The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-04-30
From Irying's Tales ofa Traveller.
TIE ADVENTURE OF MY AUNT.

Nv aunt was lady OF large frame, strong
mind, and great resolution; she was what
might be termed very manly woman. My
uncle was a thin, puny little man, very meek
and acauiescent, and Lo match for my aunt
1t was observed that he dwinded aud dwin
died gradually away from the day of his mar.
rage. His wife's powerful mind was toe
much for him; it wore him out. My aunt
however took all possible care Of him, and
had half the, ,bdoctJrs in town prescribe fol
him, made him take all their prescriptions
and dosed him with physic enough to cure q
whole hospital. All was in vain. My un
Gle grew worse and woIse the more dosing aud
nurslng he underwent, until in the end he
added az other to the long list of matrimonial
victims who have been killed with kinjness.
"Aud was it his ghost that appeared to
her r asked the in4uIsltiye gentleman who
had questioned The former story-tcller.
you shall hear replied the narrator -
"My aunt took ON nightly for the death oi
her poor dear husband. Perhaps she felt
some compuncton at having given him so
mnrh pbysie, ard uursed him iuto the grave.
At any rate, she did all that widow could
do to honor his memory. She spared no ex-
pense in either the quantity or quality of her
mourning weeds wore miniature OF him
about her neck AS large as sun dial, and
had full length p rtrat of him always
banging in her bed chamber. A II the world
extoloG her corduct to the skies; a,d it was
determined that woman who behaved 60
well to the memory Of her husband deserved
soon to get another.
1t was not long after this that sho went to
take up Ecr residence in an old country seat
in Derbyshire, which had long been u the
care Of merely a steward and house keeper.
She took most of her servants with her intend
ing to make il her principal abode. The
house stood n lonely wild pat Of the coun-
try, among the grey Derbyshire hills with
a murderer hanging in chains on bleak
height in full view.
The servants from town were half frigbten-
ed out Of their Wits at the idea of living in
such dismal agan.lookin g place; especially
when they got together in the servants hall
In the evening, aud compared notes on all the
hobgobln stories picked up in the course of
the day. They were afraid TO venture about
the gloomy, black looking chambers. My
lady's maid, who was troubled with nerves, f,
declared she could never sleep alone in such a
"guostiiy;, rummaging old buildings" and the
footman, who was a kind.hear,ed young fel.
low, did all he could to cheer her up.
My aunt was struck with tho lonely ap.
pearance Of the house. Before going to bed,
therefore. she examined we'll the iastenings of
doors and windows; locked up the plate with
her own hands, and carried the keys, together
with little box Of money and ewels, to her
own room for she was notable woman and
always saw TO all things herself. Having
put the keys under her pillow, and dismissed
her maid, she sat by her toilet arranging her
hair--for being in spite Of her grief for nay
uncle, rather buxom widow, she was some
what particular about her person. She sat
for little while looking at her face in the
glass, first on ore side then on tire other, as
ladies arc apt to do when they would ascer.
tain whelh her they have been in good looks;
for a roistering country Squire of the neigh
borhood, with whom she had frted when
girl, had called that day TO welcome her to
tho country.
All Of sndden che thought she heard
something move behind her. She looked has
tly round, but there was nothing 70 be seen.
Nothing but the grimly painted portrait OF
her poor dear man hanging against the wall.
She gave heavy sigh TO his memory as
she was accustomed TO do whenever she spoke
Of him in company, and then went on adjust
ing her nght.dress, aud thinking Of the
Squire. Her sigh was reechoed, or answered