Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-11-01
! sure. she said, hurriedly catching her

y sure she said, hurriedly catching her
breath. ~
..In tho church, Bettyl What do you
meanfs9ufffed her mistress. FIR
II mean that she went in a good bit
aEo ard left her there. Sure an told
her u lock herself in the vistry"e
''BMf what did she go into the church
for. Betty? inquired her mistress.
"To play the or-r-gan, ma'am."
And never spoke word to me-that
10 curious-but she can't be in there now
why, the child would be frightened to
DEATH -
Sure don't know, ma'am; that's
where I left her. She wanted me to show
her the vistry, and so did,"
Mrs. Preston hurried into the parlor
with the news.
"Ah. she acted upon my suggestion"
said Reginald; 81 gave her permission to
try my old organ-but of course she left
there before dark-of course she must
have done so.'
but where is she now, Reginald"
asked his mother anxiously. Something
may have happened to her'
perhaps she fell asleep over her music"
said Miss Delaney. and the sarcasm in her
voice was so thin that Reginald noticed it
and WINGED little. .-f
Il have heard of such things he said,
dryly; "she may have been taken i'll, or
fallen down stairs'
For mercy's sake, Reginald" cried his
mother, with a nervous little scream
I'll 60 at least and look" said Regi-
maid. land, if she is asleep. I'll waken
her,
Miss Delaney bit her lip.
RpCinaid proourad 10 ptarp ond Mt
round to the door at the front entrance.
1t was open; this alarmed him not little
and he made haste to ascend the stairs.
As he feared, the vestry door leading from
the vestibule was locked
What can have happenedp "She must
be in there" he said to himself. He has
tened round to the entrance of the study
and unlocking the door he went in. All
was still-he hurried up the aisle, up the
inner stairs, and found his way into the
vestry. Nobody was there; the organ
was closed. Looking ound, he saw the
door leading into the choir gallery ajar,
and entered. Before he had taken ten
steps his lantern revealed poor little Nam
ny prone on the floor, deathly white her
long. lustrous hair, which had burst it's
combining pins streaming over her dress
and along the carpet.
''Is she deadp" putting the lantern
down, and feeling of her pulse. There
was no motion--there was no means at
hand, that he knew of, to restore ANNA
ton. The only thing he could do he did
lifted her ia his arms and laid her against
his bosom, then. taking the lantern, he
traversed the length af the church with
his burden (and very light it seemed) to
the study, which was the nearest to the
house.
Miss Delaney stood in the hall when
Reginald entered with his precious armful.
Her face was almost as white as that of
ihsinssnsible girl.
1.-The sweet darling I" said Mrs. Preston.
softly. tears in her eyes-'take her up to
my room, Reginald, she will require my
care; she has tainted, dear little orphan,
l haven't been half careful enough of her"
Reginald was absent-minded for the rest
efthe evening. His mother came down
to say that Nanny had recovered, but
seemed to be wandering little. "She
says she saw her father, dear, she added,
tptning 70 Reginald, 'just in front of the
pulpit-strange, isn't it?n
''Ah, see," said Reginald, 81 can UNDER
stand it. Soothe her as best:you can tell
her there is nothing in it, and will show
her what she saw Tomorrow"
''Such q fuss over that girlr said Miss
Delaney between her teeth
Nanny came down next morning pale
and quiet, still positive that she had seen
ghost. After breakfast, Reginald went
into the church. the ladies all following.
Il SAT Easter festival, he said, talking to
Nanny, who walked by his side, my Sun.
day School children made cross of How
,sHs. The cross is five feet high, and stands
In eIe eha0cel en- the altar, consequently
reaches 70 the pulpit, There that is what
you saw q q 4'1'A
Yes, that was what she saw towering
before her, and looking very much indeed
Ike ghost, even in broad daylight; for,
anxious to preserve the beauty of the
cross until the next Sunday, the wife of
one Of the wardens had brought sheet,
saturated 1t with water aud thrown it over
the cross. that the flowers might be kept
moist. - as 20
II don't wonder Il frightened YOU said
Ra&qsld. IF. AS you say you saw it by a
su1asn Eieam thrown on the darkness.
Remember John was busy with the horses
je4 sfer / came home, and on cloudy
llShts he generally carries lantern with
tSer0ng reflector. and that, as it probably
was directed by chance upon the cross
draped in such deathly fashion, must have
brought. it into ghastly relief. 1t was
very startling. Your fancy, being ex-
cited, conjured up The face of your father.
/ should have been frightened myself,
quite likely, not owing it was there, and
NY nerves are pretty strong"
Little Nanny smiled gratefully upon
him. and his answering look sealed the
is.s Of Miss Delaney. In her heart she
fettht al hope was gone. Reginald had
1sxer loved her, but from the moment he
saw Nanny, his heart was hers. He had
admired, been greatly attracted by Miss
Delaney, but had found her wanting in
the womanly qualities he most appreci.
ated. So, you see. lutte Nanny never
taught the school, but, instead, became
the rector's wite.--Appleton's Journal.
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