The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-03-11

Fred was in love with Annie Marston,
aud it is no less true that Annie was in
love with hlln. He dreaded the mis-
rhlevOus teasing of his cousin Kate
Myrtle, and feared it, too, more than ne
would the dlspleasure of king ; and
the cutting sarcasm of his sister was by
no means pleasant. lie had determined
to keep his engagement to Annie un--
known to them, If possible, until he
felt better prepared to endure their
prosecution.
1t was but short distance from the
widow Marston's to his own home, and
lie was soon standing, at the identical
window at which Kate had seen him
enter some evenings before. He slow
~ raised the sash, but ere he had sue
ceeded, in getting it to the required
height, difficulty occurred-the sash
would not move up another inch, and
suppos ing it had struck something ac-
cidentally placed there, he renewed
his efforts to raise it. TO his surprise
and CONSERVATION, AS he pressed hard
upon the sash, down fell brass ket-
tie, several tin pans, and the shovel and
tongs, upon the floor, with ringing
crash, loud enough to wake every one
in the house | Fred started back and
turned pale.
How could those things have got
there 2" muttered he, as he listened at
tentiyely to ascertain If the noise hal
aroused any ole, The sash was now
easily raised, and he sprang into the
room, but not without kicking against
one of the pans in his haste, and send
ing it across the floor, making consider
able noise. Intent upon reaching his
chamber before any one should rise to
discover the cause of the uproar, he
fastened through the room, and quick
ly opened the door leading to the next
one. Unfortunately, there CHANGED to
be couple Of large chairs placed near
it, and as it was hastily thrown open,
they were upset, and being full of tin
dishes, spoons, knives, and everything
that would make IL noise, you may
know that there was crashing.
"The deuce take it'll" muttered Fred,
as he rushed through the room, upset
ting chairs, work stands, and he knew
not what, in his flight. At length lie
reached .the.stairs leading to his cham
Der, and was in hopes that his trials
were now at an end. He sprang up
two or three of the steps, when his head
struck against something which had
been hung from the ceiling above.
Ringa-tinp went the big dinner-bell,
and the souud echoed through the house,
making more noise than anything yet
had done. Fred was desperate. He
rushed mp the flight of steps, again
striking his head harder than before.
He had nearly reached the chamber
door, when he suddenly stopped, and
gazed fully upon an object that stood
before him. There, between himself
and the door, stood q notoness, silent
figure, perfectly realizing that object
of rather doubtful existence, in our
enlightened days, namely, ghost. The
moon, light streaued IN upon the floor,
and plainly revealed the outlines of a
white. roUed figure to the distracted gaze
of Fred Lawrence. He gazed at it for
just two minutes, then dashed down the
stairs. Again the dinner bell sounded +,
and in another moment the almost dis
tracted Fred was leaping over the tables
and chairs with the intention of making
his exit through the window.
"What is the matter ?" exclaimed
Mrs. Lawrence, appearing with light
just as Fred vanished from the room.
" What is the matter 2" cried Lucy
Lawrence, from the head of the stairs.
d" What is the matter ?" spoke the
supposed ghost, throwing off the white
robe, ,sand disclosing the face and form
of Kate Myrtle.
1t is.needless to say that the girls
were at the bottom OF the affair. They
had determined that Fred should be en-.
tirely cured of staying so late at Mrs.
| MarstOn' sand Of coming in at that win
| dow. Kate and Lucy laughed immo-
derately at their success in frightening
Fred Mrs, Lawrence looked grave, land
the servants, who had been aroused by
the uprOar, surprised and astonished.
The girls explained all, aud their rea-
sons for doing it.
In less than an hour the furniture
was replaced, the bell taken down, and
silence reigned. But it was two hours
more before Fred ventured to enter the
house, and then he didn't attempt tC
enter by that window.
The lesson had the desired effect, and
Fred afterward returned from Mrs,
Marston's, before the girls and hi:
mother retired, and entered properly
by the door. And about two week:
after there was wedding at the widow
Marstou's, and Miss Annie Marston be-
came Mrs. Fred Lawrence. ThoHgl
many yeals have passed since then, still
Fred Lawrence has not yet forgotten
this incident Of his courting days.