The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-05-25

the cars ~ get out in the country and
think awhile. alighted at village,
and renting wheel, struck off along
a lonely road, where everything would
be quiet.
"As bowled ahead, trying to let
the Imagination that had spun so many
impossible stories for your entertain
ment suggest some scheme for getting
rich with the few thousand I had on
hand, came upon the most pictnr-
esquely situated residence that 1 ever
saw. The plan was after came to me
in moment. If could only secure
this place and draw the attention of
some wealthy city resident to it as
desirable for country house, could
probably double my money in six
months.
"This was not such a mad scheme
as you may suppose, for the locality
had wonderful natural beauty and pos
sibilities. I shall not stop to tell you
about that, however, but get along in
the direct line of my story. turned
into the driveway to see what could
learn. and found that the place was
without inhabitants Inquiry at houses
in the vicinity brought to light the fact
that no one wished to rent or buy the
property, because it was haunted. This
was stated in sober earnest by the ru-
ralites, and served to give zest to my
pursuit, for it would tend to cheaper
the price. AS had no faith in any
other ghosts than those of my own
creating, that part of it did not trouble
me.
ut took me several weeks to get the
deed Then / believed that little
tidying upwould add to the STABILITY,
SO hired some men and directed them,
in the work. AS this would take up
the time until late in the fall, and since
1t would be necessary for some one to
be on the ground to give information
to anyone who might answer my adj
vertisements, moved in. Board was
obtained at neighbours, but I roomed
in the house, which was quite old
fashioned and substantially built.
Time slipped by, and had several
possible purchasers. Finally one man
took an option on it until spring. He
paid me 500, provided was willing
to remain and look after it. l agreed,
as I had nothing special to take me
elsewhere. 1t was now the middle of
November.
"After the sale was thus practically
made, time hung much heavier on my
hands. no longer had the stimulus
Of expectation, and often felt lonesome
and tired of the situation. Such
state was inclined, as it always had
been, to excite my imagination, and l
occupied much of my leisure in con-
cocting the most unlikely vagaries that
ever came to anyone. This was my es-
pecial occupation during the long even
ings
Zone winters evening made fire
in the crate, which was not one of the
modern kind, but built of brick. Then
sat down before it in an armchair,
ready to let fancy direct my thought.
Taking the solitariness of the location
into account, and the rather ancient
appearance of the room in which sat,
it was not difficult to have the imagi-
nation run.
"In this way was soon able to see
that the fire blazing in front of me
was in an old-time fireplace heaped
high with logs and flanked by andirons.
Playing about the floor, too, were the
children of years ago in their dress so
quaint, while at my right the open
pantry was stocked with an abundance
Of pies and doughnuts and cakes whose
peers are now so few and far between.
$50 unused until finally bedtime for
the youngsters came.
after they were gone l sat little
while in the quiet that came to my
mind, and just as was ready to rise
the clock on the mantel struck IL.
continued to sit still, listening for the
last faint echoes, when saw the shad-
ow of an arm on the brick at the right
side of the chimney. 1t was peculiar
shadow, at once arousing my curiosity,
and really startling me little. Up
to this time had not seen or heard
the slightest indication of any visitant
or occurrence that could ever have
given the reputation of being haunted
to the house. Might not this be of that
character?
"The popularity in this appearance
was its extreme thinness, as nearly as
can express it. There was no him
drance whatever to sight. l looked
right through it. and saw the divisions
of the bricks. recognized this much
at the first instant that it came before
me, but as it moved l was attracted
still further to the side, where the arm
that made the shadow was to be seen
distinctly. The moment my eye fell on
this l saw at once why the shadow had
the popularity newfoundland from
which it came was precisely like it in
this respect. could see through the
arm itself as readily as did through
the shadow!
Nov, never having met any ghosts
but those in my own mind, was for
the moment awed and subdued. Natu-
rally glanced to get look at the per-
son who owned the arm. You may
know that I was still more startled