East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1859-10-13
EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, OCTOBER 13, 1859.

welcome Mrs. Atherton gave her ola
friend as she congratulated herself on
having dear Ellen under her own roof /;
more especially as she owed this good
fortune. to Mr.. Atherton's exertions In
rescuing her.
at is the merest chance, too, that he
is at home at present" she said, she ought
to have been in Scotland, but the state OF
the roads in this bleak country has kept
him prisoner here for weeks" "And
others as WE'LL" Ellen Middleton added ;
'but both children and grown persons are
only too thankful to have so good an ex-
cuse for staying at Bel6eldn And then
laughing, she asked Aunt Mary how she
ment to dispose Of Miss Stirling Tor the
night, for the house was as full already
as it could hold"
go, said her aunt, I'VE shall very well
Belfield is very elastic"
She smiled as she spoke; but 1T struck
Miss Sterling that the question was never
theless, puzzling one, so she took the
first opportunity of entreating her to
take no trouble on her account, chair
by the fire was really all the accommo'
dation she cared for, as she wished to be
in readiness to pursue her journey as
soon as the coach could proceed.
1--WE shall be able to do better for you
than that, Ellen," Mrs. Atherton answer.
ed cheerfully. II cannot, it is true prom
Use you statc-room," for every bed in
the house is full; and l know you will
not allow any one to be moved for your
convenience, but have one chamber still
at your service, which, except in one re
spect, is comfortable enough"
"Haunted, ''of course said Miss Stir
ling, gaily.
"Good night"
"Oh, no, no, it is not that had il
fitted up for my brother William when
he used to be here more frequently than
Of late, and it is often occupied by gent
lemen hen the house is full, but as it il
detached from the house, have of course
never asked any lady to sleep there, til
now"
"Oh if that be all, I am quite willing
to become its first lady tenant" said Miss
Stirling, heartily. So the matter was set
tied, and orders were given to prepare
the pavilion for the unexpected guest.
Thtevening passed pleasantly; music
dancing and ghost stories made the hours
fly fast, it was long past ten--the usua
hour of retiring at Belfeld-when Miss
Sterling under her hostess guidance, ,tool
possession of her outdoor chamber. Il
was really pleasant apartment. Th,
crimson hangings Of tho bed and windows
looked warm and comfortable in the fire
light and when the candles on the man
tie piece were lighted, and two easy
chairs drawn close to the hearth, the long
parted friends found it impossible to re
sist the temptation of sitting down t.
have what in old days they used to call I
T 'two-handed chat There was much I,
tell of what had befallen both, Of che
quercd scenes of joy and sorrow, decpl,
. interesting to those two whose youth hat
been passed together; there were mutua
, recollections of school days to be talkc,
over, mutual friends aad future plans Z
, be discussed and midnight rung ou
from the stable clock before Mrs. Ather
ton said good night. She had alread
crossed the threshold to go, when sh
A turned back and said:
4 al forgot to tell you, Ellen, that tn
9 inside bar Of this door is not very secure
4 and that the key only turns outside. Ar
1 you inclined to trust the bar alone, o
+ will you, as William used to do, have tn
o door locked outside, and let the servan
J, bring the key in the morning? Williar
G used to say that he found it rather an at
a vantage to do so, as the unlocking of tn
@ door was sure to wake him."
h Miss Stirling laughingly allowed, tba
It though generally, she could not quit
IF think it an advantage to be locked int
her room; still she had no objections t
l. it on this particular occasion, as she wisl
< ed to rise in seasonable time.
d "Very well; then you had better NJ
" fasten the bar at all, and / will send m
ID maid with the key at eight precisel
o Good night"
ID They parted; the door was locked ou
A side; the keys taken out and Miss Sti
,e ling standing by the window, watcht
ps her friend across the narrow back pat
e. which hnl been swept clear of the sno
Nd to make dry passage from the house
ID the pavilion. A ruddy light streamc
v, from the hall door as it opened to adm
I'd its mistress, and gave cheerful, friend
es aspect to the scene; but when the do
ly closed and shut out the warm comfort
IS, bic light, the darkcned poarch, the pa
err moonlight shimmering on the shroud'
trees and the stars twinkling in the fros
IS sky, had such an aspect of solitude as
ye cast over her kind Of chill that mac
n, her half repent having consented to qu
the house at ALL and let herself be lock,
ry up in this lonely place.
W. Yet what had she to fear? No har
be could possibly happen to her from with
the chamber the door was safely lock,
ss outside, and strong iron stancheonsguar
ed cd the window there could be no possit
ID. danger. So, drawing her chair on
?n more to the fire, and stirring it into
to blaze she took up little Bible which L
to on the dressing table, and read sor
portions of the New Testament.
Mt When she laid down the book, she to-
p" out the comb that fastened up her Ion
res dark sikcn tresscs--in which, despite h
at five and thirty years, not a silver thre
ed was visible-and, as she arranged the
en for the night, her thoughts strayed ba