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A friend of mine, Who 13 31 letters and 3 philosopher, said one day. as it between jest. and e -.“Fancy! since we last met, mlus L UL uuuuuu. “Really haunted iâ€"and by what? â€"- street, we saw on the window of one of the houses a bill, ‘Apartments Fur- nished.’ The situation suited us; we entered the houseâ€"liked the rooms- engaged them by the weekâ€"and left them the third day. No power on earth could have reconciled my wife to stay longer; and I don’t wonder at it.” nor. on the other hand. could I ask you to accept on my affirmation what .VOUJ would hold to be incredible withn'ut. the evidence of your own senses. Let me only say this, it was not so much. what we saw or heard (in which you might fairly suppose that we were the dupes of our own excited fancy, or the victims of imposture in others)? that drove us away, as it was an un-% definable terror which seized both of‘ us whenever we passed by the door of: a certain unfurnished room. in which we neither saw nor heard anything. And the strangest marvel of all, was, that for once in my life I agreed with my wife, si'ly woman though she beâ€" and allowed. after the third night, that it was impossible to stay a fourth in that house. Accordingly, on the fourth morning I summoned the wo- man who kept the house and attended on us. and told her that the rooms did not quite suit us; and we would not stay the week out. She said, dry- I’m old, and must die soon anbeW; and then 1 shall be with them. and in this house still.’ The woman spoke with so dreary a calmness, that real- ly it was a sort of awe that. prevented my conversing with her further. I paid for my week, and too happy were I and my wife to get off so cheaply.” “You excite my curiosity,” said 1: "nothing I should like better than to sleep in a haunted house. Pray give me the address of. the one which you left so igno‘miniuusly.” ”What did yqu M; friend gave me the address: and when we parted, I walked straight to. wards the house thus indicated. It is situated on the north side of Oxford street. in 3 (NH but respectable thoroughfare. I found the house shut nipâ€"no biil at the window, and no re« sponse to my knock. As I was turning away. a beer-boy, collecting pewter pots at the neighboring areas, said to me. “D0 you want any one at that house, sir ‘?” “Yes, I heard it was to be let." 4 “Let iâ€"why, the woman who kept it is deadâ€"has been dead these three weeks, and no one can be found to stay there, though Mr. Jâ€" offered ever so much. He offered mother, who chars for him, £1 a week inst to open and shut the windows, and she wouid not.” “Wou!d not !â€"and why ?” "The house is haunted; and the 01d woman who kept it was found dead in her bed. with her eyes wide open, They say the devil strangled her.” “Pooh lâ€"you speak of Mr. Jâ€". Is he the owner of the house 3” “Yes.” "\Vhere does be live 1" “In Gâ€" Street, No.â€"" "What is he ?â€"in any business ?” "No, sirâ€"nothing particu'ar; asing- Ie gentleman." I gave the pot-boy the gratuity earn- ed by his Riberal information, and pro- ceeded to Mr. J.-, in 0â€" street, which was _ 1082 by the street that boasted the haunted house. I was lucky enough to find Mr. J.â€" at homeâ€"an eiderly man, with intelligent countenanee and pre- possessing manners. I communicated my name and my; business frankly. I sail I heard the? house “as considered to be hauntedâ€"3 that I had a strong desire to examine! a house uith so equivocal r1 repute-3 tionâ€"that I shou'd be greatly oblig- ed if he would allow me to hire it.- though only for a night. I was will- log to pay for that privilege whatever he might be inclined to ask. “Sir," said Mr. .I-, with great courtesy, “the house is at your service, for as short or as long a time as you please. Rent is out of the questionâ€"the obligation will be on my side should you be able to discover the cause of the strange phenomena which at present deprive it of all value. I cannot let it. for I cannot even get a servant to keep it in order or answer the door. Un- luckily the house is haunted, if Imay use that expression, not only _by_nig_l_1t, but by day; though at night the dis- turbances are of a more unpleasant and sometimes of n more alarming character. The poor old woman who} died in it about three weeks ago was? 3 pauper whom I took out of a work- house. for in her childhood she had been known to some of my family. and had once been in such good circumstan- ces that ehe had rented that house of my uncle. She was a woman of super- ior educntion and strong mind. and was the only person I could ever induce to remain in the house; Indeed. since her denth. yhich you madden. and the cor- misty hi tha' neighboihood. 