The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-05
CHAPTER ~
The Story Of the Old cresste Farm

Ncu anu Jll1ulle TDuo on III 81
lence for some time. Each was
thinking and ponderipg over the
sudden turn of affairs. Suddenly
Jimmie noticed that Ned was turn
ing into woods.
Why. Ned, said Jimmie, This
isn't the way we came, is it?"
mo" said Ned, this is shorter
way home. When we go through
this woods, we will come on to a
road that finally turns off into the
lane that leads up to our house"
The ride through the woods was
very pleasant The boys soon felt
the difference when they came out
on the hot, dusty road.
my, what q contrast" declared
Ned. There was scarcely sunny
spot in there, while out here its
all sun"
1T sure is" agreed Jimmie. ooh,
look, Ned, isn't that pretty over
there?"
He pointed to a hill. which was
covered with .evergreens, that
= looked to be about mile distant
"Oh, yes" said Ned. THAT place
always does attract attention. It's
wonder someone doesn't settle
down and live there"
is that so?" asked Jimmie. II
should think there would be a fight
as to who would get the place. 1t
sure looks pretty from here. Who
owns it?"
II don't know" replied Ned Its
~ IL r. 60, I'd Sc
haunted; perhaps that's why peo !
pie won't live there"
Haunted" exclaimed Jimmie, I
and then more quietly, Connie
and | used to love to explore
haunted houses"
used to-" queried Ned "For
goodness sake, Jim, don't look so
mournful and don't say used to-
Constance isn't dead, boy: don't
try to make it worse. I'll warrant
she will turn up soon, Jim. You
know, she wouldn't want you TO
worry like this"
"Yes, | know" said Jimmie, "but
1t seems that week has passed
rather than not quite day. But I'll
try not to worry SO. but trust to
Providence to help find her Now
won't you tell me about that place
over there"
Certainly" Ned said, glad to
change the subject. "Someway or
other | always liked to tell that
story--it had sort of thrill to it. {
There was a rich old bachelor that |
lived there for long time by him
self, but he grew tired Of keeping +
that big house alone, and so he
hired a housekeeper. This house
keeper was a widow with two chill
dren, a girl about ten and boy :
twelve. They didn't know what a
mean and grouchy person this old
Cresste was and no one had
chance to tell them. She had
worked there for some time when
the old fellow asked her to marry
him. She thought this would give
her and the children a good home
and SO she married him, but soon
learned to regret it. He was cruel
to her and both of the children
and one day in a fit of anger he
took the girl and hired her out to
some woman in town. Then he
put the boy to work in the farm,
giving him the hardest and heav-
lest jobs. When the boy was six
teen he ran away, with promises
to his mother to come and get her
when he had made enough money.
But the old man forbid the boy to
ever come back and guarded his
mother like hawk. The poor
mother never knew what happen
ed to her son, as her husband al /.
ways snatched away the letters and
burned them.
The years went by and soon
the old fellow died and she was left
alone, and was too old to search
for her son. However one of the
neighbors offered to look him up,
and finally succeeded in locating
him. She wrote to him of his
mother, and he hurriedly replied
that he had had letter from his
step-father about four years before
saying that she had died. He told
the woman to tell his mother that