American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-08-02

get out OF MIN. one tnaJ naU Deen III
Widow Crane of Dorset took his part
and said they shouldn't tease him, ant
she coaxed and fused over him, and wa
always getting him something good t.
eat, but he still looked as though hi
heart was broken.
some Sunday morning the whole vii
lage of Eastfield was thrown into aston
ishment by seeing notice on the meet
ing house door that intentions of mar
riage between John Huntoon and Han
nah Crane were hereby made public.
81 haven't told you that the Widow
Crane had a daughter, but she had.
"Lyddy was just about frantic, but
she wouldn't go to the Deacon's after
the punishment, and Huntoon didn'i
seem to dare to go to see her, and as
soon as could be after the punishment
he was married to Hannah Crane.
ga spiritless thing was Hannah, COM
pletely under her mothers thumb.
"One day, when Lyddy was wander
ing about, half crazy, she came upon
John Huntoon, sitting on a log in the
woods, with his head on his hands. She
was so startled that she screamed the
least bit, and he looked up.
$50 .Lyddy,' he groaned, 'don't
come here! Nobody was ever so
wretched as ami
I" Why wretchedP' said Lyddy, with
some pride. you've got the girl you
wanted, and rich one instead of poor
one'
"Don't say that said John. Il did
not dare do any thing different. Stop,
1 will tell you all about it. One evening
went to bed a happy man, and in the
morning. wonder my hair hadn't all
turned gray! Lyddy, saw my mother
in the night!'
"'Oh joint screamed Lyddy.
"'Yes,' he went on; 8 it was half
moony, half-cloudy night. 1 saw that
when blew out my candle. All at
once, walked with start. There were
three distinct raps on my head-board,
and the clock Immediately struck IL.
Then there was q sound of something
trailing along the floor. 1 had the hor-
rors, but wouldn't cover my face, as 1
was tempted. thought I'd face it out.
All at once saw a ghost standing at the
foot of my bed. 1t was wrapped in a
sheet, and had its eyes shut, and was as
pale as corpse. Then it spoke, and
said
"'"I am your mother. I couldn't |
rest on account of the mistake 1 had |
made. see now it was wrong in me |
to encourage your marrying Lyddy. 1t
is comfort to me that your father mar
RED as he has, and now you must
promise me to give up Lyddy, and mar
~ Hannah Crane. 1 see things from a
different standpoint now, and what l
ell you is best. You will not have my
blessing unless you do this. Promise
ne you will"
These were her very words, as near
Is 1 can remember, and lay awake all
light thinking them over. was COW
red with cold perspiration. and was
eady to faint, but I just gasped out that
would do as she said. So had to
ave Hannah. But I never shall be
Apply
swell, Lyddy lost her senses after
hat, and though she recovered and
married Mr.. Bradley, she has always
cen queer. There is real ghost-story
Dr. you.''
81 don't believe it sOas q ghost at
Ii, ;" said Eunie.
"What was it, then?" asked Aunt
atty, with twinkle in her sly black .
yes. "What is a ghost?' :
ga ghost is spirit, " said Irene, with
le air of an oracle.
&c To be sure, and this was spirit"
" 1 thought it was that Widow Crane, a..
aking believe she was spirit" said
unie.
" She Oas spirit, and very deceit
il one, clad in flesh and bones. Yes, J..
,u are right. She confessed it on her :
after having made two if not ,
lree people miserable by it. The ghost .
that night haunted her conscience till
he died. Now don't you tell it, girls" :
= Youths Companion.