Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-11-27


heard the music no more.
Ebenezer Pollock was angry. He re-
solved to lay the intruding ghost II
possible. and so the next day when a
watery sun rendered the house little
less dreary he lighted lantern and
unsealed the door that led into the
other side of the house.
The house was quite as dusty and
forlorn ms on the day he had bought
It. Strangely enough. Ebcnezer did
not look at the little piano which stood
open just as Cornella Elmsbury had
left II so many years ago. with yell
lowed sheet of music upon the rack.
He scurried through the rooms with
a half realization that some slender
spirit was fitting through the rooms
away from his communicating presence.
A few weeks afterward there came
another storm of wind and rain. and
again he heard the ghostly music.
Ebenezer had a twinge of the rheuma-
tism that night. and he very irritably
raped on the wall with his cane. The
music stopped abruptly. and he did
not hear 1t again. although there were
many storms that fall.
One winter evening. when the old
house was wrapped In binding snow
storm. Ebenezer awoke from his first
sleep with every muscle aching and
drawing with pain. Rheumatism held
him captive. For hours ne groaned
dismally, conscious that the fire In his
air tight stove was nearly out Mt n
time when he needed heat. There was
no ministering hand to apply hot Han
nels to his swollen joints and muscles
or TO allay his torture with soothing
liniments.
1t was then that the ghost came
again-this time with groppg fingers
upon the sealed door. II Knocked gen.
tly and spoke to him In faint, fright
ened whispers.
go awayr shouted Ebenezer wrath
fully. Go away, ma'am. 1t amt
proper that you should be loit'ring
around here. Go away. ! say"
There was silence. and presently
Ebenezer's thick. grizzled hair stood
almost upright on his head. Ghostly
footsteps sounded in the rooms over
his head and softly. tap. tap. tap. down
the narrow staircase that opened into
his bedroom.
The lamp beside his bed gave forth
a cheering light. and Ebenezer Pollock.
thoroughly frightened for the first
time in his life. watched with fasci-
mated eyes the slowly opening door At
the foot OF his couch.
Tall and slender and pale. she stood
before him at last. her tender blue
eyes filed with plying tears. Per-
haps she was forty years old. but the
hair framing her delicate face made
her appear much younger.
II could not bear to hear you moan
ing with pain all alone. My husband
used to have rheumatism before he
died. and | know just what to do"
she said In low tone.
'Ma'am" gasped Ebenezer. "Ma'am.
He watched her slender figure as 1t
fitted TO and fro about his rooms.
She mended the fire, and soon its
cheering warmth brought relief to his
aching limbs. She heated water and
flannel cloths and applied soothing lin
iments with very human fingers.
When the lines of suffering had re-
Taxed and EbeneZer's face still sought
hers qnestioningly she sat down in a
low chair and spoke somewhat sadly.
I'm Mrs. Stone-Cornelia ElmsOury
that was. I've been living here four
years.
Herein this house? How" de-
manded EbeneZer doubtfully.
in the big back attic" said Cornelia.
with little smile. 1T looks out on
the tall chestnut woods. you know.
and the short chimney comes out
there. Grandfather left the cellar full
OF coal and wood. I've got it real
comfortable up there. and on stormy
nights I'd come down In the dark and
play on my piano till you drove me
away. used TO walk over to Bolton
on dark evenings and get all my gro
ceries and things. Ii was hard work.
but 1t was heaven to me TO get home
again after all went through" She
broke into sobs.
what made you hide? What did
you do II for?" asked Ebenezer excit-
eddy.
my husband was poor. He died and
left a little insurance money-just
enough to buy my food and not enough
TO pay rent. My eyesight Is so poor
cannot work. and so | thought would
come back here heard the place was
shut up. and II was my own by rights.
knew I'D be driven out IL any one
knew was here"'
you poor little thing." blurted Ebe-
nezer pityingly. stay here just MS
long rs you llkew There was a long
silence after that. whlIe the little Wild
ow cried happily before the fire. Ebe-
nezer was thinking rapidly. III you
ever go away. ma'am." he said. with
a great blush, "l'll go after you and
bring you back here and He paused.
II happened that one day the ghost
deserted the Elmsbury house. and Ebe-
nezer kept his word and went after
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