The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-07-09
Rachel.


with the pleasant odorS of breakfast The
perfume of bubbling coffee and browning
corn cake was waited through blossomv
lilacS and fruit trees almost rs far as the
mill. where Edwin. the only son OF the
house OF lluntly, was laying off his dusty
coat preparatory to the matutnal meal
There comes Mrs. Camp, the old cat
! wish she'd stay away" thought Edwin.
rs din%y black Il paca passed through the
front gate. and brushed the dew from the
grass and dandelions. The Young man had
a natural aversion to Mrs. Camp, partly
because she had known him from his youth
mp. and felt called upon to talk to him
about his sonl. and partly because she
always waited abroad Il strong odor OF
camphor rs If her virtues We're securely
wrapped mp in that useful drug
Edwin knew he must put up with Mrs
Camp. She was his mothers adviser and
friend, and a necessary evil. Ile whistled
as he wiped his hands on the mill towel.
and glanced over at Rachel'S window. The
whistle suddenly died out
''Contound itr' he thought II wish
| could clear up this miserable mystery.
If Mrs Camp gets hold Of it-and mother
will be sure to let it leak out-shc'll 90
cacklng all over the village"
A thicaet of leaves between the mill and
Inc house was studded with Young leaves
glistening in the sun, but Edwin could see
through their thin branches, and his heart
gave Il new and curious thump as Rachel
came to the window. She put out her
head. ripping all over with pale golden
| locks, drawn behind the ears, and tied
simply in the neck with a brown ribbon
Edwin had browsed among the poets if
he was nothing but tall young miller.
shine out. little head running over With curls
! TO the flowers and be their SUM-
! thought he and then the Young man long
ed irrationally to take the pale wistlu
| face between his two hands and kiss il
| He had never kissed Rachel The very
| idea of such 4 thing gave him IN all over
| lsh feeling that ran through his six feet of
stature like the vibration through Il harp
| string
| IIuldah had tangled the bell three times
from the doorway before Edwin put in IN
appearance.
Late as usual" She said. with a tart
| ness sisters sometimes indulge themselves
| in towards refractory brothers
"oh, he thinks ii manly 10 keep us wait
ing" put in Janet, with the pertncss of
! fourteen.
But We haven't waited, said Mrs. Hunt
! ly from behind the tray, where incense
was rising from her excellent coffee. ed
win Rufus, don't YOU see Sister Camp?"
If there was anything Edwin dctested
il was being called Edwin Rufus. He took
Mrs Camps hand as if it had been the end
| of poker. Rachel sat al the table. silent
and with her eyes cast down. but she ate
little or nothing.
SISTER Huntly, I'll take 4 leetlc tech
more sugar in my coffee, and you won't
mind if help myself to another Slice Of
corn cake. You do know how to make
Il corn cake. Sister IIuntly; and, IIuldah,
you may slide one OF them eggs ON my
plate
rOh, do 90 on with your story, Mrs
Camp said Janet ''What do you think,
Ed there was ghost seen night before
last on the long railroad bridge over the
gully"
"Ghost, granny exclaimed Edwin,
with more energy than elegance.
Il don't ask you to take my word for
it," remarked Mrs. Camp, at the same
time shaking ont q cloud Of camphor from
her person. She spoke with a slight
| wheeZe, which gave one the impression
that the pipes OF her voice needed oiling.
''But Moses Gotf is stiddy man. never
| heard of his taking drop to drink, and
he says his head was as straight as a dye
[ guess he amt easily scared, either The
moon was shining straight down on the
bridge, and Moses says he's ready to take
oath to what he saw-a woman dressed
in white skipping along over the timbers."
And didn't you say he chased the spook.
or apparation, whatever it was asked
Huldah, land it sank tight into the ground
before his face and eyes?'
'1IIe had to cross the creek, you know,
and by that time the thing had disappear
ed, though he beat about the bushes and
trees, and halloed at the top of his voice
| Last night some of the village boys took a
shotgun and went down to the bridge and
watched till near morning. but nothing
appeared Moses is certain what he saw
wasn't of this world. 1t might have been
| sent as Warning
What q mess of absurd stuff" eXplod-
ed Edwin, nearly choking with mouth
| fnl of hot coffee 'People must be very
fan gone, TO believe in ghosts at this age
of the world Some Of those loafcrs around
the store have started this thing to raise q
breeze among the women. The railroad
| 'liuSt - IL itttllil plt't> HV.u i. Hc't'itt
feet high, with rocks and trunks of trees
all wedged in togetherin the gully below.
! Then the whole structure is only Temporal
~. Not girder or brace has been put
| vet where it will stay. Idoubt if the string
| pieces would bear even q child's weight,
and false step OF an inch would he sure
DEATH
Il don't say flesh and blood ever went
| -,
| sprinklin9 the air with her peculiar odor.
well" said Edwin, dogmatically, ''it
flesh and blood didn't go over there, moth
ing has ever gone"
You needn't try TO be wise above
what's written, Edwin struck in Mrs. III.
looking like an exaggerated and very am
liable pointer pigeon, I'VE have scripture
warrant for believing in strange things
deal staggered by the Witch of Endor and
the raising Of Samuel, and we read of
familiar spirits Formv part, don't want
them TO get on familiar terms with me. I'd
rather they'd keep their dstance-Why,
where's Rachel" she added, suddenly
looking round. The girl had slipped ont
of the room.
esWhat soft stepping thing she is - re
marked Sister Nallfp, HcillhS HefScil 10
another installment OF corn cake. ''She
comes in like streak OF moonshine. 1t
gives me q skittsh feeling to have folks
move that way
81 never had stranger in my house
that made so little trouble" responded the
deacon's widow 'She sits at her work
all day like bird on It's nest, and it does
beat all what knack she has at coloring
photographs. Janet, 60 get that one OF
your sister Huldah. 1t looks as if it was
going to speak. There's no need of my
taking stranger into the family. The
deacon left me above-board, and Edwin is
doing uncommon well in the mill; but
when she told me she was friendless and
alone in the world, with her pretty soft
eyes fnll of tears, hadn't the heart to saw
no"