Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-12-12

| L stopped IN my own room Tor my
basket, knowing that l had to die but
once. and / would go through the trial
like a martyr. l survived, however, and
was made well aware that | was still IN
the flesh by grandma's declaration, as ]
gave her the yarn:
HBertha, something dreadful will
happen to you if you don't leave off
whistling."
There were ghosts about me all the
rest of the day, but they were only visi-
bic IN the corners, behind the doors, and
in the shadows. 1t was only after |
went to bed that they seemed to revel in
consciousness. They stood in a row,
and one said, prepare to pucket," when
every mouth was drawn up instantane-
ously, as if with gathering thread; and,
whistling all the keys of the gamut and
out of it, made the night hideous. l
was almost wild as one of the ghostly
choir stepped up and asked me:
'Dost thou like the serenade, o whist
ler?"
Afraid to say no l stammered, eyes"
when, with a terrible clutch, the horrid
creature took me by the hair, and said in
scpulchral tones:
:sThen be thou imbued with our spirit,
and let thy life whistle itself away, un-
til Lou art one Of us"
screamed, and my spectral musicians
disappeared, while Aunt Jane called from
her room
"What's the matter, Bertha 90
"Dreaming, auntie," l answered as
quietly lis l could, though l shivered as
ii with ague l began to believe that
grandma was a prophecies.
Tho next evening, at sunset, was sit
ting OH the step, when cousin Robert
came walking up the lane. had not
seen him for week, and was more
cordial than usual in my welcome,
for l liked him, and we were good
friends.
"Comc Bert" he said "let us take a
stroll in the setting of the sun, it is such
pleasant hour.
/ joined him, and he straightway took
the path through the garden to the old
trysting place. Presently he commenced
to whistle; then he stopped, and turning
to me said
ebert, why don't YOU take your
part -
We often whistled duets, Accompany
ing his soprano with alto.
q have almost given up whistling,
Robert l replied, twirling my hat
around by the strings, and looking down
into the grass, through which We were
wading.
"Whew !'' he exclaimed "What
now? Haven't succumb d to the old
fogy ideas OF grandma and Aunt Jane, at
last, have you?"
was vexed with him, and provoked
with myself, SO carelessly answered:
"No, not exactly ; but l will not whis-
tie in their presence any more, and l
think owe some regard to their wishes.
They think
ooh, pshaw l know what they think
well enough and know, too, that Aunt
Jane will have you as prim as she is, be-
fore long," Interrupted Rob.
"Well, Rob, l will whistle with you
this time," | quietly rejoine,l. So we
began "Annie Laurie" but it was no use.
"Wait, Rob, Pm not ready" l said,
ashamed Of the failure. Another effort;
t was totally unsuccessful Oh my part,
and poor "Annie Laurie" evaporated into
thin air.
Now, Bert, you are horribly out of
practice" said Bob, in no very patient
tone. 81 believe you are putting on airs,
trying TO be young lady. Well, you
are sixteen; l declare its time to sober
down; but you can whistle two years
longer without detriment to your dignl-
ty. think. Now tell me-" he confined,
for we were already under the oak, and
he searched my face with his great brown
eyes, sis there 10 other reason why you
won't whistle with me?"
l felt the color come and 60 in my face
like heat lightning in summer sky, so
without so much as looking at him, | re-
piled:
"Oh, Rob, let ME alone, and do cease
this senseless twaddle."
He seemed much surprised at my earn
estness, but was more amiable than lex
pected him TO be, SO with a bow, he re-
marked:
"Aiiss Bertha Russell, l regret that
have offended you with the inappropri-
ateness of the selection of themes with
which to entertain your majesty, l shall
be more circumspect hereafter, if you
will pardon the indiscretion Of An mex
perienced youth"
| had halt a notion to laugh and half a |
notion to cry, but l did neither. We're
manned by the waterside until the stars
peeped out, and then we went back to
the house.
Robert was quiet and distant, and
would not be reused by my sallies, which |
tanner than ever, before we
reached the porch he said:
''Bertha if my father can spare me, L |
will go to the oak tomorrow morning
to read; 1 wish you would bring your
work as you used to do. l haYe been
down several times, and have not found |
you.
frightened up at once, for nothing
pleased me more than to hear him read.
Then he babe me good night, but it |
was in very deferential tone, and with |
that dignifed "Bertha )" SO, after he
started, called to him;
"RobI'
He turned,
ssWelI pn