Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-11-15

through the house. She was rather
ashamed of the Stiffness Of the proceed
ing, and laughed at her own reflection,
standing In modern furbelow dress, sp-
pie in hand, beneath those ancient
pictures.
Three, four, five, six. Still no stir,
no appearance. Still her eyes vainly
explored the shadowy space behind her,
doubly reflected in the twin mirrors
Look over your right shoulder all the
time" Lucy had said. What was it
that at the stroke OF seven suddenly
drew her gaze, as by magnetic attrac-
ton, to the left, and gave her curious,
uneasy sensation as of some one watch
ing her, or of another presence in the
rooms There was nothing in the par.
lor. All but in the glass behind her
was mirrored the door through which
she had come. 1t was hidden from her
as she stood by the bulky black cabinet;
but in the mirrors depths she saw
plainly crouching form appear for an
instant in the gloom of that doorway,
and an ugly, sinister face look in. An
other instant and it was gone and Ber-
tha's heart seemed to stop beating, and
the apple fell to the floor.
It was wonder she did not scream in
her first surprise. She was not afraid
of the dead, but she certainly was of the
living and the shock caused by that
momentary glance made her faint and
cold with terror. Mechanically she
picked up the apple. No ghost could
have been whittier than she as she faced
the mirror again.
How much thinking can be done in a
second 1t seemed to Bertha that an
age was compressed into the time occu-
pied by the last four strokes of twelve.
The first glance had shown her the
whole peril of the situation. Two girls
and helpless old man in lonely house
two miles from village, and at least
one from the nearest neighbor | One
robber already in the house, probably
another jurisdiction she leaped at once
to the conclusion that she had really
seen figure lurking in the shrubbery.
1t was all she could do to keep up an
appearance of indifference as she closed
the east parloI door and began to retrace
her steps. When she came opposite the
dark recess under the stairs, she dared
not glance that way; but listening as she
passed, with hearing quicEened by ap-
prehension, she was certain she heard a
stealthy movement Again it required
an effort to control the impulse to run
and scream. She did close the kitchen
door rather hastily, and came into Lucy's
presence with face so different from
the one with which she left it that the
latter exclaimed
=" Bertha, did you see anything2"
"I saw all I expected to see-the
walls and furniture. I didn't see any,
thing else," was the unnecessarily loud
reply.
"You didnt2 Oh, dear 4" said in
consistent Lucy. "Well, then, let's go
to bed"
Don't go just yet, pet, " Bertha said,
feeling that she must gain time some
how.
4" I must. I'm dreadfully worn out. "
Well, then, you'll have to go alone.
shall stay up while"
"Why, what for? How unreason-
able |"
What for, indeed Berthas brain
was in such whirl that she thought
she was going crazy as she sat by the
fire, trying to warm her trembling
hands.
"Let's try some more magic" she
said, desperately. Hallow-eve only
comes once year. I don't feel in the
least sleepy. Let's roast some chest
nuts. That will be good fun"
ChestnutsP Those that were gath
cred were all left outside in the store
house. know, for I wanted some to
day, and it rained too mach to get
them"
An idea darted into Bertha's head.
She rose to her feet, saying, in careless
tones, still intended for the listener who
she was sure was Just outside the kitch-
en- door, Well. come and get them
now, then"
$50 outdoors at this time? Have
you lost your wits ? For mercy's sake,
what makes you speak so loud p she
ended, querulously.
Something in her sisters face checked
her here, and brought her to her feet in
obedience to an imperative motion from
the latter, who already had the key oil
the outer door in her hand.
"Why should you be afraid ?" Bertha
said, forcing laugh. Nothing ever
happens here. It's bright moonlight.
Wen lock the door and be back in few
minutes with tho chestnuts." And
again look checked the query on Lu.
cy's white lips.
In another moment they were both
| o,xkei1o Tho,, xxx;khN-+ oe 1a
nation Bertha seized her sisters hand,
saying, in an agitated whisper, "Don't
stop to ask why. Run with me as fast
as you can |" and she started swiftly
down a side path, almost dragging hel
half paralyzed sister with her.
On she went at desperate speed, un.
der wet branches and over sodder
ground. Lucy kept at her side with
difficulty. But just as they struck the
main avenue near the street gate Berthe
looked behind, and this time could not
suppress cry of alarm. A mans figure
was dashing down through the moon
light in full pursuit. Lucy looked also
uttered a scream of terror, tore her hanG
from her sisters, and rushed away
among the thick trees on the right
Bertha did not stop. She knew the mar
would not follow Lucy. He would pur
sue the one running toward the village
and stop her at all hazards. And the
nearest house was at the crossroads, 6
mile away!
She had been famous runner in he,
girlhood. Remembering that her pur
suer was heavy and thickset, she tool
courage as she sped like an arrow along
the lonely moonlit road. On and on
! past woods, past fields, past meadows
she ran as she had never run before
still spurred to fresh efforts by the quicl