Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-03-03
LAYING THE GHOST.

an imposing structure, roomy enough to
furnish homes for full score of demurt
little mortals like myself.
"You will lose yourself in this great barr
of house, Madelon,'' said Aunt Jerusha
who had accompanied me to Roundwooi
to be the ruling divinity Of the naenage.
cit would not be much of loss to thu
world in general if 1 should.''
'sHumph! have no prediction fol
mistletoe boughs and old oak chests.
want no such skeletons rising up to muir.
der my rest.''
'Trouble comes fast enough without boz
rowing it,
cat any rate, I've spoken my mind, and
not without reason. It is doubtful if you
have heard all that have, concerning YOU
new possessions"
Aunt Jerusha looked so solemn that
quickly asked
"What have you heard ?'
"Roundwood has a ghost. You needn It
laugh, it may prove to be no laughing mat
ter. I've got the story from the servants.
Not soul of them, but is convinced the
house is haunted.'
'sTell me what they say.'
cit is really quite dreadful, Madelon
They declare that Madame Belgraye can't
rest quietly in her grave, but comes back
to her old room, night after night, and
walks the floor until morning.
elias anybody seen her ?''
"No; but all of them have heard her pa
cling up and down the apartment.
''Humph? The ghost must be laid.
don't like the idea of being disturbed at
all hours of the night by such uncanny
people"
THOR IL dryly. ''But who will do it p
II WILL was my answer, as I caught a
sun-bonnet from the wall and darted out
into the garden to escape Aunt Jerusha's
solemn yisage, while ruminated upon
ways and means.
However, the prim, old-fashioned gar.
den, with it's quaint, regular walks, and
funny little beds, from which the flowers
lifted bright and smiling faces,as if in wei
come, soon drove all thoughts of the ghost
from my head.
wandered up and down the box-bor
dered paths, peeping into grape arbors and
summer-houses. inhaling the balsamit
odors In the air, and hugglng to myself the
delicious sense of possession, until I grew
quite jubilant.
Of all my pleasures, that Of proprietor
ship was keeneSt just then.
And why, indeed, shouldn't a nice house
with available grounds be a ''joy forev
er ?''
had reached the lower portion of the
grounds, and was looking round upon my
domain with quite the air of a,ae grand,
pri,cesse, when my gaze suddenly encoun
tered free-and-easy figure, leaning over
wicket in the hedgerow.
Starting at the vision, I rubbed my eyes
looked second time, and exclaimed, in
voluntarily
Lawrence Belgrave ~
The figure lifted it's hat, and smiled ;
cheerful ''good morning ?''
81 am no spirit, Miss Lane. Do pray
try to look trife less startled and dis
mayed
Ny emotion was quite pardonable-an
for this reason;
had cheated him out Of his inheri
lance.
He had been nearer related to Madam
Belgrave-in fact, sort Of protege of hers
whom she had brought up with the under
standing that he was to inherit her coupon
bonds and bank stock some day.
But, twelve months prior to this time
there had been a violent quarrel between
the old lady and Lawrence.
He had left Roundwood in high dudq
con and, to retaliate, Madame Belgrav
had made a new will, leaving all her pror
erty to me.
The quarrel was never made up, ani
Madame died very suddenly in a fit, whic
found her incapable of expressing any las
wishes she might have had.
So the will in my favor was the one prc
duced at the funeral. and found mysel
: suddenly transformed from a school-mis
tress with one decent silk, and two mer.
nos, to very rich woman, with the mean
to supply her wardrobe indefinitely.
So you will comprehend that if fel
somewhat dismayed on seeing that visio
at the gate, had abundant cause for it.
: However, 1 mustered up courage an
went and shook hands with him quite co