Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-03-03
Grace race, eloped with Good gracious /

4 nave ltI
What, Miss?" cried Abby Jane.
An Idea said Miss Petticrew.
Girls. vcl may take a mattress on the
pafior floor tonight, and hold your
tongues until tomorrow morning"
Inc ponce 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
Pettlgrew's house. They were No. 10
and No. Ia. These figures ghttered on
their cap bands.
Within, on the other side of the gar
ret door. Miss Pettigrew. in a lowered
dressing gown, stood listening intentlv.
The moonlight flooded the old garnet.
Stern and strong of mind as she was.
Miss Pettigrew felt cold shudder run
up her spine. 1t was now a Quarter to
III. Soon the old clock in the nall be-
low croaked, rolled and struck the hour.
At that instant 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 pox: 1t was very ghostly. "Ugh T.
shuddered Miss Pettigrew. ct declare
L feei scary." Harls another faint
creaking. The door to the mysterious
stairway opened softly and a figure en-
tered. 1t was dressed in soldiers uni
form. 1t Wore sword, but its face
Its awful face, though it bore the feat
ures of a 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, An
other instant, and the stair door was
opened with 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. u.
"And weIl find how ghosts like being
locked up in Jail, :" said Officer No. ii,
as he pulled wet handkerchief with
two holes in it from the ghosts face, and
revealed very pale human counten-
ance, adorned by mustache which had
most-carefully -waxed points, and, under
other circumstances, might have been
very fierce, indeed.
'tAnd this young woman-your SER
want, most hkely-shall we arrest her
along with the burglar? Do you make
charge against her, Miss Pettigrew 2"
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 Walker,
who instantly went down on her knees
at the feet of Miss Pettigrew
He is not burglar, dear Miss Pet
tigrew. We were neither of us doing
anything dishonest. It's Capt. Slasher,
to whom am engaged. Pa wouldn't
let MS meet as we wished, 80 we had to
meet as we could, and the dress and dis
gulse were only assumed to save me if
we We're seen by any one. Don't-don't
don't arrest my Alfred for d thief,
when it is only his great love for me
that-that-that-"
Here Miss Walkers voice failed her
and she became hysterical, and Capt.
Slasher was heard to say, rather family
and nervously:
p" Be calm, Elsie, be calm.
Officers" said Miss Pettigrew, al
am sorry to waste your time, but viii
you be seated-take some boxes, pray
until / 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.
ga pretty piece Of business, indeed !"
said Mr.. Walker.
eyes, sir" said Miss Pettigrew,
"pretty, indeed. Here is decent young
man-in the army, suppose-who is
driven to sneaking up back stairs into a
garnet to pay attention to respectable
young lady who prefers to receive him
in the parlor. Now, if that young lady
loses her character, whose fault is it, sir
The fault of those who drove her to it.
We are old, Mr. Walker, but we have
been young. I'm single, but-and Miss
Pettigrew drew out her pocket handker-
chief have a heart I should have
been somebody's wife twenty-five years
ago if had had the spirit that girl has !;
but was meek and ubmissive--and---
no matter. Ii you really have nothing
serious against that young man, hadn't
you better let him marry your daughter,
Mr.. Walker 2"
Perhaps I had, Amelia-I mean,
Miss Pettigrew," said the old gentle
man.
"You angelic woman r 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.
81 suppose no charge whatever will
be made, then" said Officer No. IL, in
an irritated tone.
"Ohl no. This is not a case for
charges" said Miss Pettigrew.
Goodnight, then" said Officer No.
IA, turning on his heel and departing as
he came. but in huff.
"You may call on my daughter two
evenings week and see her in Miss
Pettigrew's presence. said the old gen.
tleman to the Captain. If my daugh-
ter we're not motherless this would not
have happened.
The Captain shook hands with every
body and followed the policemen. Miss
Pettigrew bolted the garnet door. MIR.
Walker assisted her.
81 thought you did not know me,
Amelia, +" he said
"You might very well have forgotten
me, I'm so dreadfully changed" sighed
Miss Pettigrew.
And after these mysterious whispers
they went down stairs.
There was 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 / were old
sweethearts, and but for the cruelty Of
| the old folks, who broke the match. ]
suppose / should have been your mother
| in reality"
Elsie did not discuss the question.
| She only kissed her and said:
you've been my best friend, at sll
| events, dear mamma"