Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-11-07

With a mirror in one hand and candle
in the other, repeating at every step;
Nv true love, my trae love, whoever you he
come aud lonk IN the glass with me,
If | made one mistake, or failed to
repeat the words ON each stair, my fate
as an old maid was sealed. Bat if
went through the fomula successfully,
the last stair would show me face
looking over my shoulder. Wishing
secretly i'll my heart that Mary Smiths
blue-eyed brother Walter had not gone
TO the city that morning, and that he
might look into the mirror over my
shoulder, | took my candle and began
the descent as the CLOCK struck twelve.
Maud rushed upstairs with her comb
and apple, and Mary and Ctllie shot
forth into the star lighted night,
Slowly, slowly descended, down,
down, INTO the grim shadows of the
great cellar. My candle gave feeble
light: my heart throhbed audihly, and
my face i'll the mirror grew deathly
white rs | neared the last stair, and re-
peatei for the last time:
My true love, my true love whoever you be,
Come and looS in tae glass With me.
Was it fancy Motor in clear bold
outlines there, beside my own face in
the mirror, was the face--the laughing
blonde face Of VIII Smith! Just one
glance | gave it,-and then dropping
the mirror | ran with smothered
shrek up the stairs into the sitting-room
to meet Maud Laudon rushing quite
as frantically down stairs with 2istend-
ed ewes and pale lips.
"Oh Maud! cried, who-what
did you see?'
She clasped both hands over her
heart TO quiet its beating, and dropped
into char. "Wait till the other girls
come, she said.
Mary came shortly, weighed down
with an enormous cabbage. she shook
half bushel Of earth, nearly, on the
floor, and revealed tiny, corky stalk,
of decidedly bitter flavor, and, while
We were laughing ut her prospect of
Il rich old lover, the door opened and
admitted Caliie. Calie, but not the
pale, distract, languid Callle who had
left US, but the old Callie, with glowing
cheeks, and laughing, dancing eyes, and
Overlooking spirits.
WELL" we all cried III a breath,
"what did you see, Callie?"
Callie gave ripple OF mirthful
laughter, as she threw back her long
cnrls. "Oh, ! saw ghost in long
white sheet" She said land lie cried,
in u sepulchral voice: Maiden, your
groom is Death, and the grave will be
your bridal-bed' Come tell me now
what you saw"
81 saw-something said Maud. "As
true as | live and breathe, while | sat
there eating the apple in the dark, a
light appeared behind me, and | saw
the face and form of Harry Rice! Ii
is as true rs live, and if did not know
he was in the city | should believe he
was in this house"
Harry Rice was Maud's betrothed,
whom she was TO wed another year.
And you, Kate quered Mary, but
| refused to tell.
I" | saw a face" said, but | do not
like to tell who il was. The person
was in my mind, and it may have been
fancy, though wonderfully like reality
Bat Calhe has not told us all yet Lam
sure she saw more than she claims. !
do not believe she would look so radiant
if she had seen ghost"
But, truly, girls" cried Callie, with
the old ring III her voice had not
heard in months, truly, did see a
ghost! | stood by the graveyard fence,
and just before | entered saw a ghost,
and il frightened me 50 | did not go in. =
!" But whose ghost was it," asked
Mary.
" 1t was the ghost OF living person,
and that is all | can tell YOU"
Some one was trying to frighten
you" suggested Maud.
No doubt" Callie answered lightly.
think | screamed, but | did not
faint or fall. The ghost only succeeded
i'll hindering me from entering the
yard, but ! suppose on will all set me
down rs n coward for not fulfilling that
part OF my contract. Well, in order to
prove that | am not coward | will tell
you am going home now alone"
Going home! we echoed, why, ]
thought you were to stay all night ?"
"Impossible," Callie answered. "My
sister Is not well, and will need mo in
the morning"
"Then | will go too" | said rising.
" | really ought to go, but did not like
the idea Of gong alone. We will be to-
gether all but short distance for each. /"
Very well" Callie answered, and we
donned our wraps.
81 have proposition to make, said
Maud Landon, as we all stood by the
door. " Let us all promise to be here
in two years from tonight, if it is
among the possibles. think it would
be splendid to meet and talk il all over,
and see how much had come true.
!" Mary and | both said agreed in a
breath, and Calie answed slowly, If it
is possible will be with-you. II not,
perhaps my ghost will Good night,
eirls---this has been real old.fashion.
ed good timel You can't think how
much have enjoyed it,"
THAT sounds like the old Calie we
used to know" heard Mary say, as the
door closed, and | drew Callie's arm
closer in mine, with an unspoken feel
ing Of thankfulness that the bithe girl