The Argosy — page 329: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE ARGOSY. Nelly Devitt's Ghost. 309 March 2, 1868. better to have too much than too little, and having swept and dusted the upper floor nicely, we closed it up entirely, contenting ourselves with the abundant accommodations of the two lower stories. There were three good rooms besides the front and back shop, and we had plenty of space to spread ourselves over in the day-time, reserving the two front chambers above for sleeping-rooms, and the smaller back chambers as store-rooms to hang our clothes in, or put away anything that was not in use. We put the shop in order to begin with, and made the most of our small stock of fruit and sweetmeats, till Will should return with a full supply ; then we fitted up the back room as a sort of little parlour, with our best things, and sat there when our work was over, and nothing to do but mind the shop. We had a good many calls at once from the Hall, for the ladies there had been very anxious to do away with the stories about the Devitt house being haunted, and seemed glad to help us with their custom. This was the first week of our being there, and as neither sight nor sound had disturbed us, we laughed at the inquiries of the towns-people who looked so disappointed to hear.that there was no trouble. ‘I’m glad on Uncle Will’s account,” said Jane, when we had been there nearly a fortnight, and were looking for him to come home in a few days. ‘Uncle Will 1s so good-humoured and cheerful, it would be a pity to cloud his return with any gloomy expenences. We are so comfortable, he’ll never remember a word about the reports they used to have of ghosts, and cries, and moans, and all that.” It happened to be on a Friday evening in October, a little before Hallowe’en, that Jenny said this, and we were sitting round the lighted lamp in the back shop, just after supper. The two elder children were playing with the baby, and Jenny and I were looking over the winter things, patching and piecing against the cold weather. Besides the double glass-doors, which were open, the room had two other entrances, one going out into the hall, the other opening on the best kitchen. Scarcely had she ceased speaking, when the handle turned in the first of these, and the door opened wide, bringing a draught of cool air with it that made the flame shake in the lamp-shade, blew down some paper pictures the children were arranging on the table, and startled us all. I could not help feeling sure there was some one in the hall; so I went out quickly, quite expecting to see them. I believe the emptiness of the place fnghtened me more than anything I could have seen ; for about a second my heart stood still, and I could not breathe. After that I collected my thoughts, and though I was disturbed and troubled by what followed, it never completely upset me again. ‘The draught comes from the cellar-door, Jane,” said J, as soon as I had my wits zbout me. ‘It’s very strong, and the latch on this door Is Weak.” comicloooks (CO) mn _