was pouring. He was as certain as he could be of anything that he
had seen a face at that window as he started up--a wild, haggard
face, framed by long unkempt hair. He sprang from his bed and
looked out, but could see nobody, and heard no unusual sound
except the distant "who-who-whoo" of an owl.





CHAPTER VIII.

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL, AND MORE MYSTERIES.


It must be confessed that, before getting to sleep again, Mark
thought of what Aunt Chloe had said about the "ghoses"; but having
been taught to disbelieve in such things, and always to seek for
some natural explanation of whatever appeared supernatural or
unreal, he made up his mind to wait and make the attempt to
unravel this mystery by himself before saying anything about it.

The four days that remained of the week were very busy days for
the Elmers and those whom they had employed to help them. During
this time the interior of the old house was thoroughly cleansed
and sweetened by the energetic use of soap and water, and straw
matting was laid on the floors of the rooms down-stairs. The
broken windows were all repaired by Mark, who found several boxes
of glass and a bladder of putty among the building material they
had brought from Bangor, and who, after a few trials, became quite