Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-07-23
CHAPTER I.


place had so much local distinction
that a village not far from the estate
was named Hartley, for it.
Even when drenched and dripping
IN a storm which had lasted for five
days in late May, the spot was beau
tiful and charming; 1t had antiquity,
that rare thing In a new land. Its two
thousand acres, handsomely arranged
for decorative and agricultural pur-
poses, lay along the river bank, with
an inoented and interesting llttoral
where the river was two miles wide.
had been an inferno in st. Julian's
hospital, and at the close of my last
year Dr. Brownell had asked me If my
arrangements would make 1t possible
for me to undertake q case which he
thought might be profitable and In
teresting to q young physician. 1t was
that Of Mr.. Homer Sidney, the owner
OF Hartley house.
"I never saw so strange a will to
live said the doctor when he dis
cussed the circumstances with me.
"The old man Is indomitable. For that
reason he Is interesting. He lives be-
cause he wills to live, for some tre-
mendous reason Of which know moth
ing. II 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
Nsen professional weakness, but in adj
dition to the financial certainty offered
there was professional interest
aroused. II DR.. Brownell were at
tracted by a human beings will to
live there certainly was something SUI
perhumanly interesting about that hui
man being.
The recollection Of Hartley as
first saw II remains as an enduring
impression. The long downpour of
rain had given the place a spiritual ac-
cent. One felt as II the soul were
saturated.
II Is only occasionally n a normal
mind that weather works spiritual
effect. l thought my mind was nor
NAL. but l felt the spiritual depres
sion.
The way from the station for thre,
miles was through ordinary American
small farm land. Then 1t changed alb
ruptly. Antiquity began to show. Th'
driver said we were in the Hartle!
grounds.
was so depressed by the rain, b.
my own uncertainty, by thinking owe
the decision had made and seeme'
about to regret, by the dismal pros
pects-or at least the uncertain pros
pects-that / should have been gla'
for any sustaining human association
At the end Of my journey soon foun'
such association and was thereafte
happy in II, but approaching the plac
was apprehenslve. My driver ha
been, II not unapproachable, at leas
stupid and dismal.
It somewhat astonished me whe
suddenly he began TO talk. We wer
then about a half mile from the hous'
'T wish you had come an hou
earlier" he said.
-why7" l asked.
"Tm not a coward" said the drive
"--nt least. no more than usual, but
don't like to be In here alone, an
I've got TO 20 home nlo1e."
In q fashion he expressed whi
might have been my mood II I ha
known more Of the place. coul
sympathize with him. The rain ha
done this for me.
"what have you to be afraid Of
asked. as something hauntt
IA .
beautiful a spot ought to have this i
terest He stopped his horse.
I'm going back out of here like
scared pig" he said, THAT is, IL Il
old horse can stand It. But you're &
ing TO live here for while. and
stop a minute to show you where tn
say the ghost walks"
He pointed 10 where the river HI
eaten n substantial bit out Of the bal
making n pool or tiny bay. The roa
swerving toward the river here, W
within thirty feet Of 1t.
ut isa't natural for n man to k
his brother" said my driver, "a
something unnatural comes Of 1t.
man killed his brother there, and son
thing unnatural has come or II. Tha
why I'll be Just as well satisfied
get you 70 the house and myself ba
out Of here before dark"
"Get along. then" l said. ut loo
IKE an ordinary place to me-"
"To me too" said my driver. "a
I don't want It ever to look extra
dinary."
"Who was killed there7" asked.
''You'n learn the story soon eloug
said the driver. ''if you're going to 81
In this house. You'll learn 1t bet
than can tell you"
At the great coach entrance Of
old house paid the driver and let b
20. He was anxious to be gone.
was growing dark. Then began ri
ing the bell
At the third ringing there was a
sponse. In the form OF q servant
man, butler or doorman, past mid
age. He was crnstz.