Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-08-21

Miss Danforth. is 1t possible ?" he eY-
claimed. IL will arouse my housekeep-
er. You are i'll and"
mo, no. Do not retreat" exclaimed
she, in dazed, frightened manner.
"Ot course will oblige you in every
way possible; only tell me what / can
DO Tor you. Shall ! take you home viii
you have a glass of wiue?" questioned
he.
mo. thank you, sir. Only tell me
how came here"
81 found you lying by the lone tree in
the dell, partially insensible, and thor
oughly chilled with the cold"
"Oh. remember it all now," said she.
covering her face with her hands. as il to
shut out some hateful vision. while q
thrill seemed to pervade her frame and
when she again removed her hands she
grew so deadly pale that the pastor dis
appeared and brought glass of wine;
which he gently forced her to drink.
IL think will go home, now" said
she, somewhat strengthened by the
draught. "but first. Mr.. Selby. will you
promise not 10 tell any one what has hap
pened on this occasion ?"
IL am safe in making the promise" he
returned with smile. "since / am in ig-
norance OF how you came out in Lone
Tree Dell at midnight, and in a lainling,
perishing condition"
81 know il must seem verg strange,
but that is just what | want you TO keep
a secret, and OF having been brought
hiiher, even from your housekeeper,n
and again crimson blush mantled the
beautiful face.
Certainly | will promise you that,
Miss Daniortb," thinking how more than
interesting she looked in her confusion.
She had always seemed so self-possess-
ed almost boldly, that this now timid face
was study and puzzle TO The impress
ib,o pastor.
Il think Will 60 now" she said, ris
ing and adjusting her shawl and hat.
Then in most womanlY fashion. wholly
ipcomprehensble to Mr. Selby, she GOV
cred her face with her hands and burs,
into tears. and sauk bacS again into the
chair.
But this Indulgence OF weakness, she
p rmiCei oaly Tor IN iaslant Whb
woGde.'li sel'-,ommaad she dued her
eyes, looked nlon hey c,mpauiou "ih a
smile 5, sweet and pathetic that he had
al he could ID to 1g!;aja l:ou iaduigiaS
II son,a nonsense in the way Of sympe
thy and confidence that would have been
qai,, unbecomi0g 20 one hi, cloth to
s4y ao'hias Of The time and rlrrc.
Il a.l sure you 90 not Alor what 10
tiiaA Of NJ. D." ,he cin.iuued, and fear
have 'o.icited -,. claims your esteem
and r,spDc;.'
"Do not be too c,rtsin 70! that, Miss
Diana. Iar, very sorry FOR You, cspec.-
ally as you seem 10 have some deep
t,oublo."
~ lhiak ought to tel you how came
to be in Lone Tree Dell at such m un-
soasouable hour. Iadeed, your kindness
Is entitled to some explanation. Bu, that
can be given on my way home, Tor | shall
trespass upon you so far as TO ask your
escort. | am not so brave rs was when
| lel, home 10 the evening"
Again she rose to depart, the pastor
expressing pleasure in being permitted
TO attend her. TIE wind had subsided
and the stars looked tranquiIy down.
The way, so dark and des)late previous
". was now bright with the moonlight.
When they had fairly started, Diana
commenced her story by the question:
do you believe in ghosts. Mr. Selby ?"
Not in the least, Miss Daniorth, al
though tonight saw one"
down in the Dell?"
Yes, Miss Danforth; but. if you
please, l will hear about your ghost FIRST
il may prove solution 10 mine"
You must be aware, Mr.. Selby,
that this in the old country is called
Halloween night. Several of my girl
friends were spending it with me, sitting
PIP late and telling tales of strange tests
and old legends gathered from our
grandmother, and finally we concluded
to try some of them. We placed chest
nuts in the fire, and in the event if any
we had named popped out, We were to
eat the nut in silence before the glass in
an adjoining chamber, with the expecta-
ton OF seeing the lace OF our iuture bus-
band appear over our shoulder. This, OF
course seems very silly to you, as it did
to me. Yet when one OF The nuts popped
out of the fire TO my very feet, declared
| would do anything the girls command
ed save the foolish trial of the looking
glass. All taunted me with cowadice,
and declared | would 90 and bury the
nu. 4, the foot OF the lone tree III the
haunted dell. That being as severe a
test of ones courage as could be afforded,
they accepted the challenge, and dared
me to DO it, declaring that if on to-
morrow they found the nut at the desig-
mated spot, they would concede to me