Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-01

holiday. Not severely- spectaclei MinervAs and
chastely-armed and mailed Pallases, but, I fear
for the security OF Five Forks, very human,
charming, and mischievous young women. At
least So the men thought, working in the ditch hes
and tunnel-ing on the hillside; and when, in
the Interests OF Science and the mental ad-
vsncement of Juvenile Posterity, IL was finally
settled that they should stay in Five Forks two
or three days for the sake of visiting the va
rious mines, and particularly the "Blazing
Star" tunnel, there was some hutter OF m ascu-
quiry for "store clotnes," hopeless overhaul
ing OF old aud disused raiment, and a general
demand for "boiled shirts" aud the barber.
Meanwhile, with that supreme audacity and
impudent hardihood of the sex when Crega-
rious, the school-marms rode through the town,
admiring openly the handsome faces and manly
behind the cars of ore at the mouths of tunnels
Indeed, 1t is alleged that Jenny Fores ter
backed and supported by seven other equally
shameless young women, had openly and pub
icly waved her handkerchief to the florid Her
cules of Five FOrks-oDe Tom Flynn, formerly
or Notwithstanding that good natured but not
over prignt giant pulling bis blonde mustaches
in bashful amszement.
1t was pleasant June afternoon that Miss
Nelly Arnot, principal OF the primary depart
ment OF one of the public schools OF San Fran
cisco, having evaded her companions, resolved
70 put into operation a plan which had lately
sprung up in her courageous aud mischief-lov
ing fancy. With tnst wonderful and mystic
nous instinct of her sex, from whom no secrets
OF the affections are hid and to whom all hearts
are laid open, she had heard the story of Haw-
kins's folly and the existence of the "Idiot Asy-
lum." Alone, on Hawkins's hill, she had de-
termined to penetrate its secluson. Skirting
the underbrush at the foot of the hill, she man
aged 10 keep the heaviest timber between her
self and the "BlaZing Star" tunnel at its base,
as well as the cabin of Hawkins, halfway up
the ascent, until, by circuitOus route, at last
she reached, unobserved, the summit. Before
her rose, silent, darkened AMI mOtiOnless, the
object of her search. Here her courage failed
her, with all the characteristic inconseq uence
OF her sex A sudden fear of all the dangers
she had safely passed-bears, tarantults,
drunken men and liZards-came upon her. For
moment, as she after expressed it, "She
thought she should die" With this belief,
probably, she gathered three large stones, which
she could hardly lift, fer the purpose of throw
ing great distance; put two hair pins in her
mouth, and carefully readjusted with both
hands two stray braids of her lovely blue black
name which had fallen in gathering the stones.
Then she felt in the pockets Of her linen buster
for her card-case, handkerchief, p0cket-book
and smelling bottle, and finding them intact,
suddenly assumed an air of easy, lady-like un-
concern, went up the steps of the veranda, and
demurely pulled the front dOor.bell, which she
knew would not be answered. After decent
pause, she walked around the encOmpassng
veranda, examining the closed shutters of the
French windows until she found one that yielded
to her touch. Here she passed again to adjust
her coquettish hat by the mIrror-like surface OF
the long sash window that reflected the full
length OF her pretty figure. And then she
opened the window and entered the room.
OF newness and of fresh paint that was quite
unlike the mOldIness Of the conventional
haunted house. The bright carpets, the cheer
ful walls, the glistening oil-cloths were unite
inconsistent with the idea of q ghost. With
childish curiosity she began to explore the ST.
lent house, at first timidly-Opening the doors
with with a violent push, and then stepping back
treat; and then more boldly, as she became con-
WINGED of her security and absolute loneliness
In one of the chambers, the largest, there were
- IN wi To attn . hat
morning; and what seemed still more remark
able, the pitchers and ewers were freshly filled
with water. This obliged Miss Nelly to notice
another singular fact, namely, that the house
was free from dust-the one more obtrusive aud
penetrating visitor of Five Forks. The floors
and carpets had been recently swept, the chairs
and furniture carefully wiped and busted. II
the house was haunted, it was possessed By a
spirit who had none of the usual Indifference 70
decay and mold. And yet the beds had evi
IDENTIFY never been slept in, the very springs of
the chair in which she sat creaked stiffiy &C the
novelty, the closet doors opened with the re.
