The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-08-06
THE EVE OF ST. MARK.

THE EVE OF ST. MARK.
"Did yon ever know any one who
really saw those things?" Alice Glynn
as ied, drawing long, shuddering breath:
81 really don't think can try it, girls,
I'm such coward, you know ..
Four Of us who were classmates were
sitting together in Emma Lyons bed
room We had come to spend the vaca-
ton with her in her country home.
There were Alice Glynn, Clara Hall,
Adcla Groves and myself, all ready for
any amount of fun and daring, Emma
Lyons, as usual, taking the lead.
When | say all, l must except our
pretty Alice, who was timid, nervous
little creature, but whom we dragged into
many Of our "escapades" by sheer bully
ing:
"Was she very pretty?" you ask. Yes,
lovely, from the long rlnglets of her
blonde lair to the arch Of her little foot
We called her little, but she was tall, and
looked as it she had no business to be
the arrant coward she was.
''Weu, cowardice is your normal con-
dition, my DEAR" answered Emma,
$50 it don't count for much, I never.
saw the things as you call them, but
then, I've looked at them through anot.-.
er persons eyes, The vigil OF St. Mark,
is an English custom, you know, and I'll
call Mrs. White, mammals housekeeper,
to tell us about it. She has already alf-
curdled my blood by her awful STORIES"
''Ask Mrs White to step here for a
minute,' S said to servant who was
int room.
Mrs. White came, tall, angular, with
lone 'rrave face, and slow precise speech.
"Sit down, Mrs. White" SAID Emma.
CIV, Sent tor you to tell the girls here
what you know of the Eve If St. Mark, if
you've no objections" ~
"No hob ectiOns, miss, I'm sure"
moothing her apron with lack-luster
eyes.
ibid your nephew's cousin tell what
he saw before his brother killed
HIMSELF" Cara asked, rather supercil-
ously. go .
"In course, miss, he told it right off to
Jim Chat was his brother. He done his
duty by him everybody knows. I've
heard him say, time and agln, 'Jim,' says
he, faint no use to make any plans for
the future, fur you haint got none. A
maa can't fly from his fate when it's fixed.
Ali you've got to do is to consider your
latter bend, and make up your mind to-
be cut off in the flower Of your DAYS
Somehow, Jim couldn't make up his
mind" !
''Don't blame Jim,' muttered Adela.
"Oh, yes, we all done our duty by the
misfortunate man." Mrs. White went on.
s'The folks used to look mournful-like at
him, and his sweetheart quit Tim, cause
she said she couldn't a-bear the thought
ofhim, maybe killing hissef right afore
her. He got awful grumpy, and one
night, says he:
"'I'm druv mad by all of you, and l
haint goin to stand it no longerv And:
then he went in his room and slammed
and locked the door. Next mornln',
fndin' he wouldn't answer, his mar bust
in the door, and found him dead. He'd
killed hisself. Yes, young leddies, sper-.
its are abroad on St. Marks Eve."
Having reached her tragical termina-
ton, Mrs. White stalked out Of the room.
30 girls, look at that goosey, Alice,'
Emma exclaimed, laughing. Alice
was sitting upri yht in her chair, her eyes
almost starting out Of her head. and her
face as white as sheet. ..-.'.: .
"Oh, it's horrible!'' she gasped.
(which, the stofy or Mrs. White?"
asked Adela, with sheer. II think st.
Marks ghost was guiltless Of poor Jim
death. That abominable brother, and
Mrs. White and the rest of them that
done their duty as the poor fellow said.
"druv him mad 1t was all made-up
ghost" .... .,.......- d.. ..re,<S.,
"Who's talking of ghosts2" said a voice
at the door; and looking up, we saw Roy,
Emma's brother, standing there. .p-...'
ooh, Roy cried Emma, "we've made
up our minds to keep the vigil Of st. Mark
In the church porch tomorrow night,
at midnight! But Mrs. White, with her
terrific tales, has scared one of u.s. with
glance at Alice, $50 fearfully that Well
never be able to drag her along. AS if
anybod y who has common sense believes
in ghosts!"r ,~:. .a r..., ,.>~.
"Hush!" said Roy, pretending to ,looa
shocked; "you mustn't speak of such
things with such irreverence. If YOU
don't believe in them, W at are you 90
ing to keep vigil for at that ghostly hour9r
"Wby, for fun, of counsel" cried Adela.
@'It's an insult to our understandings
to talk Gus about being afraid of GHOSTS
said Cara. "Alice may be, but then
Alice believes everything. ''ua4a g.. Js..tr
Roy shook his head and tried to look
grave, but I caught the mischievous
twinkle in his eyes; and for a boy of
eighteen, I must say Inever. in my life
say such an adept at mischief as he was.
He had determined upon some mischief,
was sure afr ;, - .f{sgofi. rr, p. s,r.,fie
He was silent so long, we looked at
him in surprise, for it was unusual for
him to stop chatting and worring us,
particularly Alice, who generally was his
victim.
"Look here, girls" he said, at last, and
could see his eyes t~inkling, though he