The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-03-11
Select Tale..
AN AUTHENTIC GHOST STORY,

GA letter from your aunt Maud, eJac-f
ulated Mrs. Haywood, as she turned over
the little pile of missives just brought from
the post. II know the writing, though
| havn't seen it before for fifteen years.
What can she have to write about, Irving Is
And without waiting for response good
Mrs. Haywood broke the broad red seal
and fell to reading. Twice she went over
those few lines, written in bold hand,
which seemed more like mans than a
woman's: than she broke into an exulting
sort Of laugh, and clasped her little hands
together gaily. 81 always said you would
be lucky, Irving?" she cried. always;
though neither your poor father nor ever
thought of this. We always believed that
Maud Haywood would bequeath every
cent she died possessed of tosome charity.
Why, all the time you were baby she
never sent you 50 much as coral, and
only came to see you once, and then said
that she never liked fair boys, and that It
was pity your eyeswere not black instead
of blue. How angry l was with her! All
well! let bygones be bygones. Read what
she says now" .., ygs; r .J ~, +
Reginald Haywood, handsome young
fellow of ive-and-twenty, reached across
the table and took the little missive in his
hand His eye ran over it for a moment;
then he read it aloud, with deep, musi-
cal voice, very pleasant to the ear:
DEAR SIsTER-IN-LAw :--You will be
surprised at hearing from nc after 50 long
= silence. have no apology to ofcf.-
You and never cared much for eacl
other, and there was NO good end to b'
answered by force of sisterly affection
At last, however, there are REASONS why
should write to you. Leannot live a. year
/ may not live moHth, so the doctors say
and Haywood House must go to some ont
after l am dead. / shall make my Will
in favor of your son Reginald, and mean
while send him up here-if he can spar,
a week or so for an old woman l Shout,
like to see him, that may not leave tn
old place to one who is quite astranger.-
Let him come at once. anaa a - ea Ell
-4 .. ..4al "MAUD HEYwoop,1p
Irving folded the letter and handed Il
back to his mother, who was abundant
young and pretty to be the mother of
full-grown man with a brown moustach
upon his lip. .9 sdt a. e Il .shu.d {,
"Shall 1 go2" he said, with a low laugh
"Perhaps it would be better for my pros
poets to remain at home. My lady aun
may like light haired men no better tha
she did light babies" '-
"Shell like you no better for not Obey
ing her summons" replied the mother
"And nsyer fatter you, you knows: bl
you have grown to be anything but an il
looking man, light or not. You must G
..o-day. I'll pack your trunk at once, an
write a letter. You can start in the ele'
en- o'clock train" a..,,,,g l. ....p oi,.,.l
And Mrs, Heywcod arose and hustle
away to make the necessary preparation
for her sons departure. 80.
What with genteel notions and sea
ty income, the Heywoods had hithsr
had hard time of it. The little ofic
\ with the doctors sign upon the outer we
u 24which attracted few customers 1-was
miracle of pretty neatness; and Mrs. He
81 wood always wore a handsome ibonnet 81
cloak to church. But dinner iwasb oft
4 limited to a macerel, and tea and sug
were used upon the homeopathic prin
pie; and even then sundry tFadesmen we