Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-07-09

RACHEL.

The Huntly farm house was redolent
with pleasant Odors of breakfast. The
perfume of bubbling coffee and browning
corn cake was waited through blossomy
lilacs and fruit trees almost as far as the
mill. where Edwin, the only son of the
house OF Huntly, 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,
as dingy black alpaca passed through
the front gate, and brushed the dew from
the grass and dandelions.
The young man had natural aversion
to Mrs. Camp, partly because she had
known him from his youth up, and felt
called upon to talk to him about his soul,
and partly because she always waited
abroad strong odor of camphor, as If
her virtues were securely wrapped up in
that useful drug.
Edwin knew that he must put up with
Mrs. Camp. She was his mothers adviser
and friend, and necessary evil. He
whistled as he wiped his hands on the mill
towel. and glanced at Rachel's window.
The whistle suddenly died down.
"Confound tt" he thought. Il wish
could clear up this miserable mystery. Ii
Mrs. Camp gets hold of it-and mother
will be sure to let it leak out-she'll go
cackling all over the village
A thicket of trees between the mill and
the house was studded with young leaves
elistening in the sun, but Edwin could see
through their thin branches, and his heart
gave new and curious thump as Rachel
| came to the window She put out her
head, rippling all over with pale golden
locks, drawn behind the ears, and tied
simply in the neck with brown ribbon.
Edwin had hrowsed among the poets,
if he was nothing but a 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
longed irrationally to take the pale, wist-
full face between his two hands and kiss
it. He had never kissed Rachel. The
very idea of such thing gave him an all
overish feeling that ran through his six
feet OF stature like the vibration through
harp string.
Huldah had tangled the bell three times
from the doorway before Edwin put in an
appearance.
Late, as usual" said she, with tart
ness sisters sometimes indulge themselves
in toward refractory brothers.
"Oh, he thinks it's manly to keep us
waiting" put in Janet, with the pertness
of fourteen.
''But we haven't waited" said Mrs.
llurtly from behind the tray, where in
cense was rising from her excellent cot
fee. Edwin Rufus, don't you see Sister
Camp?n
If there was any thing that Edwin de-
tested it. .was being called Edwin Rufus.
He took Mrs. Camps hand as if it had
been the end of a poker. Rachel sat at
the table, silent and with her eyes cast
down, but she ate little or nothing.
''Sister Huntly, I'll take a leetle fetch
more sugar in my coffee, and you won't
mind if l help myself to another slice OF
corn cake. You do know how to make
corn cake, Sister Huntly; and, Huldah.
you may slide one of them eggs on my
plate.'
"Oh, do 60 on with your story, Mrs.
Camp" said Janet. ''What do you think
Ed there was ghost seen night before
last on the railroad bridge over the gull
ly."
"Ghost granny exclaimed Edwin.
with more energy than elegance.
Il don't ask you to take my word for it,"
returned Mrs. Camp, at the same time
shaking out little cloud of camphor from
her person. She spoke with slight
wheeze, which gave one the impression
that the pipes of her voice needed oiling.
''But Moses Goffis a stiddy man. never
heard of his taking drop to drink, and
he says his head was as straight as a die
| 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 skitting along over the timbers.'
"And didn't you say that he chased the
spook. or apparition, whatever it was,
asked Huldah, land it sank right into the
ground before his face and eyes?"
"He had TO cross the creek, you know,
and by that time the thing had disappeared
though he beat among the trees and BUSH
es, ane hallooed at the top of his voice.
Last night some of the village boys took
shotgun and went down to the bridge
and watched till near morning, but moth
ing appeared. Moses is certain what he
saw wasn't of this world. 1t might have
been sent as warming"
"What a mess of absurd stuff - explod-
ed Edwin. nearly checked himself with a
mouthful of hot coffee. People must be
this age of the world. Some of those loaf
to start a breeze among the women. The
railroad bridge is a fearful place, nearly
seventy feet high, with rocks and the
trunks of trees all wedged in together in
the gully below. Then the whole struct.
ure is only temporary. Not girder or
brace has been put where it will stay. |
doubt if the string pieces would bear even
a childs weight, and false step of an
inch would be sure DEATH"
II don't say flesh and blood ever went
over there, remarked Mrs. Camp, again
sprinkling the air with her peculiar odor.
"Well, said Edwin. dogmatically, "if
flesh and blood didn't go over. nothing
has ever gone"
You needn't try to be wise above what
is written, Edwin" struck in Mrs. Huntly
looking like an exaggerated and very
amible pouter pigeon. 1--WE have Script
ure warreant for believeing in strange
things. Your father, the deacon, used to
be good deal staggered by the Witch OF
Endor and the rising of Samuel, and we
read of familiar spirits. For my part.
don't want them to get ON familiar terms
with me. I'd rather they'd keep their dis
a