Year: 1879

in lonely valley in the western part
Of New York, twenty years ago, there
stood an old house, long before deserted
by everything human, and left as the
| favorite haunt OF the bats and owls which
thickly thronged the wooded hills during
the night time, but, seeking shelter un-
der the caves and in dark closets of the
old ruin during the day, rested undis-
turbed.


For years the old house had TINS
stood, dark, dismal and deserted. The
few who at different times had attempted
to find shelter in the house on some
night when belated and kept from home
by the sudden storms so common to that
country were never able to settle there
in peace and quiet the night through.
Everything abont the house during the
early hours Of the night was quiet except
the noise made by the futtering of some
owl or bat, as these animals one after
another went forth for their nights frolic
or were disturbed by the intruder But,
10 sooner would one step into the large
walled room, which had been the sitting
room for the old inhabitants and was now
4 the only dry room in the house during a
storm, than there would be heard a cry,
almost moan, OF Ode Pue, De Pue."
Louder would the storm howl outside,
seeming to say to the timid traveller. stay
inside. But that terrible, mournful cry
Of ''De Pue, De Pue" was too much for
the strongest nerves, and every one who
had tried to solve the mystery, aside from
the solution given, had been driven forth
into the storm, unable to pass night
with that incessant cry ringing in their
ears, "Do Pue, De Pue."


The estate was owned By a rich bach
elor who lived in the city far away, and
who had made numerous attempts to Sc
cure a tenant TO take charge of and re-
side in the old house, but no one could
be hired TO stay a night through il the
house; and SO for years it had thus re.
mained, slowly decaying, and given over
to the wild fowls of the woods.


Neighbors, honest people who had
long resided in its vicinity, told story
of the old house, to the effect that, years
before, an uncle of the present owner
had lived there, kind hearted old gen
tleman, loved and respected by all. He
had wealth and health, and never seemed
so happy as when doing an act of kind
ness.


The doors Of his house were ever open
to those in need of shelter, and ofttimes
gay companions Of his child and orphan
ed nephew, the present bachelor owner
would assemble on an evening and make
merry with appropriate festivities.


This nephew, Rodney De Pue, wa:
the child of an only brother, and, on the
death of his father, had come to make
his home with his uncle, who had nc
wife and but one child, a beautiful gir
oils.


Thus things went smoothly along
The daughter grew into a handsome
woman, married, and went to the neigh
boring home of her farmer husband. The
nephew went to the city to college, bu
did not do well. The unsophisticated
country lad found evil compani9n 9ns in the
great school in the city. became entan-
gled in dishonorable affair with tbs
daughter Of one of the professors of the
school, and was sent ont from the college
in disgrace, fleeing TO escape the ven
geauce OF an outraged law. The only
place where he could hope to find peace
was in his old home. Money he mus
have to escape from the country, and hi
uncle must be appealed to for that sum
Old Mr.. De Pue was an honest man, anl
of that old Puritan stock that could for
give never where it would do an injur,
or compromise the laws OF the State. S
. young Rodney had little 10 anticipat
from the interview, and, when it wa
over and he was sent from the presenc
OF the old mans righteous indignation
he had gained nothing by the visit.


That night the good old man was mui


dered, and every finger pointed to youn
Rodney as the perpetrltor of the da;
tarlly deed. But there was 1ot proc


sufficient to convict, and, as the death {