Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-04-25

were eager to hear Pennies story. When
she came to the glimpse of the spectre they
had had at the lodge, Uncle Christopher
patience gave way. He declared he could
not stand such nonsense any longer, and de-
manded that Tom Martineau should come
out with him, m,even in the wind and the snow,
to blow away the cobwebs that little spider
(meaning Pennie) was trying to weave over
their wits. After that all the gentlemen
dropped off rapidly, and the womankind
were left alone to the discussion of Pennies
narrative, until the children fell tired of their
romps, ,and insisted on fairy tales and riddles
in the twilight until the dressing-bell rang,
when young and old trooped upstairs togeth-
err
Millicent and Pcnnie were the last to de-
scend to the drawing-room, and it struck
Pennie oddly that her companion had be-
come the centre of most demonstrative cares
ses. Theodore kissed her; Helen wreathed
an arm round her waist Grace cooed at her
with sweet words. The dame complacently
predicted that she would soon be herself
wonted touch of sentiment, tucked her hand
under bis arm, and patting it, bade her look
more sprightly for a picture of winter in her
all-white robes, with the ruby-dropt holly
spray in her hair. Theodore, the most ten
der-hearted of women, had tears in her eyes
through dinner; and of the rest, those who
did not look joyous, looked mysteriously i'm
portant. Pennie might have asked now ii
they had seen ghost; and she did at last in
innate to Captain Blake that if anything was
going to happen she should like to know;
but he only whispered with tantalizing all
=" shall not tell you, little quiz. Whel
you had secret you kept it fur days now
it is our turn, and we can keep one too"
When the ladies rose to leave the table the
dame took Millicent's arm to cross the hall
For a miracle none of the children wer,
and out of the drawingroom half-a-dozei
times, though both their babies were saft
abed. Even grandmamma, SO drowsy afiei
dinner on ordinary occasions, was now per
| tectly wide awake, and trotted twice to the
door, and opened it to listen to the voice.
| and laughter that issued from the dining.
room. Their restlessness communicated.
itself to Millicent, and when she heard I'm
Gle Christopher's deep bass approaching,
supported by hum of lower tones, sh.
could not help quaking with vague ex-
pectancy of she knew not what. Instantly
Helen and Grace ran out, and the dame,
holding Milly's hand, followed. Pennie
pursued them, of course; when, behold
there in the middle of the half-goom ol
the hall stood the ghost-no ghost at all, but
a man enveloped in a cavalry-cloak pow
dered with snow, and on his head Panama
hat which he was just in the act of pluck
ing off.
"Who's this, Milly ?" cried the Squire
and Millicent, tall, pale, in her white robes
spectral, melted, vanished, disappeared
somehow amongst the great folds of Mi
chael's cloak, and never again quite emerged
into distinct identity. 1t was reconcilia
tion by surprise, and no after-t thought coulc
undo it.
Forgive and forget said Uncle Chris
topher kiss and make friends; you are
under the mistletoe, and it is Christmas
time, NIilly. Rare fun, Quixote, isn't it
Get away, you round-eyed little elf, and
don't talk of seeing ghosts. Is he behaving
like ghost? Milly never would have beer
caught without a stratagem but now 1t is
done, hope You like the dramatic conclu-
sion p
Dramatic conclusion, indeed 1t was lucky
Millcent was past hearing the triumphant
boast 1t was Pennies firm belief that Uncle
Christopher knew from the beginning oftheil
terrors that Michael Forester aCdS, and was
no ghost and that it had pleased his per
versity TO study Millicent's pains and repent
ince before he told anybody the secret of hel
lovers return. But he never would confess
it-never.
The children laughed and were glad ovel
The event of this reunion without well know
ing why; but Penelope Croft, who was al
ready somewhat of philosopher, cried witt
,Iillicent for sympathy; and said, now SHE
should always have faith in the happy pos
,bilities of life, let look ever SO blank, since
even sometimes the long dead came back.
"Oh, the lost years the lost years, Pen
lie !" sobbed her sweet companion "tht
lost years and the change 7" That was tht
)urthen of her regret and her complaint
Pennie sighed and said nothing, and present
y fell asleep,
The morrow came-such strange new
morrow to Millicent, who had bewideret
lir of walking amongst shadows; and ,
ct stranger new morrow to the Eastwolt
children, who were to return home that day
,acked in the old yellow chariot.
They had rejoiced to come to merry Christ
mas Brackenfield they now equally rejoicet
go. A weeks distance lent enchantmen
to the view of the drcary house on the hill
where they had left papa and mamma. TIL,
little ones watched for an hour from the hal
!, window before the lean posters that were Il
carry them away came shambling trot t.
; ,randpapas door. Goodbye! Goodbye
sood-bye!" rang from all tongues in chorus
Then were the last kisses, and the tumb
lngs into the chariot, SO musty and fusty
md anxious final investigations by Theo
lora into the warmth of wraps, and fulfill
warning to Penelope Croft not to achiev
the windy, cold solitude of the rumble; thei
quick "Are you all right?" from Uncl
John, and an "Of with you!" from Uncl
Christopher; and away they whirlcd in tn