Year: 1879

which of yore used to exclude the cows
of the villagers from the tasteful grounds,
but since the squire's death the prem
ises had gone to decay. The fences rot
ted and fell in many places, leaving
great gaps which afforded the village
animals ingress to the luxurlant herb
age of the lawn. Like the fences, the
gate was crazy, and, with slight push,
Adam passed through it, and strode
steadily up the graveled walk toward
the house.


AS he walked along, he could not fail,
even in the deep gloom, to observe the
decay and desOlatlon that had fallen
over the grounds, and to contrast them
with their former elegance. The last
time he had set foot on the premises
was on the day of the 'squire's burial,
when house and surroundings were
well-kept and attractive; and now, as
he looked about on the decadence, old
Adam felt sad at heart.


He walked up the graveled path, and
soon arrived before the house. The
mansion was large and rambling, of two
stories, with piazza ON the ground
floor extending the whole length of the
house, and corresponding one on the
floor. Numerous doors and windows
opened out on these open plazzas, and in
its former days the house was pleas
ant one, facing the south, commanding
view of pretty Edgeville nesting
among its groves, and of smiling
landscape beyond. The roof was square,
like the house, slanting gently up to a
graceful cupola, which had a window in
each side. In this cupola the Squire
had been wont to sit in the dying day,
smoking his pipe and reading his book
for Squire Lowell had been happy in
refined literary taste. Many time,
in passing by, Adam had seen the
'squire's gray head in the window of the
cupola; and now, as the remembrance
occurred to him, he mechanically raised
his eyes to the place.


What was his alarm-ay, terror-at
beholding white face framed in the
window 1.-The face of the squire as he
had looked when boy of twenty. The
face was plainly visible, albeit the night
was dark and the atmosphere thick, and
so distinctly did Adam see it that he
shuddered under the dark eyes which
were steadfastly regarding him with a
look of deep significance.


Perhaps the sexton may have had
some lurking doubts whether he indeed
saw the face in the church. If he had,
they were not dissipated for in the Gu
pola above him-where it had formerly
been seen-was the 'squire's boyish face
turned steadfastly toward him.


For moment old Adam was terrified
notwithstanding bis natural fearless
ness, and the firm belief that'the 'squire's
ghost would occasion him no evil
for there is something in the apparition
of dead friend which appals the
stoutest heart. But Adams terror was
only momentary. With strong effort
he collected his senses, and regained his
courage, as the face slowly faded, be
came nebulous blur in the window
and finally disappeared.


Adam looked steadfastIy at the win
dow. He now could only determine its
locality by distinguishing the white
window-casing through the gloom
One keen look satisfied him that the
face had disappeared. Then, graspine
his oak stick more firmly, he sprane
with youthful agility upon the piazza.


''It is chainl chainl" he cried
HE appeared to me in the church, anC
again here. Does that mean for me Il
follow him here ? or course it does
and old Adam Hill will follow 'Squir
Lowell in death as he did in life |"


With this declaration, the sextol
shifted his cudgel to his left hand, ant
tried the ponderous front door. Adam
himself had securely locked the hous
after the Squire had been laid in hi
grave, and he clearly remembered Sc
curing this one with bolt and lock. H
was confident that no one had entere,
the house since that time, for the vii
layers would rather have risked thei
. lives than venture in the grounds afte
nightfall, and studiously kept aloof il
broad daylight; and no pedestrian trav
elers wandered to Edgeville, for it wa
remote from the bustling towns of tn
world. Nevertheless, to his surprise
the door yielded readily to his arm, an,
swung back with dismal creaking, al