Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-03-23

~ 6SV VuV, outu IutSo ou 1ACtCI
"Thay'll miss me-"
IF you'll promise to marry, me I'll gel
the sled out for you, and promise to neve,
tell" whispered Charley. If you won''
I'll wake up Uncle Joseph"
"Whata wretch y exclaimed Miss Van
Meter from her position on the sled. "OI
course I'wou't promise any such thing"
"Then I'll wake up Uncle Joseph
said Chasiey releutlessly.
Uncle Joseph evidently thought abou
waking up himself. He gave a series
Of sneezcs which had all the popular ele
mcnts Of war.whoop in them.
"Secms to me its cold here" he groaned
half awake and half asleep. "Guess the
weather's changed since-cin'-" and then
he dropped off again.
Haven't you any pity on poor old
gentleman ?" demanded Charley. "Hc's
evidently catching his death.cold. All frou
your hardness of heart"
"I'll talk with you in morning." said
Miss Van Meter.
"No, you DON'T" said Charley. "Pve
got you cornered, and I'm going to improve
the opportunity. Yes or no?"
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself
taking such an advantage of me, said Miss
Van Meter, Indignantly"
II suppose SO, but ain't,' answered
Charley. "I'l' count ten. If you DOM
say yes before that time III wake up Tn
Gle Joe. One, two, three. four, five"
eyes, then, if must!' said Miss Var
Meter, struggling hard not to laugh
"Now, be so kind as to tell me how an
to get out"
Through the door," answered Charley
in great delight at his victory.
"But the key?" demanded his affianced
"There isn't any answered Charley. 81
never lock the door,"
"What wrech you arc!" exclaimed
Miss Van Meter, Aatteringly. elf Ii
known that, do you suppose I'd have staycd
here palavering with your"
"But you didn't, you scc.' said Char
Icy. "That's where I had you. Go.
night, my DEAR"
Miss Van Meter slammed the door tc
with bang. Charley got up and threw
the sled out of the window, closed the sash
and drew the curtain. Then he went back
to bed. In the morning he got up before
his uncle woke, and swept up the bits o.
broken glass and snow, that the old gen.
tlcmau might get no suspicion of what had
occurred.
At the breakfast table Louise was shy
aud silent-an unusual thing for her.
"I declare" said Uncle Joseph, II dc
believe it thuudercd last night. heard
an awful rumble, any way. Ishould think
your room was haunted, If l believed ir
spirits. 1 heard whispcrings, or some
thing that sounded like them, and all kind.
of noises. l took an awful cold, too. Can
breathe, hardly. Didn't sleep wink las
night; not wink. Blessed if I'll stay
in that room again."
Charley and Louise tried to look very
unconscious of the secret of the "hauntcc
room." .....
II don't think Lou liked the sport very
much," laughed Sarah. Percy fell over
board, aud she ran away from US, whcr
she got down the hill and was in bed wher
1 got 10. We hunted for her, but didn'
find her nor the sled, and l thought, per
haps, she'd had enough Of the fuu, and
forsaken us. l should think you nigh,
have spoken to me when you came in, Lou
and not left me out there alone.
Louise made some inaudible reply.
After breakfast, Charley caught her il
the hall.
"Yes' last night shall DO yes this
morning, shan't it," he asked.
eyes" she answered, looking very much
liko wild rose. "But couldn't help
myself, you must remember. I'll do just
as said, not because ! care for you, sir
but just to keep my word -
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