'I" Evie go- dougdrod a; finding“: person to ‘x.’ .4...-...â€"â€"â€"-,, ‘ THE HAUNTED HOUSE. out. @h_d9roa ton: it: no- years ago. The fact is. that my life has been Spent in.the East Indies. and me so idle a story. I spent some. mon- ey in repainting and roofing itâ€"added to its old-fashioned furniture a few i modern articlesâ€"advertised it, and ob-‘ tained a lodger for a year. He was ai Colonel retired on half. pay. He came' in with his family, a son and a dau- ghter, and four or five servants; they lall left the house the next day; and,, although they deponed that they. hadl i all seen something different,that some-l lthing was equally terrible to all. Ii I rea'ly could not in conscience sue, or! leven h'ame the colonel for breach of: ‘ agreement. Then I put in the old wo- man I have spoken of, and she was em- ‘ powered to let the house in apartments. I never had one lodger who stayed more than three days. I do not tell Iyou their storiesâ€"to no two lodgers ‘ltave there been exactly the same : phenomena repeated. It is better that gyou should judge for yourself. than genter the house with an imagination l infiuenced by previous narratives; only ll be prepared to see and to hear some- l thing or other, and take whatever pre- w cautions you yourself please.” I‘ "Have you never had a curiosity l. yourself to pass a night in that WIN?” l I - , L _ _.:...L4- ‘xni" It,” I "Yes. I passed not a night, but three hours in broad daylight alone in that house. My curiosity is not sat- isfied, but it is quenched. I have no desire to renew the eXperiment. You cannot complain, you see. sir, that I am not sufficiently candida and un- uvv wâ€"_.,_v. less your interest be exceedingly eag- er and your nerves unusually strong I honestiy add, that I advise you not to pass a night in that house.” A ‘â€"-A‘ ’, VU yuan.) I. ubbluv a” cum. â€"_ .â€" “My interest is exceedingly keen,” said I, “and though only a coward will boast of his nerves in situations wholly unfamiliar to him. yet my ner- ves have been seasoned in such var- iety of danger that Ihave the right to rely on them - even in a haunted 1 L-_1- Mr. Jâ€" said very Iittle more; he took the keys of the house out of his bureau. gave them to me,-â€"and, thanking him cordia|ly for his frankness, and his ur- bane concession to my wish, I carried off my prize. ‘L -â€" vâ€"â€"- â€"d I â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€" Impatient for the experiment, as soon“ as I reached home, I summoned my confidential servantâ€"a young man of gay Spirits, fearless temper, and as free from superstitious prejudice as any one I couid think of. I 7- 9.. n-.. -..J v." - w- _ -____ - _ “h‘â€",” said I, “you remember in Ger-i many how disappointed. we were at] not finding a ghost in that old castle, which was said to be haunted by a headless apparition? \Vell, I have heard of a house in London which, I have reason to hOpe, is decidedly haunt- : ed. I mean to sleep there to-night. From what I hear, there is no doubt that something will allow itself to be seen or to be heard â€"something per- haps, excessively horrible. D0 3'0“ think, if I take you with me, I may rely on your presence of mind. what- ever may happen ’l” “0h, sir! pray trust me,” answered Fâ€"â€", grinning with delight. “Very well; then here are the keys of the houseâ€"this is the address. Go‘ now,-select for me any bedroom you please; and since the house has not been inhabited for weeks, make up a 800d fireâ€"air the bed wellâ€"see, of course, | that there are candles as well as fuel. Take with you my revolver and my dagger-so much for my weapons â€"- arm yourself equally well; and if we