crying herself to sleep, slept until morning. Jane entered the room
about half an hour after her sister, engaged in prayer and then retired,
without disturbing her.

For the next four days Esther seemed to be suffering from some secret
sorrow. She could not remain in the house, but was continually on the
street, or at some of the neighbors' houses, and every night she cried
herself to sleep.

Of course her woe-begone appearance was noticed by the family, but they
refrained from questioning her, for the simple reason that they supposed
she and Bob had quarrelled; and as they did not approve of the
attachment between him and Esther, they were rather glad that his visits
had ceased, and gave no further attention to the matter, supposing that
she would be herself again in a week or two. Bob's continued absence
from the cottage--for he used to be there every other day--strengthened
them in the belief that they were right in their supposition, and so
they let the matter rest.

CHAPTER III.

THE HAUNTED HOUSE.

Supper is just over. Dan and Olive are in the parlor. Jane is up stairs
in her room, talking to Esther who has retired early; it being only
seven o'clock, she asks Esther: "How long she is going to continue to
worry herself about Bob?"

Not receiving a reply, she puts on her heavy sack and remarks: "I am
going over to see Miss Porter, and will soon return; it is so damp and
foggy to-night that, I declare, it makes me feel sleepy too. I think I
will follow your example, and retire early. Good night, I suppose you
will be asleep by the time I get back;" and off she goes.

As the night is so very damp and disagreeable, all begin to feel sleepy
long before half-past eight, and go up to their rooms.

Before Dan goes up stairs, he takes the bucket and brings some fresh
water from the pump--which he, as usual, places on the kitchen
table--taking a large tin dipper about half full up to his room for the
children to drink during the night.

It is now about fifteen minutes to nine. Jane has just returned from her
visit, and has gone to her room, which is in the front of the house,
near the stairway, and directly next to Dan and Olive's room. She finds
Esther crying, as usual, for the girl has actually cried herself to
sleep every night since the fatal ride. After getting into bed, she
says: "Oh, my, I forgot to put the lamp out," rises immediately and
extinguishes the light, remarks to Esther that "it is very d