Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-05-28
hand, and put this ring upon.my finger, say
ing solemnly as he did so,
with this ring wed thee,
In death in life.
This token doth bind thee

=
In death or in life.
This token doth bind thee
Forever my wife.
Margaret shuddered. What if her sister
were welded to demon? She had heard OF
such things-:nd did not her own experience
forbid her to be incredulousl With sick
eniDg sensation OF superstition, horror and ap-
prehension she turned toward little Rose
What had befallen that little child 2
az have seen ghost,'' Rose began-Mar-
garet clasped her hands and closed her eyes.
Her pale face grew even whittier than before.
Rose continued,
81 had sown my hemp seed, as you did Sis
ters, and when I looked behind me, saw the
reaper coming after me with great strides
1 started to run, but in nay fright | stumbled
and lell-and the ghost instantly sprang for
ward and raised me up-and-and-,
s'And what, Rose 70 asked Sophie and Mar
garet, eagerly.
ssAEd it was Robert Bloomley," said Rose
abruptly.
"How do you know what makes you think
so!" asked the sisters.
"Because he kissed me?'' cried Rose hasti-
ly. Then overwhelmed by her own blunder-
ing speech, she hid her blushing face il her
hands.
Margaret and Sophie were aghast. Here
was discovery.
Rose tried awkwardly enough to profit by
the silence to amend her error.
s'Ghosts don't kiss, you know she timidly
remarked.
s'And Robert Bloomley does?" cried Sophie,
laughing. ooh, Rose, Rose, you little trai-
tor, who would have expected this from you
She looked keenly at Margaret as she spoke;
Margaret met her glance with look at once
conscious and suspicious.
A light was beginning to break in upon them.
They began to sec that Rose was not the only
traitor in the camp. They began also to sus-
pect Kitty and see through her devices
At last Sophie broke into merry laugh
''The fact ISL she said, ssmischievous Kitty
has been playing us trick, very saucy, and
very clever. / understood it all now, and she
has evidently understood US all this long time.
How say you, Margaret Are we justified in
keeping our VOWS, when three ghosts come
from their graves to bid us break them -
Margaret turned aside her stately head with
blush and smile, and gave no explicit an
swer. But l fancy she as we'll the other
sisters, were more satisfactory in their replies
the next day, to the "thrce ghosts,' who ap.
peared in propria persona to plead their cause
need scarce say that, as Sophie had sug
gested, Kitty was at the bottom of these mys
teries. Having, with her usual shrewdness
discovered the secret of each sister, she had
despatched Thomas to summon the lovers in
time to play the ghostiy part assigned them.
Finally 1 woulG merely remark, that thu
whirn Of the sFquare, hcad-strong ould body
Thomas" was perfectly true. All three sis
ters were married within year.
Margaret entered with her husband into
| possession of 4 noblo estate in the ncighbo
hood. Sophi accompanied Lieutenant Nor
| ton to distant lands. But Rose, with her hon
est farmer settled down in the dear old home
| stead.
| Kitty, now more important and more indul
| ged than ever, and faithful old Thomas o
course, remained with her.
Once year, as often as it is within tn,
bounds of possibility, the sisters meet unde
the old roof-tree. Every Hallow Eve they as
semble, as of old, round the cheerful wooC
| fire, not perhaps roasting chestnuts, and talk
ing girlish nonsense, but speaking of presen
happiness.