are not a match for a dozen ghosts.We shallbe butasorry couple of English- I was engaged for the rest of the day on husinesl so urgent that I had not leisure to think much. on the noc- turnal adventure to which I had plight- ed my honor. I dined alone, and very late. and while dining. read. as is my habit. The volume I selected was one of Macaulay’s Essays. I thought to myseif that I would take the book with me; there was so much of healthful- ness in the style, and practical life in the subjects, that it would serve as an antidote against the influences of su- perstitious fancy. Accordingly, about half-past nine, I put the book into my pocket, and stroll- ed leisurely towards the haunted house, 1 took with me a favorite dogâ€"an ex- ceedingly sharp, bold, and vigilant bull-terribr,â€"a dog fond of prowling about strange ghostly corners and passages at night in search of ratsâ€" a dog of dogs for a ghost. It was a summer night, but chilly, the sky somewhat gloomy. and ov- ercast. Still there was a moonâ€"faint and sickly, but still a moonâ€"and if the clouds permitted. after midnight it_would be brighter. I reached the Bouse. knocked, and my servant opened with a. cheerful smile. t;iAll right. air. and very comfort- : e.” “0h!” said I, rather disappointed; “have you not seen nor heard anything remarkable I” “Well. sir, I must own I have heard something queer.” ‘ \Vhst ?â€"what Y” "The sound of feet psttering be- hind me; and once or twice small noises like whispers close at my earâ€"nothing more.” 11 “You are not at all tri ghtsned I" “I! not s bit of it. sin” snd the man ’3 bold look resssnrsd me on one pointâ€"viz" that. hsppen what might. he would not desert ms. ; _ We wore _in the hell. the street-door~ glued. _ and flu sgtoigtiqn - 11:: now one who would lkeeping 03036 ’hurrying in! which was hi: |in all strang¢ in eager enough, but 11 to the door. and was whining to get out. A on the head, and encouraging at... gently, the dog seemed to reconcile himself to the situation, and followed 1 me and I:‘-â€"-- through the house, but keeping close at my heels instea‘. of 3 hurrying inquisitively in advance,!1 which was his usual and normal habit ‘, in all strange places. ‘ i the subterranean apartments, the“ kitchen and other offices, and espec- ially the cellars, in which last there} were two or three bottles of wine still 9 - left in a bin, covered with cobwebs,and . evidently, by their appearance, undis- iturbed {or many years. It was clear I that the ghosts were not winebrbbers.l iFor the rest we discovered nothing of interest. There was a gloomy little! backyard, with very high walls. The {stones of this yard were very damp, land what with the damp, and what. a with the dust and smoke-grime on the ‘pavement our feet left a slight im-i' . pression where we passed. And now ap-l {peered the first strange phenomenon; lwitnessed by myself in this strange? abode. I saw, just before me, th print of a foot suddenly form itself, as, it were. I stopped, caught hold of myl’ {servant and pointed to it. In :Ldvancei 2 J-.. '. 1] ‘mnnar‘ ' 1 1 Servant, and 1IUIUDUu vv --. -,_ of that foot print as suddenly dropped another. We both saw it. I advanced quickly to the place; the footprint kept advan. ing before me a Small footprint- the foot of a child; the impression was too faint thoroughly to distinguish the shape, but it seemed to ‘us both that it was the print. of a naked foot. This phenomenon ceased when we arrived at the opposite wall, nor did it repeat itself on returning. We remounted the stairs, and entered the rooms on the ground fioor, a dining parlor, a sma‘l hack-Izarlor. and a still smaller third room that had. been probably ap- LUILu Luuus vuwv u“-.. _ prepriated to a Iootmanâ€"all still as death. We then visited the drawing- rooms, which seemed fresh and new. In the front room I seated myself in an arm-chairs. l“---â€"â€" placed on the table the candiestick with which he had lighted us. I told him to shut the door. As he turned to do so, a chair opposite to me moved from the wall quickly and noisefessly, an 1. dropped itself about a yard from my own chair, immedizn :.y fronting it. “Why, this is better than the 'urn- ing-tables,” said I, with a half ;_:.u,gh: and as I laughed, my dog put Kick his head and howled. b‘â€"â€"- coming back had no; observed I the movement of tlge ghafir. He em- ployed himself now 111 stnllmg the dog. __ L1... “kn?