The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-01-14
The Middleton
Ghost
(copyright.l
By cLARISsA MAcKIE

"a
4 = In the cupboard, and haunted
house all In the same category?'' asked
Mrs. Lowell sweetly, as they all gath
cred around the great fire in the big
hall Of Middleton house.
"Why do you ask that, Gardiner
inquired her sister Flora Bolter.
"Oh--nothing-I just happened to
wonder-it doesn't matter" she said,
airily, and changed the subject, but
the other guests, many of whom knew
the secret Of the Middleton family,
looked very uncomfortable, indeed. A
very few Of them guessed that this
house party was the last that would
be held in the hospitable mansion, for
some of the men knew that Major
Middleton's death had ended any hope
of recouping the family fortunes.
HE was the very last Middleton in
the male line, and none of the women
have done more than be wonderful
mothers, charming wives, and delight
full friends" said Lowell to Paul Mas
ters.
What more should woman beY'
was Paul Masters query. He was the
newest arrival and a friend of Mr..
Lowell as well as well-known young
lawyer from New York.
''Ar nld-fashioned wife is what you
want, )" retorted Lowell with a mischiey-
GUS glance from his dark eyes.
The subject seemed distasteful to
Paul Masters. What was that retri-
button that was being worked out in
this last generation? There had been
whispers about the majors younger
brother who was a black sheep, and
who was supposed to be dead and
whose ghost was said to haunt the
east wing of the building. This broth
er had spent all his own fortune and
defrauded the major of his money with
worthless stocks In some Australian
gold field that probably existed only in
brother Eds fertile brain-M Middleton
house was mortgaged to the chimney
tops, but the banks had been decent
and the mortgages were extended for
one year to allow the widow and her
daughter one more chance to save the
home. But it did not look as though
anyone could save the place from sale
under the hammer. The two Middle
ton boys had died in the war and there
was only frail Mrs. Middleton and her
pale, lovely daughter Constance.
Paul Masters saw Constance Middle
ton enter the room and hesitate, look
ing first at one man and then another
as if to gauge the quality of each one.
He reached her side in a moment.
do you need anyone?" he asked
quickly.
Her relief was apparent. "Please
help me- she whispered, Il don't want
mother to know" Unseen they slipped
into the small hall and sped toward
small study that was unused this
evening. A light was burning on the
round table, and Constance drew the
door shut behind her.
81 am not exactly frightened" she
painted, "but l am startled, Mr.. Mas
ters."
"Please tell me, and incidentally,
would be so happy if you would re
member your promise and call me
Paul You know love you. Con
stance, and that I will never be happy
unless you promise to try to love me
little" he urged.
Paul" she said very sweetly, -
do not have to try very hard to-love
you, but can't you see that do moi
want to enmesh you In the ill-for-
tunes of our family2
Perhaps I'll change the luck
sweetheart" he said bluntly. 'Now
tell me what has startled you"
"You have heard that the house is
haunted?" she asked.
idle talk" he assured her.
II said that at first, Paul. Come
here" she crossed the room and
opened the door of small closet be-
side the fireplace. There were shelves
filled with old books-nothing else.
He stood beside her and listened
A faint moaning sound, ending in a
deep groan. "It sounds human" he
said at last
Il thought so, too"
what is behind this room?"
ut used to be Uncle Eds room
shortly before fathers last illness, and
just before we heard that Uncle Ed
had died in Australia, father had the
room sealed up. There used to be a
door into 1t from the short passage.
1t Is nailed up"
rs there any other way to getting
into it," he asked.
Il happen to know of one grand
mother told me years ago that dur
ing the War of 1872 women used to
hide their valuables there so that the
soldiers would not take them, and the
entrance is simple, through this
rooml'
'Show me-" whispered Paul. ''but
don't you follow"
But the Middleton women were not
like that. They would follow their
men into danger If need be, and so,
when the hidden spring was found
and the bookshelves were pulled