber had been pre-
pared for her by special request Miss
Cowley's room was exactly opposite
so that the sisters could easily COM
municate with each other if necessary
Mr. and Mrs. Cowley had chosen a
large, square chamber at the back of
the house, and the revolver was al
ready lying on table close beside the
bed. Fires were blazing brightly in
all these rooms. They looked exceed
ingly snug and cozy in the ruddy glow.
Still, not the less for fire and candle,
did Rose feel the unseen presence of
some former inhabitant of the place.
She hurried nervousiy down the pass
age, entered her own ON, took a
book from her dressing bag and re-
treated without daring even to give a
glance at the oaken cabinet in the cor
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 a haunted house, and have
no more nerve than this? The thing
was ridiculous-she would be more
sensible. And making a brave effort
to feel collected at the head of the
stairs, she heard or fancied she heard
one breathing close behind her-felt,
or fancied she felt, the touch of cold,
light hand upon her own. She shrieked
/ wildly, and 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 fieshless noses Mr..
/ Cowley grasped the tongs.
Good gracious, ROse!" exclaimed
her mother, trembling from head to
foot. What is it? Have you seen
anything"
NO" said Rose, looking extremely
silly; but 1 was all in the dark at
the head of the stairs. and | fancied
| some one touched mel"
Il wish to goodness you would be
sure of your danger. young lady. be-
fore you scare us all out of our wits
another time!" said Mr. Cowley, lead
ing the way back to the drawing-room
and dispOsing of the tongs in their
place once more. 81 made sure by your
squalling 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
it, and she may believe there are
ghosts here, but 1 don't think she
would invent them for herself before
hand, az you seam to have done. No