The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-12-24
hlnrrnre, Marin exclaimed:

and 90 into the Widow SHADES
room. She'll think IL is man,
and won't she be frighten cd?"
"Frightencd? Mol" cried Susan.
Shes bad two husbands. But do
it. See what sho will say."
~ will Here, help me, Sue
fla ha! And here's n hat too
8ow kind in somebody TO leave all
his clothes here.
Derby, poor dear present Derby
was breathing very hard, his
heart beat heavily, and every nerve
shook. What the dcace was he to
do if Margaret Maria went off u ith
pants he could in no way determine;
and for the exceedingly interest
ing conversation that was going
on, he knew that his worst fears
were 10 be realized.
'Oh! amt IL n fit," cried Mar
garet Maria. "Only turn I'D the
trousers Ave or six inches, and |
shall be fixed Here, black my
upperlip with this piece Of coal
| sban't make love TO you. Hal
ha! aint u dashing feliow?'
And Derby could hear some
body kiss somebody, and somebody
laughed as if she codId not help it.
A moment after the girls had
left the room, Derby stole timidly
from his hiding place. Margaret
Maria had taken tho lamp and his
clothes with her: she had left dark
ness and her own clothes behind.
A happy thought struck unhappy
Derby. In all haste he cnrobed
himself in Margaret Maria's gown,
then he put her shawl over bis
shoulders, and threw on her bon
net and veil. His eyes having
been accustomed to the darkness,
he could soc TO do this without
much difficulty. In five minutes
be was ready TO follow Susan and
Margaret Maria.
During this time thcrc was a
great deal OF laughing up stairs
Margaret Maria, in Derby's attire,
went TO Mrs. SHADES room, who was
a little startled at first, but who
took things very coolly, until she
! found it was not a man after all
when she virtuously gave vent 10 her
! indignation. The advcnturers next
proceeded to the attic, where the
girls were sound asleep. Susan
having placoI the lamp in the pas
sage. hid behind the door, while
Margaret Maria entered and awoke
Jane Woods with a violent shower
of kisses. Jane uttered faint
scream and demanded in a whis.
per .''
"!Who are you?"
"Sh !" said Margaret Maria.
Jane husbcd accordingly, until
she saw the strange figure pro.
ceoding TO Mary Clarke's pillow
when she concluded IL was her du-
ty 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 buss.
us it you, George" she whisper.
ed,
Atthis 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 natter she
cried in pretended astonishmcnt.
"IIe was kissing Sarah Jones.
"He didn't kiss me. He was
kissing Mary Clarke. ..r...
Me guess Id have torn his
eyes out. 1t was Jane Woods hC
| Kissed"
Susan was very much astonishcd
of course, and the girls were all
very indignant;and no one of then
would confess that she had beer
! kissed. until Susan pointed out the
marks of the coal moushtachc on
all their faces and called in Mar
garct Maria. Then there was :
great deal Of laughing; and Mar
garct Maria having gaIlantly kiss
cd them all, again set out TO 6
down stairs.
But now it was Dcrby's turn {,
have u little fun, and Margare
Marias to be astonishcd, Al
Susan advanced, the lamp she car
red revealed n frlghtiul lookin.
object standing at the loot OF thu
stairs IT was apparently wo
man of gigantic stature; her dres
was so short that her bare feet ant
ankles could be seen distinctly
and she waved her large bon!
fingers at the terrified girls ma
estically rs ghost. Nevc
! were two mischief makers NOR
frightened by an apParition. Su
san dashed hcrse!f against tho wal
Up went scream and down cam
the lamp. The oil covered tn
stairs, and Margaret Maria fitinte
and stepped in it. Atthat momon
the tall woman-being Derby him
b, self cried ..u.fN
"Robbersl help! MURDER at tn
= top of his voice: and immediately
o stepped into his room, locking tn
q door behind him.
:, Before Margaret Maria recover
cd her scattered senses, all ih
boarders were astir. Susan rush
t cd into Mrs. Slade's s.room; Margar(
would have followed her, but 81
is san, in her terror, shut her ont
W. Next Margaret tried her mother
d door; and her mother, hearing I'll
alarm, appeared at this momcG
(. and terrified by the coal moustacI
1t and smashed hat, took her dsugl
!. ter for the robber, dropped h'
il lamp and screamed fearfully.-