The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-01-10
BLOOMSBURY, Pa, FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1865

had that wavcring pink color in them
which is so delicious. Her life was al
ways on the point of going out, and she
required TO be guarded from all rude
shocks with the tenderest care. So
when she exclaimed at my pallor,
made out to smile and said supposed
was tired.
"l'm sure you are, dear, and no won
der. But now we are here in this fine
old country-pace you ought to begin to
| pick up. You must insist on the twins |
doing more-such great, red-checked |
girls ought to do half the work"
smiled, thinking that If didn't |
get rested till Sophia and May began to
help me | should wear out first.
"The girls don't like housework, you
know, mamma. But never mind. |
dare say we shall do very well. Patty |
says the house is so convenient that it
will be only fun to do the work."
Mamma drew little sigh of satisfac-
| ton, and glanced around her room. II
was Il large airy south chamber, having
an outlook over cheerful green fields
with blue hilsin the distance. All our
pretty things somehow gravitated to
mammals room, and it had already,
| though we had not been twcnty-fOur
hours in the house, cosy home look.
81 really think shall begin to mend
here" sighed mamma. "You know DR..
Nassar said room with southern ex-
! .1,,t 4 rla. +,
though, just n little too much sunshine
here. Don't you think you could man
age to furnish up those old green chintz
curtains? You might darn the rents, |
should think-you do such things so
nicely"
81 might line them with something,
l suppose"
"With rose colored cambric," said
mamma, eagerly. "That would be 50
pretty, dear. Do 90 and get them, Lu,
and let's see what can be done"
So in discussions over the faded cur
tains the rest of the afternoon waned,
and l did not get Il chance to speak to
Charlie alone again after tea.
But the first moment had l said:
"What could that have been Charlie?"
Charlie drew his paper-cutter between
the leavec Of "Ballou," and replied cool
ly enough:
at seems there is q co-tenant in the
!. house."
"a co-tcnantw echoed.
J "No need of being frightened, Lu.
| N-n ~ ha hprt-nn1v spnrn1 of fho
worst. l don't remember knowing a
ghost to have done positive harm. DO
t you?"
didn't think ! did, but what differ
ence did that make?
Y "I'd us lief be murdered outright as
G quite helplessly.
80, never mind, Lu. think it will
g be capital fun"
t "Fun -
:, / shuddered.
"And then it mayn't be anything af
y, ter all. The wind may have shut the
door,"
n "Wind! There wasn't breath OF
wind stirring, and no way by which 6
q draught could have been in the room."
"Well, we'll 1t can't hurt us, what
), ever it is"
reflected and came to the same con
u clusion.
"Only Charlie, not word to Patty
Remember. And mother must not b,
+ frightened either. So don't forget tha
7 it is a secret between our two selves"
,r A little calm consideration soothet
my fears wonderfully, and it was will
,. more curiosity than fear that lay dow
% to sleep the first night in the new, O
n rather old house. But, to my surprise
am afraid to my disappointment,
u was utterly undisturbed, and rose il
the morning ready to laugh at IN,
of WITNESSES of yesterday.
Six weeks passed away as quietly as
. compatible with two young ladies prac
~ tising on the piano all day long, an
q three small lmps, whose ideal of dellgh
includes unlimited noise. But l wasi
= spite Of my cares, picking up, as NAM
ma said, Mamma was better too. Char
ID lie had settled down to reading lay
H. with the village squire. Hugh wa
m writing novel from which we all cor
It iidently expected great things. And a
n. was quiet along the Potomac,
And so, the chintz curtains having
been II success, was at work upon thi
be white muslin that should adorn,the pal
I lor. ! was in my own room. 1t wa
past eleven O'Clock ut night. Every
to body in the house except myself Wa
ne sound asleep.
M had ceased to be troubled by an
RI, Hypothetical ghost, and sewed qui
.oe contentedly, But suddenly (the rool
having that perfect stiffness which is )
Lo noticeable at night l seemed to becon
IL aware of somebody breathing at my e
bow. For minute my heart stoo
Iv still, and felt the cold sweat start upc
my forehead. But presently Charlie
| consolation recurred to me.
in. "They can't hurt Us anyhow. I'll
mr. most they can do is to give Us scare
"a | would not be scared. So shut N
,is teeth tight, determined not to screar
70. till | felt my strength coming back, ,ar
,rc my blood flowing regularly. All Il
a time this slow, steady breathing we1
ere on close at my side.
we / mustered courage presently
,st change my scat. The sound follow
w. me. And | had moreover an awi
,ed sense of oppression. am sure it W
He not terror. Was it the impalpable /
rh. mosphere which encompassed my sp
rh. itual visitant?
changed my seat two or three tin
ut, but | could not get away from II
ass. sound. was losing my self-cont
ere again. suddenly thought struck II
Ugh | would go to Charlie.