The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-08-01
A Vine on a House.


About three miles from the little
town of Norton, in Missouri, on the
road leading to Maysville, stands an
old house that was last occupied by
a family named Harding. Since 1886
no one has lived in it, nor is anyone
likely to live in it again. Time and
the disfavor of persons dwelling there
about are converting it into rather
picturesque ruin. An observer unae-
auainted with its history would hardly
put it into the category of haunted
houses yet in all the region round
such is its evil reputation. Its win
dows are without glass, its doorways
without doors; there are wide breaches
in the single roof, and for lack of
paint the Notwithstanding is a dun
gray. But these unfailing signs Of the
supernatural are partly concealed and
greatly softened by the abundant foil
age of large vine oyerrunnings the
entire structure. This vine-of species
which no botanist has ever been able
to name-has an important part IN
the story of the house.
The Harding family consisted of
Robert Harding. his wife Matilda, Miss
Julia Went, who was her sister, and
two Young children. Robert Harding
was a silent. saturnine man who made
no friends in the neighberhood and
apparently did not care to. He was
about forty years old, frugal and in.
dustrious, and made living from the
little farm which is now overgrown
with brush and brambles. He and his
sister-in-law were rather tabooed by
their neighbors, who seemed to think
that they were seen too frequently to-
gether-not entirely their fault, for
at these times they evidently did not
challenge observation. The moral code
of rural Missouri is stern and exacting.
Mrs. Harding was well-mannered,
sad-eyed woman, lacking left foot.
At some time in 1884 it became
known that Mrs, Harding had gone
TO visit her mother in Iowa. That
was what her husband said in reply
to inquiries, and his manner of saying
it did not encourage further question.
ing. She never came back, and two
years later, without selling his farm
or anything that was his, or appoint
ing an agent to look after his interests,
or removing his household goods, Hard
ing, with the rest of the family, left
the country. Nobody knew whittier he
went; nobody at that time cared. Nat
nrally, whatever was movable about
the place soon disappeared, and the
deserted house became haunted III
the manner of its kind.
One summer evening, four or five
years later, the Rev. j. Gruber, of Nor
ton, and a Maysville attorney named
Hyatt met on horseback in front OF
the Harding place. Having some bust
ness matters to discuss, they hitched
their animals and, going to the house
sat on the porch to talk. Some humor
Gus reference to the somber reputation
of the place was made, and forgotten
as soon as uttered, and they talked Of
their business affairs until it grew al
most dark. The evening was oppressive
ly warm, the air absolutely stagnant.
Suddenly both men started from theil
seats in surprise: long vine that Gov
cred half the front of the house an(
dangled its branches from the edge o.
the porch above them was visibly ani
audibly agitated, shaking violently il
everv stem and leaf.
5EWe shall have Storm Hyatt eX
claimed.
Gruber said nothing, but silently di
rected the others attention to the folI
age of adjacent trees, which showed
no movement; even the delicate tip
Of the boughs silhouetted against tn,
clear sky were motionless. They hast
lily passed down the steps to what ha,
been lawn and looked upward to tn
vine, whose entire length was now Wis
ihie. 1t continued ia violent agitation
Yet they could discern no disturbin;
cause.
LET us leave said the minister
And leave they did. Forgetting tina
they had been travelling in opposit
directions, they rode away together
They went TO Norton, where they re
lated their uncanny experience to sev
eral discreet friends The next ever
ing. at about the same hour. accom-
panied by two others whose names ar
not recalled by the writer, they wer
again on the porch of the Hardin
house. and again the mysteriou
phenomenon occurred, the vine was viz
lently agitated while under the close.
scrutiny from root to tip. nor did the
combined strength applied to the trun
serve TO still it. After an hours OIL
servation they retreated. no less wi:
than when they had come.
Ne great time was required for tbe'
singular facts to rouse the curiosity
the entire neighborhood. BY day az
by night crowds of persons assemble
at the Harding house ''seeking a sign.
1t does not appear that any found i
yet so credible were the witnesses me
toned that none doubted the realit
of the manifestations to which the
testified
By either a happy inspiration
some destructive design, it was one da
proposed-nobody appeared to kno
from whom the suggestion came
dig up the vine, and after a good de
Of debate this was done. Nothing W
found but the root, yet nothing cou
have been more strangei
ass For i've or SIX Feet from the trup
hiaA had af The surface 81 the grou1
DE- ses eral ine Hes. IL =.
s9s 81 slslgie $40 straight. into