The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-04-30
by a long-drawn breath. She looked round


again, but no was TO be seen.
She ascrbed the oounds TO the wind oozinI
through the rat holes Of the old mansion, an
proceeded leisurely to put her hair in papers
when, all at once, sho thought she perceived
one of the eyes of the portrait move.
Her back was toward the portrait but he
ewes fixed on its reflection in the glass. We'll
as was saying, she perceived one Of the eye
of the portrait move. So strange a circum
stance, as you may well suppose, gave her
sudden shock. To assure herself Of the fact
she put one hand to her forehead, as if rub
bing it, peeped through her fingers, anC
moved the candle with tho other hand. Th'
light of the taper cleaned on the eye, anC
was reflected from It. She was sure it moved
Nay more, it seemed to give her wink, as
she had sometimes seen her husband do when
living. 1t struck momentary chill TO he'
heart; for she was lone woman, and fell
herself fearfully situated.
The chill was but transient. Ny aunt
who was almost as rosoluto parsonage al
your uncle, sir, (turniug to the old story tel
lcr,) became instantly calm and collected
She went on adjusting her dress She even
hummed an air, and did not make a single
false note. She casually overturned dress
ing box; took candle, and picked up the
articles one by one from the floor; pursued a
rolling pincusLion, that was making the best
of it's way under the bed; then opened the
door; looked for an instant into the corridor
as il in doubt whether to 60; aud then walk.
ed quietly out.
She hastened down stairs, ordered the ser.
al
first at hand, placed herself at their head, and
returned almost Immediately.
Her hastily levied army presented a for.
midsble force. The steward had rusty
bIunderbuss, the coachman loaded whip, the
footman pair OF horse e-pistos, the cook a
huge chopping knife, and the butler bottle
in aaeh hand My a".t lsi .Ls ~-'
with led hot poker, aud in my opinion, she
was the most formidable of the party. The
waiting maid, who dreaded to stay alone in
the servants hall, brought up the rear, smell.
ing to broken bottle of volatile salts, and
expressing her terror Of the ghostesscs.
"Ghosis!' said my aunt, resolutely, "pll
singe their whiskers for themp
They entered the chamber. All was still
and undisturbed as when he had left it. They
approached the portrait of 10Y uncle.
"PuIl down that picture! ed M aunt.
A heavy groau, auu :. sound like the chat.
terinng Of teeth issued from the pOl.rait. The
servants shruuk back; the maid uttered a
faint shrek, and clung to the footman fO.
support -,
"Instantly" added my aunt, with stamp
of the foot.
The picture was pulled down, and from a
recess behind it in which had fornerly stood
a clock, they hauled forth round shoudered,
black bearded varlet, with a knife as long as
my arm, but trembling all over like an aspen
leaf.
"Well, and who was he -
"a Knight of the Post, who had been
smitten with the worth OF the wealthy W d"
ow; or rather marauding Tarquin, who had
stolen in her chamber to violate her land
rifle her strong box, when all the house
ed he, "the vagabond was loose idle fellow
of the neighborhood, who had once been a
servant in the house, and who had been EN-
ployed TO assist in arranging it for the recep
tion of its mistress He confessed that he had
contrived this hiding place for his nefarious
purposes and had borrowed au eye from the
portrait by way of q reconuotering hole"
"My aunt was woman Of spirit, and apt
to take the law into her own hands. She
had her own n, tions Of cleanliness, also. She
ordered the fellow to be drawn through the
horsepond, to cleanse away all offences, and
then to be well rubbed down with an oaken
towel"
'.What became of him aiterwardsp
81 do not exactly know. believe ho was
sent on voyage OF improvement to Botany
Bav."