Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-11-14

for so sallow and wrinkled a skin. She
dressed very carefully, usually in rust
ling black silk, and wore a gold watch
with innumerable little pendent charms
attached. She was so pleasant to
mother that | couln hardly believe my
ears when overheard her scolding Jen-
ny so ruthlessly, and Jenny sulking and
sobbing.
Icould only surmlse as to her history,
for she never referred to it; but she
had a way of sneering at the whole
class of masculine beings, which made
me suspect that she had been disap-
pointed IN Mr.. Mackenzie.
We'll, as | was saying, at the end of
six months | had hardly become used
to the change. The children, poor
things did not mind it so much.
One evening, after l had gone to bed,
the thoughts of their future pressed
heavily upon me. Father had Intended
TO bring his boys up with great care /;
now they would have to tumble up the
best way they could. The clock struck
eleven, and still ! had not fallen asleep.
1t was winter time The starlight, re-
fected upon the snow, illuminated the
chamber Suddenly | saw something
creeping across the room. With a
wild throb Of my heart, raised my
head from the pillow. 1t was strange
figure, bent, and huddled in loose
white robe. Its head was almost en-
tirely bald, and it had strange sunken
jaws.
1t crept noiselessly to the window.
1t seemed to shivcr as it stood looking
toward the distant glitter of the sea.
The children were all asleep, Frank
and Arthur in the trundle, Neddy in
his crib, and baby in my bed. I sat up,
ready to spring to rescue any of them
if they should be molested.
The figure turned from the window,
went to the mirror, peered within, and
finally turned away, crossed the room,
and entered the closet.
| waited for it to come forth again,
but it did not come. In the utmost
suspence, | counted the minutes for
five long hours, and at aybreak l fell
heavily asleep.
1t was strange that did not think
Of the figure re-appearing but on tie
next night, | was awakened by slight
noise, and to my fright, discovered the
white figure creeping across the room
again
1t went to the window, rubbed the
frost from the pane, and looking out
Again | started up, fearing some harm
would come to the children; but after
peering in the mirror, as before, the
figure crossed the room, and disappear
ed at the closet-door. With my heart
beating almost to sulfocation, | lay
down again.
Two more nights this same thing
happened. | became almost sick with
anxiety and excitement. did not
know what to do; but to whom could
| 90 for help. Every time looked
at my mothers care wcra face, | CON
quered the temptation to add this bur
den to her anXieties.
At length, one day, | summoned
courage to look into the closet. There
was nothing there.
Then | decided that the intruder
was ghost. This did not mend mat
ters; it was dreadful to be so haunt
ed.
1 slept very badly. Sometimes |
would fancy the figure present when it
was not. Again, l think it visited me
when | was sleeping the deep slumbers
Of exhaustion.
One night | was awakened by a
piercing scream from Neddy's crib. |
sprmg up, The strange figure was
darting wildly about the apartment,
and my little brother, sitting up, wide
awake, in his crib, stared fearfully at it,
while scream after scream issued from
his pale lips.
But in moment the figure rushed
into the closet, and | took the terrified
child into my bed.
"What was it what was it, Norry?'
he cried.
| told him he had been dreaming.
The other children woke up, and moth
er came hurrying up from her room
below, but told them that Neddy had !
a bad dream, and cried out in his sleep |
that was all. If it was not true
hardly knew what the truth was. But
slept no more that night.
That afternoon, as | sat sewing in
The Nest, while the baby crept about
the carpet, and Neddy was taking a
nap, there came a knock at the door,
and Mrs. Mackenzie entered She new
er took any notice of the little boys,
but she sometimes made slight over
lures towards baby's acquaintance.
"What was the trouble in here last
night ?" she asked, submitting her jew
eled fingers to baby's admiration, while
she looked at me sharply.
| hesitaed. But why not make
confidant of Mrs Mackenzie
After obtaining from her solemn
promise that she would keep my secret,
told her the whole story. She listen
ed with deep attention,
"And so you think it is ghost, Miss
Nora? ?" she said.
81 am sure 1t is a ghost | answer
ed sbut cannot tell my mother that
the house is haunted, for she would be
out of it, aud we have no
place to 60; As,long as it does not