Year: 1860


meet that he held my hand and drew me in,
asking two or three times how was and if |
were glad TO see him He had called at the
house and seen Cousin Mary, on his way over,
he said,-for be was hungering for a sight of
us. lie was not looking as well as when he
left in the autumn, thinner, paler, and with
q mere anxious expression when he was not
! speaking but when began to talk with him.
he frightened up, and seemed like his old self
lie had two or three workmen already tearing
| down portions of the finishing, aud after few
| moments asked me to go round aud see what
improvements he was to make. We stopped
at last at his chamber, o room that looked
through the foliage towards my house.


This is my loungng place" he said, point
| ing to the sofa beneath the window.
shall sit here With my cigar and watch you
this summer so be circumspect But are
you sure that you arc glad to see me p


"To be sure. Do you take me for heath
en- n | said. But what are you making such
a change for Couldn't the old house content
you 2'


=" 1t satisfies me well enough but | expect
visitors this summer who are quite fastidiouS,
and this old worm-eaten woodwork wouldn't
do for them. What makes you look SO dark?
Don't you like the notion OF my ladyYisitorsT


didn't know that they were to be ladies
until you told me- | said and it's none Of
my business whom you entertain, Mr.. Ames'


There wasn't much OF a welcome for them
in your face at any rate he answered. And
to tell the truth, | am not much pleased with
the arrangement myself But they took a sud
den fancy for coming, and no amount Of per
-
minds. It's hardly suitable place for ladies;
but if they will come, they must make the best
of it."


How came yon ever to take fancy to
this place and what makes you spend SO much
money on it 2" | asked.


You don't like to see the money thrown
away" he said, laughing. The truth is,
that I've got skeleton, ike many another
man, and I've been trying these two years to
get away from it, The first time l stopped to
rest under this tree, | felt lghthcarted I
don't know why except it was some mystcri,
ous influence bat loved the place, and | love
it no less now, although my skeleton has found
loJging-placc here too"


"Of course" said, " and very appropriate
y. The house was haunted before you came"


1t was haunted for me afterward,7 be said
softly, more to himself than ID me sweet,
shadowy visions | should be glad to call up
now And be turned away and swallowed q
sigh.


pitied him all the way home, and sat up to
pity him, looking through the soft May star
light to see the lamp burning steadily at his
window until after midnight. From that time
| seemed to have a trouble,-thOugh | could
scarcely have named or owned it, it was so in
definite.


He came to see me few days afterward,
and sat quite dull and distracted until warm
ed him up with little lively opposition. |
yexed him first, and then, when | saw he was
interested enough to talk, let him have q
chance and had never seen him so interest
ing lie showed me q new phase Of bis char
actcr and | listened, and answered him IA Is
few words Is possible, that | might lose moth
ing OF the revelation When be got up 10 20
away, asked him where lie had been TO learn
aud think 50 much since the last autumn. II.
began TO be, | thought and hoped, wha, 4
stcrncr teaching might have made him before.


lie seemed little embarrassed said no
one else had discovered any change in him,
aud he thought. it must be only reflected
light lie had observed that | had " rc
markab,c faculty for drawing people out
What was my Hitchcraft 2


| disclaimed all witchcraft, and told him 1t
was only because | quarrelIed with people 4
little wholesome opposition had warmed him
into quite a flight of fancy


"If could Only - he began, hurried
"; but took out his watch, said it was time
for him 10 90, and went off qni,e hastily. 1t
was very weak in me, but wished very much
10 know what he would have said


(CONCLU1ED NEXT WEEK.