“ ("1,1 LUJ (71 114mblu-- a... .. I continued to gaze on the chair, and fancied 1 saw on it a pale blue misty outiine of a human figure, but an out- line so indistin:t ti at 1 could only distrust my own Vision. The dog now was quiet. “Put back that chair 0;)- 1;osite to me,” said I to 1~‘â€"-; “put it BEL-1: ’ to the ' wail." Fâ€"â€"â€" obeyed. “Was that you, sir?" said he, turning abruptly. “I lâ€"what. “I” “Why. something struck me. I felt it sharply‘oq th£_:__s_h9ulderâ€"just here.” :-â€" uâ€"‘n‘n “‘Nof'5'53ifi'i.";'efit V we hm'ie jugglers present, and though we may not dis- cover their tricks, we shall catch them before they frighten} us}: L‘ _ 1..---- We did not stay long in the draw-‘l hugâ€"rooms,â€" in fach, they felt so damp ' and so chilly, that lavas glad to get: to the fire upstairs. We looked the‘ doors of the drawing-roomsâ€"a precau-, tion whi :1, 1 should observe, we had! taken with all the rooms we had searched Lelow. The bedroom my ser- vant had selected for me was the best on the f loorâ€"a large one, with two Win-l (lows fronting the street. The four-‘ posted bed, which took up no inconâ€"l siderable space, was opposite to the; fire, which burned clear and. bright; a! door in the wall to the left, betweenl| the bed and the window, communicated with the room which my servant ap-i ; prOpriated to himself. This last was a‘ small room with a sofaâ€"bed, and had; no communication with the landing-l placeâ€"no other door but that which: conducted to the bedroom 1 was to 00- cupy. On either side of my fireplace was a cupboard. without locks, flush-. ed with the wall, and covered with the} same dull-brown paper. We examin- ed these cupboardsâ€"only hooks to sus- pend female dressesâ€"nothing else; we sounded the wallsâ€"evidently solid â€" the outer walls of the building. Hav- ] ing finished the survey of these apart- ; ments, warmed myself a few mo- ‘ments, and lighted my cigar, I then, still accompanied by Fâ€"â€", went' forth to replete my reconnoitre. In the land- lng-place there was another door; it was closed firmly. “Sir,” said my ser- vant. in surprise, “I unlocked this door with all the others when I first came; . it cannot 'have got locked from the in- ; srde. for it is aâ€"-‘-:’q _ o HYDRAULIC LIFE-BOATS. Three of these craft are now in ser~ vice in England. The prOpelling agents are jets of water driven out by a pow- erful steam-pump through nozzles un- der the mater. The nozzles can be made to drive the boat forward or backward. or to turn it the boat of course, being driven by the reaction in the direction opposite to that of the escaping water. A speed of nine miles an hour was maintained for some two hours in a. trial trip They are not economical; their strong point is _the absence of aEyâ€"eitlexlngl huddle-wheels or propel- lers, which are so liable to become foul- ed by wreckag_e_. _The bpat hgs projeptâ€" mg guards, “Thichprotecf. the Boizles from striking agalnst shpa or docks. LENT IN RUSSIA. Lent has closed all theatres in Rug- eia-sinoe the beginning of Alexander [1133 reign. A recent ukase now per. min plays to be performed during the penitential season. with the exception of the first and last weeks. A; distinc- titanâ€"is 'mnde. however. between grand opera. and serious dramas on the one hand and eohuc open on _the_ other. bind and 0091'“: 09.011 on the other. more gorgeously end were more jewels the latter bet-08 Itrwtly forbidden nn- than ever. Whenever she eppeered in leg 3119.0 m__e_ foreign knew._;pul public the we- pointy} out; _|.nd_ the ,___I_!I_!L _, a A- (To be Cdntinusd.) but bad sneaked back‘ ~. wasscratching and: 1t, After patting him 1d encouraging him: observed Mrs. James C. Ayer died recently in 3 Paris after a brief illness. No person would be more missed in the French capital. Mrs. Ayer was the most prominent member of the Amer- women in Paris. Her grea lavish eXpenditures, her brilliant en- tertainments and her gowns and jew- els were talked about everywhere. The millions made in patent icines. and her own determination and ‘energy. gained for Mrs. Ayer the posi- ltion in society which was the height he in... .mhmnn but it was only after The millions made in patent um“.