The Horror Megapack_ 25 Classic and Modern Horror Stories ( PDFDrive )

won’t revive the poor fellow, but it does seem heartless to indulge in a dance
while—”
“Wallah,” the girl burst out, “while his soul still hovers over us? Thou hast
said.” She recovered herself with a flush of confusion, and added in
conversational English:
“Are you going up? I’ll go, too, if you don’t mind, for I want to rise early
tomorrow.”
“Something special to do in the morning?”
“Yes, I’m afraid—I think so,” she returned. “Will you rap on my door early in
the morning? I want to go down to the smoke house before the others and see
that all is well.”
“You don’t think young Phillips will stick it out?”
“I’m afraid he’ll try to, and—”
“Why, you don’t actually believe there’s anything supernatural in this
business, do you?” he demanded. His ward’s affirmed belief in djinn, ghosts and
devils was a never-failing source of amusement to him.
The girl turned big, serious eyes up to him.
“This is an old, old house, Uncle Harvey,” she replied, “and old houses often
grow evil spirits, even as they grow poisonous mosses. Who knows what wicked
thing may seek to do him harm this night?”
“H’m, well,” the Professor returned, “the young man appears quite able to look
after himself.”
“But you will call me—early?” she persisted.
“Of course, if you wish it. Goodnight, dear,” he responded, bending to kiss the
lips she turned up to him as naively as a child.
II
A shrieking blast of north wind, driving a rout of scurrying snowflakes before
it, hallooed through the open window of the Professor’s room, shaking the chintz
curtains furiously and raising the blankets and coverlet of the bed. The Professor
drew the disturbed bedclothes tighter about his chin, then, realizing that a faint
gray light showed at the window’s square, reached beneath his pillow, fished out
his watch and inspected it. “Half-past six,” he muttered gloomily. “I suppose I
might as well go for Rosalie; she seemed set on making an early inspection of
that confounded smoke house.” Reluctantly, he disengaged himself from the
bed, dashed across the chamber and slammed down the window, then started the