Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-05-31

lieve my story
1 think really you must have had dream
said ], and BERTHE will laugh 1t n If he hears
why We have changed our ROOM
'Don't tell him, or anybody, Or he will
think me mad, said Edith. But Cara declare
I Was not dreaming
ut is very strange, said land more 20 than
agreeable, but until see this ghostly figure
| mean to stay here
"You are foolish, Cara said Edith, land
obstinate - Of yore. You should not stay
another night in this room"
'Have you slept we'll ladies'" said Mrs.
Rayne, when We went down to breakfast
answered in the Affirmative, but Edith was
silent.
"You heard no noises, saw nothing" said
she, gazing fxedly at me.
"Oh, mol ghosts if there were any present
they did not disturb me-" I replied, lightly
and Mrs. Rayne said no more.
Mary my little abigail, had not seen Of
heard anything to alarm her. She looked
bright and fresh - daisy aud seemed quite
disposed to become reconciled to her tempora-
~ abode. But il was morning, clear, SUM-
shiny, and everything wore different as
pect from what it had done the previous
night. tried when We were alone, to per-
suade Edith, thai what she fancied she had
seen must have been only quivering moon
beam, or some optical delusien, but she de-
clared again and again that she was not mis-
taken, and that the ghostly vision Whatever it
might prove to be was reality, that she had
been wide awske, and nothing could convince
her to the contrary.
edward would think me very silly If
were to tell how much am frightened said
my friend. am nervous to ridiculous ex-
tent, am quite ashamed Of myself for being
50, but If what I say could be accounted for in
any way should be thankful
"well, Edith, 1 will sit up and watch to-
night" said l, and We must keep our watch .
secret from Mary aud the housekeeper."
II only hope our courage will not ebb away
before it is required said Edith, ''and for
PHYS sake don't tell Edward what goose
nave made Of myself she added more gaily.
Ipromised faithfully. Edith was . young
wife, as we'll as myself, and what her husband
thought of her was of more consequence to
her than anything else in the world. II is .
pity that some Wifes of an older date are not
as anxious to obtain the appreciation of their
lords.
The day passed without any incident, the
conduct Of Mrs. Rayne being the only strange
thing. Decidedly she Was very queer, she
seemed to take wonderful fancy to me, vio-
lent, and not very agreeable partiality for
she scarcely deigned to notice Mrs. wollas-
ton but directed the most pressing civilities to
myself and fingered as long as she could be-
side me on any pretext.
Night came, and with it return Of my ner-
vousness. We sat in the long parlor, con-
versing in subdued tones, We did not care to
raise our voices nor did we call for lights till
late hour.
When Mary brought in the supper tray she
did not seem as lively as she had been in the
morning, but she made no more complaints
Edith and went to our room with beating
hearts, though was determined not to &C.
knowledge that she had infected me with her
alarm.
. We wrapped ourselves in warm dressing
gowns, and sat side by side at the cheerful
fire. Iplaced two candles on the high man
tlepiece, for sitting in . haunted chamber, in
the gloom Of . November night, would not be
very pleasant, thought and besides that,
supposing the apparition were to appear
again, how could We be sure it was not
moonbeam?
"It really seems ludicrous, Cara" remark
ed Edith, ''but assure you did see some
thing, and will not 60 to bed in this horrid
room until can find out what it was.
We made sure that the door was secure, tried
the bolt Of the window, and then resumed out
seats. The FIRE soon wanted replenishing, bur
Mrs. Rayne lad forgotten to leave Goals and
wood, and it was out about an hour after
wards. The room WAS very cold then, and
we sat huddled together trying to conquer our
fears. When the 6re died away my cour-
age also departed, and We were guilty ofstart-
ing at every sound. The wind moaning
round the gables, sobbing like human voice
at the windows, and shrieking through the
leafess branches Of the trees in the avenue,
added to our drearincss.
Te crown our misfortunes, Edith with a
trembling hand, endeavored to shorten the
elongated wick Of the candle, and snuffed it
out and before she could relight it the other
which unfortunately she had taken down from
the mantelpicce was blown out by gust Of
wind from the chimney.
"What on earth shall We do ?" We both cried
at the same instant.
We had no matches, and there was no help
for it but to sit down again, IS l could not in
ducc Edith to 60 to bed.
.Let us talk about something pleasant"
said Il; .it will prevent our minds from dwell
ling on the super natural"
l skillfully introduced some subjects as con-
versation, and Edith became quite animated,
Alter . time, in the dreary midnight, We
ceased to talk, and only whispered question
and answer broke the silence; but with my
dear Edith's head dropping on my shoulder,
her hand clasped in mine, recalled the days