â€" cines. and her own determination and energy. gained for Mrs. Ayer the posi- tiDn in society which was the height of her ambition, but it was only after a long fight. She was laughed at. rid- iculed. and maligned, but she never faltered. And she was really a 800d woman. one of the most charitable and generous in the world, and those who said ill of her were those who had bene- fited from her bounty. Her many eccentricities and van- ixties were harmless enough, while her virtues benefited all of those who came in contact with her. She was ever ready to aid the struggling Am- erican artists and singers who went to Paris to study. Her purse and her sympathy were never appealed to in vain, and often she sought those whom she helievei to be worthy. She was a liberal patron of art, and paid enor- mous sums for pictures. “‘qu .1“-le -v_ The story of her rise in the world is peculiarly interesting and peculiarly American. She was born in MedwsY- Mass, on December 15. 1826, and she had therefore passed her seventy-first year. Her maiden name was Josephine Mellin Southwick. Her father was 8 Quaker and a large manufacturer. Her mother was a sister of the founder of the H. B. Cilaflin Company. Her per- enta moved to Lowell when she was an infant. _ -LZIJ He was a clerk in a drug store who had saved a little money. and who . started in business for himself. He . manufactured a cough mixture and ad- 3 vertised it in the local newspapers. He 2 was the pioneer in the patent medicine ' business, and it grew rapidly. Before- long the Ayer preparations were known i the country over. When James C. Ayâ€" i er died, in 1878. he left a fortune of? $15,000,000. ' | Mrs. Ayer always had a taste» for soâ€" 1 ciety. In this country she never se-; cured any recognition. She had avilia .at NeWport about fifteen years ago. i and later took a cottage at Bar Harbor. -_..I lllllthllla. . ‘ She knew James C. Ayer as a Chlld. ! I "W- V\Iv-- .- V . She was always fond of jewels, and when wealth poured in upon her she began to buy them liberally. She de- lighted to wear her gems. even SOME to the extent of wearing a low-necked gown and diamond necklace in the morning. She made a sensation in this country on one or two occasions by appearing at entertainments in a Directoire cos- tume, including the long, flower-deck- ed staff. Mrs. Ayer first went to Paris about '1 1880. and except two or three summers ; spent in this country, she has remainâ€" 2 ed there ever since, making infrequent i and very short visits to New York. For ' years she had a large suite of apartâ€" f ments in the Hotel Continental. 1 I-v- From the beginning she attracted at- tention by her expenditures. She had a retinue of servants. She employed a dentist who visited her daily. She had a physician to look after the members of the family, while she herself. con- sulted specialists. to whom she gave enormous fees. The milliners and shopkeepers from one city to the other regarded her as their best customer. She was fleeced right and left. but she never objected. She would buy .500 worth of gloves at a. time. and there gloves cost not fnore New York. She established a kind of salon in the hotel. a sort of Bohemian gathering. and steadily assaulted the houses of those whose positions were established. For a long time. the exclusives would have none of her. but gradually she made her way. Her wealth. and her en- tertainments battered down barrier afâ€" ter barrier. Of course there “as a deal of talk about Mrs. Ayer getting married again. At one time no fewer than three princes were aspirants for her hand. More than one duel was hinted at. Prince Dalgarouky is a P$e of dis- tinguished aplmarnnce. who has an in- come of $100 a. month and_ e reputa- than as a gamesber. Prince Giedroyc is a. Russian. a brother of the late Em- peror of Russia’s morganatic wife. He was fat and reasonably rich. Prince Valori is a Spaniard. Valori offered to introduce Mrs. Ayer