The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-03-28

person in the world on whom her af-
fections were centered and she sud-
denly resolved to breach subject
which had tortured her for months.
"Silas, an artist was here yesterday
and wanted to rent the cottage. l
told him perhaps if he saw you he
might make terms He said he would
call today"
eff he comes tell him it isn't for
hire" her husband answered shortly
Mrs. Grant shelled her peas nerv-
ously. But, Silas, why don't you
rent it? He will be willing to pay
well, he says it's the most picturesque
place about here
1--WE said right along I don't want
to rent it. have my own reasons for
not wishing to sell or rent. | don't
see why people keep Fostering me
about that cottage"
His wife caught a glimpse of his
face as he bent to fasten lacing in
his shoe The troubled look which
had made her uneasy for months was
growing deeper All the blood in her
body seemed to be gathering in her
head, she felt a queer feeling about
the heart, but she stammered out
bravely, setting the bowl of peas at
her feet and looking him squarely in
the eyes.
"Silas, do you know people are
whispering and talking and do you
know what they are saying? They
say old Tim Murphy comes around
there even in the day time and that
there is always shadow on the cot
tage! And, Silas, I'm beginning to
think so, too. There's a shadow there
and it's creeping, creeping up here
and swallowing the brightness of this
place and it seems to have drawn you
in, too"
She paused. At her first words her
husband had Strengthened in amaze
ment; it seemed as if he had been ap-
prehensively startled, but Immediately
his face resumed the expression it
had worn of late as he said kindly,
taking her in his arms in one of his
rare caresses:
''Now, Susie, you're all nerved up.
Don't pay so. much attention to idle
tongues. About the cottage being
haunted you know what the poet says:
All houses in which men have lived
are haunted houses And as for Tim
Murphy, he never harmed people liv-
ing and 1 guess he won't bother them
dead"
He left her and entered the house
She finished her task in silence. She
no longer noticed the beauty of the
day or her surroundings for she was
far from satisfied. Deep down she
knew the end was not yet and as she
picked up her bowl and turned to en-
ter the house, she looked toward the
cottage; a chill came over her, every
thing else seemed to be bathed in
sunlight, only that place rested in the
shadow.
That evening Silas Grant walked
down the orchard road and paused
near the cottage. He seemed to see
a man somewhat past middle age,
shoulders slightly bent and silvery
hair, pottering about in the weed
grown garden, but as he came nearer
the man disappeared 1t was not the
first time he thought he saw Tim
Murphys ghost among the flower beds.
He had heretofore set it down as a
freak of the Imagination, but now peo-
pie were whispering and talking; 9th
er people had seen it, too. Silas Grant
would have given half he possessed
to have got near enough to the spirit
or whatever it was to talk to it. Tim
Murphy had never anything but a
smile for him, but this pottering old
man had always an averted face.
He sat on the stone wall in front
of the cottage and tried to think. He
wondered how much longer he could
stand this thing.
Silas Grant was one of the best
known and respected men in Rentham.
Squire" Grant he was called and he
was one of the old-fashioned New Eng
land type, honest and straightforward.
Tim Murphy had been day laborer
and tenant in the cottage. For
years Tim had taken care of his moth
er and crippled grandson, and few
months before his death they passed
away. The family were Catholics, but
found in the Grants with all their
hatred of "Papists," the kindest of
neighbors. Tim Murphy often longed
for chance to show his gratitude.
It seemed impossible to do so in big
way because the Grants we're prosper
GUS farmers, but one day the chance
came.
Money was tight; there had been
three. years in succession of poor
crops for one reason or another Silas
had put his money into a number OF
investments which would not mature
for several years. A day came when
he wished to buy a machine which
he could obtain for half it's value by
paying ready money. Tim Murphy
came forward with. 5000 of his saw
ings.
PAY me when you are able" was
all he said. He absolutely refused to
take a note of any kind. when you
are able to pay am ready to receive
it. This is favor between friends. "
Silas Grant took it gratefully. 1t
was favor he appreciated deeply and
he intended to pay the loan as soon
as the first cash came to hand. When
the time came he needed it for some