Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-07-04
&C. coLUMBIA. co. PA. WEDNESDAY. JULY 4,ls66.

proceeded TO the attic, Wnere the girls were
sound asleep Susan having placed the
lamp in the passage, hid behind the door,
while Margaret entered, and awoke Jane
Woods with violent shower of kisses. Jane
uttered faint scream, and demanded in a
whisper
"Who are you?"
Ssh, said Margaret - R
Jane hushed accordingly, until she saw
the strange figure proceeding to Mary CLARK S
pillow, when she concluded it was her duty
to scream. Mary screamed too, after she
had been several times kissed, and Sarah
Jones joined in the chorus, until her mouth
was stopped by hasty buss.
Is it you George?" she whispered.
At this moment the strange figure, which
had been seen by the light in the passage,
ran out, and Susan, catching up the lamp,
ran In
"Why, what is the matter?" she cried in
pretended astonishment.
There been man in the room.
''He was kissing Sarah Jones'"
'tHe didn't kiss me- He was kissing
Mary Clark ~
Mel / guess would have torn his eyes
out 1t was Jane Woods he kissed.
Susan was very much astonished of course
and the girls were all very indignant, and
not one of them would confess that she had
been kissed, until Susan pointed out the
marks of the coal moustache on all their
faces, and called Margaret Then there was
a great deal of laughing, and Margaret, hav-
ing calamity kissed them all, again set out to
go down stairs.
But now it was Derby's turn to have lit
tie fun, and Margaret's to be astonished.- =
As Susan advanced, the lamp she carried
revealed frightful looking object at the foot
of the stairs. 1t was apparently woman
of gigantic stature her dress was so short
that her bare feet and ankles could be seen
distinctly, and she waved her large bony hand
at the terrified girls majestically as ghost.
Never were two mischief makersmore fright
ened by an apparition. Susan dashed her
self against the wall. Up went a scream
and down came the lamp The oil covered
the stairs, and Margaret tainted and stepped
In it. AT that moment the tall woman-be-
ing Derby himself-cried-
Robbers help murderl' at the top of
his voice, and stepped into his room, locking
the door behind him.
Before Margaret recovered her scattered
senses, all the boarders were astir Susan
rushed into Mrs. Slade's room, and Margaret
would have followed her, but Susan, in her
terror shut her out. Next Margaret tried
her mothers door, and her mother hearing
the alarm, appeared at that moment, and
terrified by the coal moustache and smashed
hat, took her daughter for the robber, drop
he'd her lamp and screamed fearfully. Mar
garet, as much frightened as her mother,
would have caught her in her arms, but Mrs.
Covey would hear no explanation, nor allow
her daughter to approach but pushed her
out of the room with great trepidation. =
Then Margaret ran to Derby room, which
she found locked. At that moment, Ned
Perkins-the oldest man in the house-rush-
ed out of his room with a lamp In one hand
and a sword cane in the other, ready drawn
for combat. Ned flew at the supposed rob-
Der, and would have seized her in an instant,
if she had not properly seen fit to faint at
the sight of his naked sword and legs, and
fall down before Mr. Derby room. Her
hat now came off, her hair streamed down
her neck, and Ned recognized Margaret.
Anybody can imagine the scene of confu-
sion which followed. The imprudent girl
found herself surrounded by half dozen
half-dressed figures, some wondering, some
trembling with terror. But it was the Sc
verest cut for Margaret when the door of
Derby's room opened, and the tall appari-
ton appeared. As soon as the screaming
had subsided the figure removed its veil
Don't be fighted, Margaret" he said,
its nobody but your poor, dear, absent
Derby. That's all. y
Can you fancy her feelings? Mr.. Derby
could, as he entered the room again, locked
the door, and went to bed oyerjoyed at what
had occurred. He slept soundly, and awoke
in the morning as completely cured of his
love for Margaret, as if he had seen her
turned into a grizzly bear.