Vine on House

by Ambrose Bierce

About three miles little town of Norton, in Missouri, road leading to Maysville, stands an old house that was last occupied by family named Harding Since 1886 no one has lived , nor is anyone likely to live again Time disfavor of persons dwelling thereabout are converting it into rather picturesque ruin An observer unacquainted with its history would hardly put it category of "haunted houses," yet in all the region round such is its evil reputation Its windows are without glass, its doorways without doors; wide breaches shingle roof, and for lack of paint the weatherboarding is dun gray But these unfailing signs supernatural are partly concealed and greatly softened abundant foliage of large vine overrunning the entire structure This vine--of species which no botanist has ever been able to name--has an important part story house

The Harding family consisted of Robert Harding, his wife Matilda, Miss Julia Went, who was her sister, and two young children Robert Harding was silent, cold-mannered man no friends neighborhood and apparently cared none about forty years old, frugal and industrious, and made living little farm now overgrown with brush and brambles He sister-in-law were rather tabooed by their neighbors, who seemed were seen too frequently together--not entirely their fault, for times they evidently challenge observation The moral code of rural Missouri is stern and exacting

Mrs Harding was gentle, sad-eyed woman, lacking left foot

At in 1884 it became known that she had gone to visit her mother in Iowa That was what her husband said in reply to inquiries, manner of saying it encourage further questioning She never came back, and two years later, without selling his farm or anything that was his, or appointing an agent to look after his interests, or removing his household goods, Harding, rest family, left the country Nobody knew whither he went; nobody cared Naturally, whatever was movable place soon disappeared deserted house became "haunted" manner kind

One summer evening, four or five years later, the Rev J Gruber, of Norton, and Maysville attorney named Hyatt met on horseback in front Harding place Having business matters to discuss, they hitched their animals and going house sat porch Some humorous reference somber reputation place and forgotten uttered, talked business affairs until it grew almost dark The evening was oppressively warm, the air stagnant

Presently both men started from their seats in surprise: long vine that covered half the front house and dangled its branches edge porch above them was visibly and audibly agitated, shaking violently in every stem and leaf

" storm," Hyatt exclaimed

Gruber said nothing, but silently directed the other's attention foliage of adjacent trees, which showed no movement; even the delicate tips boughs silhouetted against the clear sky were motionless They hastily passed down the steps to what lawn and looked upward vine, whose entire length was now visible It continued in violent agitation, yet discern no disturbing cause

" leave," said the minister

And leave Forgetting traveling in opposite directions, they rode away together They went to Norton, where they related their strange experience to several discreet friends The next evening, at same hour, accompanied by two others whose names recalled, they were again porch Harding house, and again the mysterious phenomenon occurred: the vine was violently agitated while under the closest scrutiny from root to tip, nor did their combined strength applied trunk serve to still it After an hour's observation they retreated, no less wise, thought, than had come

No great time was required singular facts to rouse the curiosity entire neighborhood By day and by night crowds of persons assembled Harding house "seeking sign " It appear that any found it, yet so credible were the witnesses mentioned that none doubted the reality "manifestations" they testified

By either happy inspiration or some destructive design, one day proposed--nobody appeared from whom the suggestion came- -to dig up the vine, and after of debate this Nothing was found but the root, yet nothing more strange !

For five or six feet trunk, which had surface ground diameter of several inches, it ran downward, single and straight, into loose, friable earth; then it divided and subdivided into rootlets, fibers and filaments, most curiously interwoven When carefully freed from soil they showed singular formation In their ramifications and doublings back upon themselves they made compact network, having in size and shape an amazing resemblance human figure Head, trunk and limbs were there; even the fingers and toes were distinctly defined; and many professed distribution and arrangement fibers globular mass representing the head grotesque suggestion of face The figure was horizontal; the smaller roots had begun to unite breast

In point of resemblance human form this image was imperfect At about ten inches from knees, the cilia forming that leg had abruptly doubled backward and inward upon their course of growth The figure lacked the left foot

but one inference--the obvious one; but ensuing excitement courses of action were proposed as there were incapable counselors The matter was settled sheriff county, who lawful custodian abandoned estate ordered the root replaced excavation filled earth that removed

Later inquiry brought out fact of relevancy and significance: Mrs Harding had never visited her relatives in Iowa, nor did they know that she was supposed to so

Of Robert Harding rest family nothing is known The house retains its evil reputation, but the replanted vine is as orderly and well-behaved vegetable as nervous person could wish to sit under of pleasant night, katydids grate out their immemorial revelation distant whippoorwill signifies his notion of what