Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-06-14


Abby Jane. 1--WE thought we should
take spasms."
Miss Pettigrew rubbed her nose.
"This is unpleasant" she said. "Cer-
tainly, the ghost was an officer, and my
own Aunt Lydia declared that she saw
him. That was better before her daugh-
ter Grace eloped with Good gracious!
have it,"
"What, Miss ?" cried Abby. Jane.
IAN idea," said Miss Pettigrew.-
"Girls, you may take mattress on the
parlOr floor tonight, and hold your
tongues until to morrow morning"
The police force of - was not large,
but that night two of its members stood
concealed behind the largest apple trees
in the orchard, at the east of Miss Petit
CREWS house. They were No. IL and
No. IA. These figures glittered on their
cap-bands.
:'Within, on the other side of the gar
ret door, Miss Pettigrew, in lowered
dressing gown, stood listening intently.
The moonlight flooded the old garrett
Stern and strong of mind as she was,
Miss Pettigrew felt cold shudder run
up her spine. 1t was now quarter to
IL. Soon the old clock in the hall be.
low croaked, rolled, and struck the hour.
At that instant q faint creaking was
heard. A door opened-not the stair
door, the one into the hall-and figure
all in white, stole in and sat down on q
great box. 1t was very ghostly' "Ugh,"
shuddered Miss Pettigrew, II declare
feel scary." Hark! Another faint creak-
ing. The door to the mysterious stair
way opened softly and figure entered
1t was dressed in soldiers uniform. 1t
wore sword, butts face, it's awful face,
though 1t bore the features of man, was
of an awful ghostly white, lips and all,
enlivened only by two great black eyes
that glared about them.
Miss Pettigrew shivered until the door
ratified. The next instant the two ghosts
ran into each others arms. Another
instant and their door was opened with a
bang, and officer No. IL followed officer
No. IA into the garnet, each armed with
| club.
"Ghost or not, I'm quite safe now"
said Miss Pettigrew, and opened the
garnet door with her kerosene lamp in
| her hand.
$50 we've caught you," said Officer
No. -.
"And we'll find how ghosts like be-
locked up in jail" said Officer No. IA, az
be pulled wet handkerchief with two
holes in it from the ghosts face, and re-
vealed very pale human countenance,
adorned by mustache. wll..::;n had most
carefully waxed points, and, under 9TH
er circumstances, might have been very
fseii indeed.
"And this young woman-your ser
want most likely-shall we arrest hel
along with the burglar? Do you make
q charge against her, Miss Pettigrew ?"
At these words the female ghost, who
had hitherto done nothing but wiring Its
hands tore from its form the sheet in
which it was enveloped and revealed
the face and figure of Miss Elsie Walk
er, who instantly went down on her
knees at the feet of Miss Pettigrew.
grew We are neither of us doing any
thing dishonest. It's Capt. Slasher, to
whom am engaged. Pa wouldn't let
us meet as we wished, so we had to meet
as we could, and the dress and disguise
we're only assumed to save me if we
were seen by any one. Don't-don't-
don't arrest my Alfred for thief, when
it's only his great love for me that-that
that"
Here Miss Walkers voice failed her
Slasher was heard to say rather family
and nervously.
"Be calm, Elsie, be calm.
"Off1cer," said Miss Pettigrew, Il am
sorry to waste your time, but will you
be seated-take some boxes, pray-until
I summon another person
And Miss Pettigrew sailed from the
room and returned, ten minutes later.
with old Mr.. Walker, hastily clad in his
dressing gown, on whose appearance the
gallant captain grew pale, and Miss
Elsie wrung her hands again.
"A pretty piece of business, indeed !"
said Mr.. Walker.
"Yes, SIR" said Miss Pettigrew, 'pret-
ty, indeed. Here is a decent young
MANN the army, I suppose-who is
driven to sneaking up the back stairs
into garnet to pay attention to re-
spectacle young lady who prefers to re-
ceive him in the parlor. Now, if that
young lady loses her character whose
fault ia it, sir ? The fault of those who
drove her to it. We are old, Mr.. Walk
er, but we have been young. Pm sim
81 q, but-and Miss Pettigrew drew out
her pocket-handkerchief-I have q
heart! I should have been some
body's wife twenty-five years ago if /
had had the spirit that girl has, but I
was meek and Notwithstanding
matter. If you really have nothing seri-
GUS against that young man, hadn't you
better let him marry your daughter, Mr..
Walker?n
Perhaps had, Amelia-I mean Miss
Pettigrew," said the old gentleman.
"You angelic woman ?' cried Miss
Elsie, casting herself into Miss Petit.
CREWS arms.
''Sir, thank you," said Capt. Slash
er, who had grown red to the tips of his
ears.
IT suppose no charge whatever will
be made then," said Officer No. II in an
irritating tone.
'.Oh, no. This is not a case for
charges" said Miss Pettigrew.
"Good-night, then,n said Officer No.
IA, turning on his heel and departing as
he came, but with huff
"You may call upon my daughter two
evenings every week, and may see her
in Miss Pettigrew's presence" said the
old gentleman to the Captain. 'If my
daughter was not mOtherless this would
not have happened.
body, and followed the policemen. Miss
L OUu16 low OOAUOA eAO &0AACb uOOAs MA
Walker assisted her.
II thought you didn't know me
Amelia" he said.
"You might very well have forgotten
me, am so dreadfully changed" sigh
ed Miss Pettigrew.
And after these mysterious whispers
they went down stairs.
There was a wedding at Miss Petit.
CREWS that autumn. Elsie was united
to her captain in the presence of all the
boarders and many friends. But Miss
Pettigrew did not take boarders again
the next summer. Before that time
came she had changed her name and
had married old Mr.. Walker.
''It's rather late in life, Elsie," said
she, as she embraced her step daughter,
"but the fact is, your pa and Iwere old
and but for the cruelty Of
The old folks, who broke the match. I
suppose should have been your moth
sr in reality"
Elsie did not discuss the question. Shel
lnly kissed her and said: