The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-01
THE HAUNTED WE'LL.
"He promised to bring me-
He promised to bring me-"

OnOruSeu tn6 WllQ, sweet CnTuSn-VOlC6
of Margaret Lee, leaning from her cham
Der window among the vines, and look
ing with bird-eyes all alert down the
road that wound into blueness among
the hills.
"What, pretty childr asked a pleasant
voice behind her.
Maggie turned blushing brightly.
"Oh, he didn't say, Annie Nell, but
it's something"
|. And then she blushed brighter
than ever under the kind eyes fixed on
her. And while the hot, eloquent blood
was prickling the white forehead, and
burning the bits of ears, Maggie felt her
face taken in her aunt's tender hands,
and kiss was imprinted on her mouth.
"God bless you, DEAR and grant you
happiness"
1t was the first direct reference Margie's
aunt had ever made to her evident
attachment, and the girls heart leaped
in her bosom, and then subsided, leaving
her full of calm gratitude.
"Was ever any body as good as Aunt
Nellp' murmured she, dropping her head
upon the window-sill as soon as she was
left alone. II was little afraid that
she might not be satisfied; and then
what would / have done?
The little musing vanished, and she
was soon leaning among the vines sing
ing:
"He promised to bring me,
He promised to bring me"
The sun went down over "the fowery
heads of the hills" the birds rose and
fell in their long flights across the fields
to their nests; the river took the amber
and red of the west upon its FURNISHED
line, and the frogs began calling in their
marshes. Still, no horseman rode out
from among the hills; Margie began to
weary.
The light of the west faded, the air
grew sweet with the fragrance of
some notwithstanding plant, and cool
with the heavy fall Of dew. Still no
hoof-fall broke the summer silence.
Margie grew restless at last, deserted
her little chamber, and went down to the
porch. Soon two boys came driving a
COW.
"Jack hasn't got home yet, has he,
Tommy~ she asked one of them, know
ing her question was useless.
"No; he'll come past here, you know,
when he comes," thwacking Bessy s sides
as she kept halting among the roadside
clover.
They went on. Margie's face was seri-
ously clouded. A bre re rose and rust
led among the trees. 1t made her nerv-
Gus and lonely.
"Aunt Nell," she said, going into the
kitchen, nothing could have happened
to JackW
"I think not, dear. Perhaps he went
through the meadows from the brook"
That was it, then. He had already
reached home. A resentful red flushed
Margie's cheek. She stood a moment,
smarting with her disappointment, and
then going upstairs again, tore off the
blue chintz frock and white apron, and
went to bed to have good cry. Margie's
sorrows had been few; she had not
learned how to hear them.
When she awoke, rather late, Aunt
Nell was in her room.
"Margie, dear, they say Jack Lane
hasn't been home all night"
Margie's face showed her terror.
eyes, Margie, Pm afraid something is
wrong"
"How do you know that he hasn',
come, Aunt Nellw
"His father sent up this morning tc
! know if we had seen him. He had some
money with him, and it was importan
that he should be back last night to taxi
up a note. They are very much worried
his people. He wouldn't have stayet
Of his own accord"
"And he promised to bring me" begal
5 Margie, but stopped. The promise
: seemed of less Importance now, somehow
F, All kinds of wild thoughts went through
her head as she sprang up and began Il
dress. What could have become Of Jack
Surely, she thought, combing out he
clustering hair with her trembling hands
, be had not been murdered for his money
Oh, no; he would come soon. 1t wa
impossible to believe the light dashe,
from that frank face. Nothing coul'
happen Jack. Still as she dressed, sh
. was trembling as in an ague fit.
, All that long day there was no news 0
: him. There was nothing she could dc
His father and brother went to town
Before night they returned, bearing tn
; news that Jack had left Lennox in th'
> afternoon, riding his good roam, and il
good health and spirits. The most hope
ful could no longer hope that no catas
! trophe had occurred. Something fearfu
! had certainly happened to Jack.
!, And it seemed impossible to find Gle,
to the mystery. Horse and rider ha
completely vanished. There was n
, broken bough or track Of cracked horse
. shoes, or lost glove to trace them by
\ What was to be done~
When night came, Margie could hare
,, ly hold up her head for the weariness @
crying. She sat on low seat on tn
: porch, aer cheek on Aunt Nelps kne'
! listening and waiting for sound on tn
!. road.
/ Suddenly the gate clicked. She starte
up-there was a football on the walk