Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-09-11
CHAPTER III.

liam SOuthwick arrived at Beechnut Farm. and
he sat alone in one Of the chambers OF the hotel
at Holly. He had drawn a table near the fire,
and, with a number of unanswered letters before
him, was rapidly welding his pen, unheeding the
lateuess of the hour. Frederic had sought his
room. which adjoined his brothers, and was
wrapped in 4 deep sleep, while all around was 81
lent and noiseess, save the roaring of the bright
fire in the little Franklin stove, and the faint
ticking Of the watch that William had laid upon
tie table among his papers.
With his back towards the door, the young
man lid not heed the light step that approached
him, and, as a warm breath touched his check,
he started with an exclamation Of astonishment
At the same moment low taunting laugh SCUM
dcd in his ear, and, as he turned around, he saw
the figure Of young girl rctreating towards the
door, with her hand raised warningly towards
him.
Springing to his feet, he hurried past her and
intercepted her 10y placing himself before the door
A second time the figure laughed, and shudder
ran through its slight frame. That laugh! 1t
would be impossible to describe it perfectly
There was a cool mocking in its music as its echo
woke the stiffness Of the lonely chamber, un
dcfnablc defiance in its clear tone, that must be
heard to be understood and. as it died away up
on the air. the phantom whispered,
Weak, presuming mortal. 60, nor triae with
the spirits of another world"
The thin hand that was extended towards
William Southwick dropped to her side, and
again 4 light tremor corvulsed the form Of the
girl.
srT'a rri,5t- &c oro+Io- ,,-CrlI 10 NOT RI ,-;sit
the earth," said William, in a calm slow tone
- You are like myself, mortal, and subject to the
good AMI evil of the world. Why do you take
an uncarthly form and strive to frighten the in
mates OF this house -? Are you angry with them
This Is but poor revenge Are you instiSatc9
to the decd by their enemy =? My child, this is
wrong.''
The girl took a step towards the door.
LET me pass" said she, with dignity.
= Not until you tell me your motive in visiting
this room,'' replied William, firmly.
q" You have no right to question me-" sail she.
half proudly. = acknowledge that I am no
ghost, and that i: enough. Will you not allow
me TO quit the room 20
Her dark eyes flashed mp at her companions
face, on which fingered a faint smile, and she
quickly cast them down while Lcr pale face grew
crimson.
- / will let you 90 when you tell me why You
came,'' said William, turning the key in the lock
and placing it in his pocket.
- l cannot, oh, | :" exclaimed the girl
in confusion. a You viii think me great deal
worse than am you will not believe me- and
she covered her face with her hands, burst into a
passion of tears.
Her distress touched the heart of William
Southwick. and he led her to a seat. speaking
kindly to her. and encouraging her to tell him
what he wished to know, and soon she grew
camcr."
Il may as well tell you the whole of it, said
she, gathering back her loose black hair from her
face, and twining it around her taper fingers,
and will commence with my name. l am
Hattie Grey and Mr. Noyes Willard is my guar
dian l came here last week, and, one evening
they all got to telling ghost stories down at Mr.
Wizards; stories about every kind of ghosts.
How one girl scared another by wrapping herself
up in a sheet, and SO on. You see had never
heard such stories, and l thought how nice il
would be for me to scare some one, 50 | thought
1t all over that night, and the next night, wher
the snow was falling, and the wind bowling like
mad, dressed myself in white and ran up street
calculating to get into some house when no one
saw me. The front door of the hotel was open
and l ran in here and hid in closet under the
chamber stairs at the back of the hall There
waited till one O'Clock, and the went into every
room with my lamp in my hand. Ms. ChapeIle'.
room was the last one l visited, and when L left
that ran down stairs, cut at the front door, and
back home as fast as l could"
But did not Mr.. Wizards family miss you 2
inquired William
"No. I stay alone in my room evenings,
and, as l locked the door, they thought l was in
bed"
Then you came here for no other purpos
than to frighten people, said William, inquir
| ingly.
50 That was all p replied Hattie, blusning deep
! ly. 8 wanted some fun and excitement, and
| never dreamed of being discovered"
ct was very wrong, my child; you have Sc
riously frightened great many persons, cause,
Mrs. Chapellc much trouble, besides risking You
own health in enoountering the night air.
d" know it-oh, | know it." mourned the girl
.' but have been kept in school so long, and tn
teacher was strict. that L was ready for an,
sport when l got free. l did not think it was s
bad then as L know it is now, and wish hadn'
done it. But you won't tell any one that it wa
me, will you % said she, pleadingly, as she lai
her hand upon his arm.