The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-05-18


Holmes; "he's as easy as old lilly. 1t
wouldn't have troubled him any if they
set it right in his front yard But guess
she minded some. Iheard she did. John
said there va mt any need of it. The town
wouldn't have set it so near, if Mr.. Dunn
had set his foot down he wouldn't have it
there. Is'pose they wanted to keep that
big field on the side clear; but they would
have moved it along little if hed made
a fuss. tell you what tbs, I've bout
made up my mind dun know as it S
Scripture, but | can's help it-if folks
don't make fuss they won't get their
rights in this world. If you jest lay still
an don It rise up, you're goin' to get
stepped on. If people like to be, they
can; | don t''
''I should have thought he d have hated
to have the poorhouse quite so Close
murmured the stout woman.
Suddenly Mrs Holmes leaned forward
and poked her head among the other three.
She sat on the end of the row. "Say,"
said she, in mysterious whisper, II
want to know if you've heard the stories
bout the Dunn house?'
"No; what? chorused the other wo-
men, eagerly. They bent over toward her
till the four faces were in knot.
"Well, said Mrs. Holmes, cautiously,
with a glance at the bright headed girl
across the way-'I heard it pretty straight
they say the house is haunted -
| The stout woman shifted and straighten-
ed herself. "Haunted!' repeated she.
"They say that ever since Jenny died
there's been queer noises round the house
that they can't account for. You see that
front chamber over there, the one next
to the poor house; well, that's the room,
they say
The women all turned and looked at the
chamber windows, where some rufied
white curtains were futtering.
''That's the chamber where Jenny used
to sleep, you know, Mrs. Holmes went on
"an she died there. Well, they say that
before Jenny died, Flora had always slept
there with her, but she felt kind of bad
about going back there, so she thought
she take another room. Well there was
the awfulest moanin an takin on up in
Jenny's room when she did, that Flora
went back there to sleep.
II shouldn thought she could" whis-
pered the nervous woman who was quite
pale.
"The moanin' stopped jest as soon as
she got in there with a light. You see
Jenny was always terrible timid an afraid
to sleep alone, an had lamp burnin' all
night, an it seemed to them just as if it
really was her, pose
II don't believe one word of it," said
the stout woman, getting up. "It makes
me all out of patience to hear people talk
such stuff, jest because the Dunns happen
to live opposite graveyard. -
''I told it jest as heard it, said Mrs
Holmes, stiffiy.
"Oh, | amt blamin' you; its the folks
that start such stories that [ ain got any
patience with. Think of that dear, pretty
little 16-year- r-old girl hauntin' house p
"Weil, I've told it jest as I heard it, -
repeated Mrs. Holmes, still in tone OF
slight umbrage II don ever take much
stock in such things myself"
The four women strolled along to the
covered wagon and climbed in. II de-
clare" said the stout woman, conciliating-
ly, 81 dun know when I've had such an
outin'. I feel as if it had done me good.
I've been wantin' to come down to the
cemetery for long time, but it's most
more | want to walk I feel real OBJ
liged to you, Mis- Holmes. "
Then the party logged along the road
to the village, past outlying farm houses
and rich green meadows all freckled gold
with dandelions Dandelions were in their
height; the buttercups had not yet come.
Flora Dunn, the girl on the doorstep,
glanced up when they started down the
street; then she turned her eyes on hel
work she was sewing with nervous haste
"Who were those folks, did you see,
Flora p called her mother, out of the sit
ingroom.
II didn't notice. replied Flora, alb
sently.
Just then the girl whom the women had
met came lingeringly out of the cemetery,
and crossed the street.
"There's that poor little Wren girl,
remarked the voice in the sittingroom.
eyes" assented Flora After while
she got up and entered the house. Hel
mother looked anxiously at her when she
came into the room.
"Im all out of patience with you,
Flora" said she. 'sYou're jest as white
as a sheet. You'll make yourself sick.
You re actin dreadful foolish.
Flora sank into chair and sat staring
straight ahead with strained, pitiful gaze
81 can't helpit; can t do any different, y
said She II shouldn' think YOU d scold
me, mother
"Scold you; l ain t scoldin' you, child
but there amt any sense in your doin so.
You'll make yourself sick, an you re al
I've got left. I can have anything hap,
pen to you, Flora" Suddenly Mrs. Dunn
burst out in low wall, hiding her face in
her hands.
II don t see as you re much better your.
self, mother" said Flora, heavily.
81 don't know as I am" sobbed hel
mother; "but I We got you to worry about
besides-everything else. Oh dearl oh
dear, dear''
81 don't see any need of your worrying
about me-" Flora did not cry, but hel
face seemed to darken visibly with gath
ering melancholy like cloud.
II see, if you don't" returned the
mother. s'I ain blind. -
81 don't see what you are blaming me
for
II amt blamin' you, but it seems te
me that you might jest as well let me &C
up there an sleep as you.
Suddenly the girl also broke out into
wild cry. II amt going to leave her
Poor little JENNY poor little JENNY You
needn' t try to make me, mother; won Il
Flora, don tt
81 won'tl WON'T | won'tl Poo
little Jenny! Oh dear! oh dearI'
"What if it is so? What if it is
her? Amt she got me as well as you