The Laughing Mill, and Other Stories

"The Laughing Mill, and Other Stories" by Julian Hawthorne is a compilation of eerie stories from the end of the 1800s. The first story begins at a quiet seaside farmhouse, where a sailor named Jack Poyntz lives with his daughter, Agatha, and the person telling the story. Get ready for a mix of mystery and the supernatural, especially involving a pearl-shell necklace Agatha wears. It might be connected to the narrator's family history causing them to wonder if it's an old keepsake that disappeared long ago. The story starts with the narrator thinking back to a summer day at the Poyntz's farm, describing the peaceful place and the interesting people. Jack Poyntz, a happy retired sea farer, spends a nice afternoon with his daughter Agatha and the narrator after they have finished dinner together. They chat about local stories about a dangerous group of rocks called the "Devil's Ribs," which brings up talk about shipwrecks and Agatha's unusual pearl necklace. The narrator is attracted to Agatha, drawn in by both her beauty and the necklace, which reminds him of a family treasure. As more secrets and stories are slowly revealed, particularly about the strange past of the necklace and the spooky "Laughing Mill," the beginning sets the stage for a mix of love and ghostly mysteries.