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,

| Forever my wife,
| Margaret shuddered. What if her siste
were welded to a demon9 She had heard o
such things-and did not her own experience
| forbid her to be incredulous With a sick
ening sensation OF superstition, horror and ap
prehenson she turned toward little Rose
What had befallen that little child
81 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 looked behind me, saw the
reaper coming after me with great strides
| started to run, but in my fright stumbled
and fell-and the ghost instantly sprang for
ward and raised me up-and- d-and-,
'sAnd what, Rose - asked Sophie and Mar
garct, eagerly.
s'And 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 blundcr-
ing speech, she hid her blushing face in her
hands.
Margaret and Sophie were aghast. Here
was discovery.
Rose tried awkwardly enough to profit by
the silence to amend her error
''Ghosts don't kiss, you know" she timidly
remarked.
''And Robert Bloomley does?" cried Sophie,
laughing. s'Oh, Rose, Rose, you little trail
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 see 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 trick. very saucy, and
very clever. l understood it all now, and she
has evidently understood us all this long time.
How say you, Margaret? Are VIC Justified in
keeping our VOWS, when three ghosts come
from their graves to bid us break them ?'
Margaret turned aside her stately head with
a blush and smile, and gave explicit an
swer. But fancy she as well as the other
sisters, were more satisfactory in their replies
the next day, to the s'three ghosts,'' who ap-
peared in propria persona to plead their cause.
l 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 ghostly part assigned them.
Finally 1 would merely remark, that the
whiln of the square, head-strong ould body,
Thomas was perfectly true. All three sis
ters were married within year.
Margaret entered with her husband into
possession of noblo estate in the neighbor
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 OF
course, remained with her.
Once year, as often as it is within the
bounds of possibility, the sisters meet under
the old roof-tree. Every Halow Eve they as
semble, as Of old, round the cheerful wood
fire, not perhaps roasting chestnuts, and talk
ing girlish nonsense, but speaking of present
happiness.