to the Spanish pretender. Don Carlos. and secure her a social position if she would marry him. Mrs. Ayer declined. Indeed. she was not moved much by the glamour of the title of prince. for in Paris princes are almost; as common as Generals in the South. About six years ago Mrs. Ayer had secured a social position which war:- ranted her in leasing the mansion of the Due de Mouchy. one of the finest and most expensive to maintain in Par- is. It is No. 19Rue Constantine. near It was completely refurnished at an enormous expense and Mrs. Ayer in- stalled herself in it with u retinue of servants. She bought magnificent car- riggea end splendld_ho;qea._ _ _ the Invalidea. in the Quartier St. Ger- lira. Ayer éntortainod lavishly. more expenmvely. perhspa. thnn any one also in Pain. fen (ii. tn; Puinim tho. m You tied it to War the dgih “’0. I! 0111' back}; Weak...D;)ws . Pill! wil strengthen it. If it MI whenâ€"Dow's Kidney Pills Will our“ experiment in taking Dean‘s mm They cured hund rep‘s of weathin'“ long before other kidney pills “a h MI. Junta Row. Bellevillefim for nine years with terrible mn- bank. rheumatic 1mm, and Pllm' bidder. Ho 3 am 8300 doctouw lit“. relief. )oan's Kidney P33 tel cured him. bamshed “I 00an. \ was. all the other pain: m1“ Hr. T1100. Porteons, the «11" bltcklmitb 0f GUdQ’Y‘TCh, Ont. “1“ Iickness 3nd weakness gave mum undctrongth. " For the pastiofirp and disturbed by dreams, con Drone in the morning untested uently very dizzy and w i troubled with a. mist that, came oyu. my memory was often defect. had fluttering of the heart, togetht 3 Ihtrp pain through it. at times. ‘ condition I was easily worried 1 onervoted and exhausted. Twom ', I begun taking Milbum‘s Heart ' I Pint. since that time I have be!!! 1 hfllth and strength daily. T l l 3 ! motored my nervoa to 3 healthy ’ removed all dizziness and lleamro now I sleep well and derive 00 M from it. That M llburn‘l Non. Pills ore o good remed.‘ ‘0’? art Trouble “.l bout sari“, TI 1 nus. Waknefis. 119 l oomploints goes wit e ‘0 (WI. D box at all drngglsts or Til. Alvll onoo morn Mag! um stroke. 0! his haul-or. mu have been very weak, my a 00., Toron‘ 0! that Americans have '11 plan of money anl t1 mg to throw it avyay She did everything mm, the effect of time. She rm“ each day in the Lands of the t!“ hair-dresser. the dentist“! clan ”3d the great number 9f Whose business it is w repex Wore the most youthful gown! enwrtainmenta bwwe more“! Wacular. . Mrs. Ayer never on m her great house. room, for the reason that meat was filled with her old 80‘ gauntkers' dummies. hem ”w "my 3 wn that s but “WW8 pxgegetved it (mu if Aha mag-nosed wearing ltg 'I‘bere '4 evefl‘ STRENGTH CAME BM it she purpose-d “88mg " " Nomay no“! hO‘V many U Mrs. Ayer wore each 39.3”“ any wonun in Paris. ‘ the immense hotel “85 “ken tbO SOW'nC. \[fl Mrs. Ayer’s (‘rmxnim “‘3 the dinner she {:3 Mrs. William Astor in Nearly every gnnst. 1x they were all distingu for wore all her {mums W88 outshone by her an: at this entertam culinr. At the deal-h "f 3T: family inserts A 1'01:le i,“ MW” sympathy and stating in m' 'will be exhib.” Ant. ' I“ “.111 W111 ”v v”” Min bouts on a 81’9"”! day: of the house wht‘l'e the P“ “Ere is placed a little “lack. GM with a black (‘101 h. 1 a black jar. Into this we acquaintances of Ur" ' black-margined WNW)“ at tiIIIGB With a few mm of on them. there is placed :1 1m 1w - and “ith a hlflt‘k ('10'. 3 a black jar. Into UH. acquaintanves of {h ' . ’ lrlack-marginnd vim ‘ times with (1 {ms um" on them. .-L1ver Pills cure DySI croxminF r she 98" Astor gn (- l } in Pl“ arranfie ' I. drawinQ inexbwfii but the: u ment Pa Jars for no; for I A Consewativ PROPERTIES of a" kit Q Horns and Accou NT. d sum. DEEDS. A It is a comr sion on the are scHingr than all the together. Ten Cases Steel Eumnel on IMPLEMENT Farm G ( Another on Of Head V - for HOUSE and arrived. WHITE W ASH B Bicycle Ac. Pucmxa Ream TUNNG RUBBER. CYCLE Ou mm Cumulus. Because “(3 l ity and Chen 061161 “heel. I lnrge shipmel .‘I'OII the Mann! Bums SHOVELS. ENAIEL. RUBBER CEMEN the. DEERING BI °"3"1'he l "AXWELL : b a“ ., Moamaam Emily [WP-Wm“! jSlfiESfi NON!” em“ and most 1 it is alrud “over .l{.. n In-