luctance Of fresh paint and varnish, and in
spite OF the warmth, cleanliness, and cheerful
ness of furniture and decoration, there was none
OF the ease OF tenancy and occupation. As Miss
Nelly afterward confessed, she longed to Etum-
BILE things around" and when she reached the
parlor or drawing room again, she could hardly
resist the desire. Particularly was she tenn pied
by closed piano; that stood mutely against the
wall. She Thought she would open II just To
see who was the maker. That done, it would
be 40 harm to try its tone. She did so, with one
little foot on the soft pedal, But Miss Nelly
was too good player, and too enthusiastic
musician to stop at half measures She tried it
again-thls time so sincerely that the whole
house seemed to spring into voice. Then she
stopped and listened. There was no response
the empty rooms seemed to have relapsed into
their old stiffness. She stepped out on the We
randa-a wOOdpecker recommended his tapping
on an adjacent tree, the rattle OF cart in the
rocky gulch below the hill came family up.
No one was to be seen far or near. Miss Nelly,
treasured, returned. She again ran her finger.
over the keys-stopped, caught at melody
running in her mind, half played 1t, and then
threw away all caution. Before FIVE minutes
had elapsed she had entirely forgotten herself,
and with her linen duster thrown aside, her
straw hat flung on the piano, her white hands
barred, and black loop Of her braided hair
hanging upon her shoulder, was fairly en-
parked upon flowing sea OF musical recol-
lection.
She lad played perhaps half an hour, when.
having just finished An elaborate symphony.
and Resting her hands on the KEYS she heard
very distinctly and uumistakably the sound OF
applause from without. In an instant the fires
OF shame and indignation leaped into her cheeks
and size rose from the instrument and ran 20
the window emily in time to catch sight of DO
zen figures In blue and red flannel shirts vanish
ing hurriedly through the trees below.
Miss Nelly's mind was instantly made uD. |
think have already intimated that under the
stimulus OF excitement she was not wanting in
courage, and as she quietly resumed her gloves,
hat, and Custer, she was not perhaps exactly
the young person that IL would be entirely safe
tOr the tlInid, embarrassed or inexperienced Of
my sex TO meet alone. She shut doWn the piano,
and having carefully reclosed all the windows
and doors, and restored the house to its former
desolate condition, she stepped from the We
randa and proceeded directly to the cabin of the
unintellectual Hawkins, that reared its atObe
chimney above the umbrage quarter Of a mile
below.
Tue door opened instantly to her impul.
sive knock, and the Fool of Five Forks, stood
before her. Miss Nelly had never before seen
the man desi gnated by this ufeliCitOus title and
as he stepped backward in half courtesy aud
half sstOnish ment, she was for the moment dis
concerted. He was tall reformed, and dark
bearded. Above cheeks a little followed By
care and ill-health shOns pair of hazel eyes,
very large, very gentle, but inexpressibly sad
and mournful. This was certainly not the kind
OF man Miss Nelly had expected to see, yet after
her nrst embarrassment had passed, the very
circumstance, oddly enough, added to her in
dlgnatlon, and stung her wounded pride still
more deeply. Nevertheless, the arch hyp lcrite
instantly changed her tactics with the swift in
tuition of her sex.
50 have come" she said, with a dazzling
smile, infinitely more dangerous than her for
mtr dignlted severity. ~ have come to ask
your pardon for great liberty 1 have Just Ia
Ken. believe the new house above Us on the
hill 10 yours. / was so much pleased with its
exterior that L left my friends for a moment