Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-08-12
CHAPTER !.

Rain had been falling for five days
when first saw Hartley house. The
place had so much local distinction
that village not far from the estate
was named Hartley, for it.
Even when drenched and dripping
In storm which had lasted for five
days in late May, the spot was beau
tiful and charming; 1t had antiquity,
that rare thing in new land. Its two
thousand acres, handsomely arranged
for decorative and agricultural pur-
poses, lay along the river bank. with
an indented and interesting littOral
where the river was two miles wide.
had been an inferno in st. Julinn's
hospital, and at the close Of my last
year Or. BrOwnell had asked ME If my
arrangements would make 1t possible
for me to undertake case which he
thought might be profitable and in
teresting to young physician. 1t was
that Of Mr. Homer Sidney, the owner
of Hartley house.
II never saw so strange will to
live" said the doctor when he dis
cussed the circumstances with me.
1.-THE old man is indolnitable. For that
reason he is interesting. He lives be-
cause he Wills to live, for some ire
me1dOus reason Of which know moth
ing. 1t Is enormous. You may live to
see him die; am afraid shall not
and he is seventy and am fifty"
decided to accept. 1t may have
been professional weakness. but in ad-
dition to the financial certainty offered
there was professional interest
aroused. If DIR. Brownell were at
tracted by a human beings will to
live there certainly was something ST.
perhumanly interesting about that hu-
man being.
The recollection Of Hartley as
first saw 1t remains as an enduring
impression. The long downpour Of
rain had given the place spiritual ac-
cent. One felt as If the soul were
saturated.
1t is only occasionally IN a normal
mind that weather works a spiritual
effect. 1 thought my mind was nor
NAL, but I felt the spiritual depres-
sion.
The way from the station for three
miles was through ordinary American
small farm land. Then it changed alb
ruptly. Antiquity began to show. The
driver said we were in the Hartley
grounds.
was so depressed by the rain, by
my own uncertainty, by thinking over
the decision 1 had made and seemed
about to regret. by the dismal pros
pects-or at least the uncertain pros
pects-that should have been glad
for any sustaining human association.
At the end Of my journey soon found
such association and was thereafter
happy in it, but approaching the place
/ was apprehensive. My driver had
been, if not unapproachable, at least
stupid and dismal.
It somewhat astonished me when
suddenly he began to talk. We were
then about half mile from the house.
II wish you had come an hour
earlier" he said.
"Why?" asked.
"I'm not coward" said the driver
SIT least. no more than usual, but
don't like to be in here alone, and
I've got to 60 home alone"
In fashion he expressed what
might have been my mood if 1 had
known more of the place. l could
sympathize with him. The rain had
done this for me.
"\Vhat have you to be afraid Off
I asked. lis something haunted
around here?" It seemed as If 81
beautiful spot ought to have this In
terest. He stopped his horse.
"Tm going back out Of here like
scared pig" he said, that is, if tn!
old horse can stand it. But you're GO
ing to live here for while. and II
stop minute to show you where the
say the ghost walks"
He pointed to where the river ha'
eaten a substantial bit out of the ba2b
making pool or tiny bay. The roac
swerving toward the river here. wa
within thirty feet Of it.
1T isl't natural for man to XII
his brother" said my driver, IAN
something unnatural comes Of 1t.
man killed his brother there, and some
thing unnatural has come of it. That
why I'll be just as well satisfied
get you to the house and myself bac
out of here before dark"
"Get along. then" said. 1T LOOK
like an ordinary place to me-"
"To me too" said my driver. IAN
don't want it ever to look extrao
binary"
"Who was killed there?" asked.
'You'll learn the story soon enough
said the driver, "if you're going to sta
in this house. You'll learn it bette
than I can tell you"
tsa Ats the great coach entrance OF TT
old house paid the driver and let hi
= go. He was anxious to be gone.
80 was, growing dark. Then, ! began rim
ia ing the bell. W. u. s 's
At the third ringing there was
s Spouse. IN the form of a servant,
q man. butler or doorman, past mild
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