Year: 1877

and the neighbprhood SAW the strangers no more. a....s s

 Of course there was good deal of talk and speculation about the matter, and 1t furnished theme for conversation at many Winter ireside; but as lime wore on the subject gradually dropped, and was only casually alluded to at times with the wonder if the DuIunloups would ever return and reopen the old stone house

 ] have said l was young man at the time it happened,u ,und thal was about two years after the strangers hnd gone away. lu all that time the house had been left updislurbel, and the windows and doors were as tightly sealed as upon the day when the Dupauloups went away.

 was c0urtinga girl at the lime, and she lived nearly two miles from my uncle lHrm, d mile UT 80 in an almost direct line beyond the stone house l have been speaking of. Frequently in going to see her l would lake short cats aud would pass within stones throw of the house. remember that never passed the vicinity of that house and SAW it booming up in the darkness that did not inyoluntarily shuddcr. wasn't coward, either, and could not under stand why WAS affected so j; but shud- der did whenever passed it af ter dark, and could net reason myself oul of the feeling.

 One night had been visiting my girl as usual and left her house after twelve o'clock, after having indulged in the luxury of lovers quarrel. l took the usual route home, feeling savage and rrscnttui, and half wishing could find somebody or something to vent ny spleen upon. Just b fore neared the stone house violent storm came up and glanced around for some place of shelter when the thought occurred to me "Why not spend the night in the stone house 7" .. At any other time l think I would have shrank from such a thing, with the feeling had about that house, but just then il suited my haf-Mvage mind, and, pulling my hat over nay eyes to keep the rain from my face, 1 ran toward the house. Reaching the front of the build ing through the neglected ghrden.l look ed about for some means of entrance. II was plain that should have to use some violent mrans to get iii so at'er bunting around found a spade, with which | quickly forced open one of the window shutters, and, raising the sash, l yauiteI into the darkness within.

 At that moment did not experience the slightest sense of fear. The storm was growing more viulent,a as stood there hunting in my buckets for the means to strike light 1 congratulated myself upon the shelter 1 had secured. l was pleased further to find that two large halfburned candles stood in their candlesticks on the manlel, and lighting one of them took d SUI vey of the room

 It was what we call the hest room, in tbe country, but more richly furnished than these l had been accustomed t0. | The furniture was all there, but covered with dust of two years Having ven tured thus far became possessed with Inc fancy to explore the house; so talk ing the lighted candle I opened the door into the hall and pr, ceeded on tour of investigation. l passed through the lower rooms and noticed that everything was apparently as Ihe occupants had left them upon going away. Then ascended to the upper floor, and was passing through the hallway 10 the first bedroom, when fancied heard light step behind me. turned my head quickly, and at that momen. gust of air, coming knew not whence, blew my light out

 Just then heard sound that made a cold chili creep over me It wasa deep drawn sigh, almost at my elbow. l stood stili, not able to move step, and heard the sound repeated. There was no mistaking il, somebody, whether mortal UT immortal. had uttered that sound, and was not alone in the house. was never supersttious, and my mind was never clearer than at the moment 1 heard that step and that unearthly sigh, and when the realization of my position rushed over me, there alone in that strange house, ,afar from help, and facing knew not what, in an impenelrable darkness. was almost overcome Final ly, summoning up all my courage, l faltered:

 Who is here? I come for shelter and mean no harm"

 For answer there was again. that sigh. the breath of which seemrd to tonch my face vita The deadly chill of charneI house Then as stood there. rooted 10 ihe spot and unable 10 speak again, star ing with dilaIing eycs into the darSness beyond me, noticed that it was Lecom- ing liglgsr; tbat the darkuess vas glad