Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-04-13

please leave Jim at home this trip,
mother said, when father suggested
taking me with him, as he often did IL
the holidays I was lad of twelv'
and father, who was contractor, hat
big job on a new railway. The OBJ
ject Of this journey was to pay the
men, the paymaster being i'll.
81 don't like you to carry so much
money" mother complained. TITS
dangerous"
mot bit of it, Mary; don't worry
Not creature knows that am taking
It. Besides, we are ahead of pay day. .
But mother was not satisfied, watch
ifg us wistfully from the doorstep the
next morning when we started for the
Office. A messenger from the bank
brought the money, which was put
into fathers valise. My bag was only
half full and exactly like fathers in
size and color.
We left town at II O'Clock. You may
De sure that we kept a careful eye on
the valise
1t was dark when we reached Oak
ton, and after a poor supper at the
only hotel we waited fer the stage
which was to take us to our destina-
tion-twelve miles distant. The stage,
drawn by two bony horses, rumbled up
| to the sidewalk.
where's Bill?" father asked, for the
burly driver always amused him with
| his nuaint remarks
"Guess Bill can't drive this here
stage tonight" the landlord answered.
'sThem old horses skeered at some
thing this morning and upset the rig,
an Bill, he's allyn upstairs with a
broken Leg"
Billy's substitute was anything but
attractive l have seldom seen more
disagreeable face. His eyes were
small and shifting; his mouth drawn
down. He was polite, however, and
put out his hand for the valises.
Never mind" said father, careless
| 1y. '"They will not be in the way,
since we are the only passengers"
The night was dark and gloomy. An
unaccountable depression came over
us. Going through the village father
! told me that it had once been of some
Importance, but a rival town had
drawn away business and people, add
ing that it was sad to see such beautl-
full houses going to decay
1--WE will pass house said to be
haunted" father went on. "A man
was found dead in his room and the
place became so terrifying to the fam
lily that they left it hurriedly not even
taking their furniture"
I wished that father would not dwell
on such unpleasant subjects, for 1t
gave me horrid sensation of fear.
'sWhere did the accident happen this
morning?" we inquired of the driver
Near the haunted house was the
reply. The horses seemed nervous and
SHE'D at every shadow.
Here's the place" the driver cried,
''and-curse it! the beasts seem to
remember it." At the same instant the
terrified animals SHE'D violently, and
before we could speak the left wheels
had gone into ditch and the big pole
snapped off, The man jumped out,
trying to quiet the frightened horses.
Strange to say we were unhurt and
scrambled out, clinging to our luggage.
The driver professed great concern,
appearing much annoyed at the acct
dent. We freed the horses and tried
to lift the wagon, but SO much damage
had been done that it was impossible
to repair it.
81 must get on to Norton tonight"
father said. Can we get a wagon
near?"
There was nothing nearer than the
village, the man declared, "and l must
take these horses back and hitch them
to the other bus" Then rubbing his
head and considering:
There's some folks in the old house
yopder. / guess they can give you a
BET, and / will be back by daybreak."
There seemed to be no alternative,
so we went to the old mansion. The
door was opened by man with an
unforgettable face; with large pale
blue eyes, a wide forehead with a
broken nose. He spoke kindly, saying
that he would give us shelter. After
lingering before a cherry wood fire,
which scenes to emphasize the fitful
shadows, we were conducted to big
bedroom upstairs. Its windows opened
on long veranda.
After our host left us we stepped
out, discovering that the veranda was
much dilapidated and that long
ladder leaned against it. We next
turned our attention to the room. A
huge, high-backed bed stood at one
side; and in the centre a table on
which were two lighted candles. 1t
had been handsome apartment, with
richly painted walls and dark wains-
coting. Old pictures hung on the
walls, their gift frames furnished and
dusty. Opposite the tables were por-
traits-handsome people in the dress Of
long ago.
We began to prepare for bed. Father
placed his valise on the table, taking
out different articles and laying some
of the money parcels on top. wan
dered about looking at everything. l
udu oil uuSduuJ ASSi1n6 cAN q SCASd-
ton that somebody was looking at
me, and that some one was breathing
near.
Look at this picture, father" !
cried, pointing to the life-sized face
Of a handsome old gentleman with
cold blue eyes. HE seems to look at
me wherever / 60"
''They say that's sign Of good
painting, Jim"
had been learning of eyes lately
from an uncle who was an oculist and
he had shown me how the pupil dilates
in darkness and contracts in a strong
light. | do not know what induced
me to take one of the candles and go
close to the picture
See this big moth, father" cried.
Can catch 1t for my collection?'
Going To fha norfraif Of the old onn-