Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1909-02-25

at first sight, for a prettier little
cottage, nesting among sweet briar
and cinnamon roses, snowy white,
with preternaturally green doors
rand blinds, and sparkling little lat
tice windows, you could not wish
to see. 1t stood within Squire Lem
on's grounds, down at the remote
end of Squire Lemons long garden,
and, of course, Squire Lemon was
its owner.
Yes, the cottage in Lemon Lane
was haunted. Half a dozen years
ago the squire's gardener, who lived
there, had come home in the small
hours in a raging state of drink,
and had killed mis- wife; and next
morning, in fit of impotent peni-
tence cut his own throat. They
buried the tragic gardener and his
wife out of sight, and the cottage
in Lemon Lane was ITO Let" But
untold gold could not nave induced
the good people in that little town
to pitch their tent amongst the
golden willows and cinnamon roses.
Whether 1t was the gardener, or
whether it was his wife, or whether
it were both, nobody could tell for
certain; but the house was prououn-
ced to be haunted.
Squire Lemon stood at his study
window, looking frowningly aslant
at the long visto of sunshine and
yellow willows, and flaming red
roses, down at the offending cottage,
cleaning like a toy house of ivory
amidst the bright green gloom. Not
all the sparkling morning sunlight,
not all the brilliant picture, could
effa.e one of those ugly, wicked lit
tie wrinkles from the smoke dried
face of Squire Lemon.
Its hundred and fifty dollars
a year clean out of my pocket, "
unused the squire, scowling at the
haunted house. six years that
cottage has been vacant, and six
times one hundred and fifty is nine
hundred dollars. Nine hundred dol
lars out of a mans pocket because
drunken brute comes home and
kills his wife, and cut his throat for
his own amusement"
The squire broke off with a very
sour face, for fluttering in and out
amongst the trees came a girlish fig
ure. slender and graceful as be-
came its owners eighteen years.
Very slowly and spiritlessly she
walked, and very, very pale was the
liant summer sun shone.
"And there's another bother,
burst out the choleric squire, re-
garding angrily his only child and
heiress. i've fed her, and clothed
her, and bought her piano, and
everything her heart could desire
and what sort of a return does she
make me? Why she goes and falls
in love with a dandified, empty
headed counter jumper. And she
wants me to let her marry him, and
spend my money for me. No, Miss
Eleanor lemon"
At this moment a servant came ur
and said:
"a lady. sir, at the door asking
to see you"
"A lady. Who is she? What
does she want?
II don't know her, sir. It's about
the haunt-the cottage down the
lane, / think.
The squire opened his eyes. Was
it tenant at last?
1.-THE cottage, EN-? Show her in
at once, Sam-at once"
Squire Lemon seated himself in
his chair of authority, and the next
moment Sam reappeared, ushering
in the lady. A lady, tall and ma
jestic, who moved with slow, stately
dignity; who was robed in deepest
deepest mourning-crape and bonn
bazine, trailing grandly, gloomily af-
ter her; widows cap encircline
a pale, handsome face cleaning be-
hind long Grape veil.
II heard at the hotel, Mr. Lem
on" the lady said, in melodious
monotone, sinking into the proffered
chair, that you mad a desirable cot
tage to rent. Now, | am in search
of small house; | am a widow
and live quite alone, and have called
to know your terms.
The squire gave little gasp; he
was so much taken by surprise.
"The terms are nothing; the cot
tage is very cheap" he said, as soon
as he could speak. Eight lovely
rooms, ma am, and only one hundred
and fifty a year, as you may see, in
the way of garden grounds, and wa
ter and gas on the premises It's a
dead bargain.
The lady arose and surveyed the
white cottage with critical eye
cts pretty place she said, "a
very pretty place. But IT has its
drawbacks, Squire Lemon" turning
to him with charming smile. 81
know all about the ghost
'"Confound the ghost! beg
your pardon, ma'am, but the people
are such--well, fools. The only
ghosts are the wind, and the rats,
and the trees and the moonlight, and
their imaginations You try the
the house, ma am, and if the ghost
bothers you, why I'll ask no rent.
Therel | can't say fairer."
NO It's bargain, Mr.. Lemon. -
The lady held out one daintily-
Liddad hand with q second charm