Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-05-29
MISS MILDRED'S WARNING.
BY VICTORIA F. BENTON

mere, GIFTS.
EIfrida Moore held alOft before us
ghost" she called it. laughing at the
terrific result Of her half-hour Of sel-
ulous occupation.
1t was horrible.
We had been reading, that after
noon, about the Princesse Amelia,
the Inflated sister of Frederick, King
of Prussia.
One thing brought up another. And
when an aIlusion was made to the
Nv oman with the Broom" who was
said to have haunted the Prussian
palace, at that time, EIfrida sought 4
carpet-brush, with long handle, in
the closet at the head OF the stairs,
and Standing i'll the outer chamber
alone. began to dress it artistically in
sheet, by way of showing us her
own idea of the phantom that troubled
the rest Of Prussia's kings.
We girls were alone in the wing
chamber, which had been allotted for
our occupancy by Miss Mildred Fay,
the owner OF the lovely farm, and tine
comfortable, oid-tashioned lIrm-hO
i'll Western Pennsy lyamia, where, with
our parents, and other friends, we
We're spending the early vacation
months ii the opening summer.
One other girl, EIlrida'S first cousin,
Evelyn Moore, shared tue wing cham
Der with us.
She had now gone to the village,
two miles distant, for the evening
mail.
And Elfrida, who was somewhat
envious OF Evelyn's superior scholar
shin social lnSIIIph lBl lnnL-S
dA:IarCI that she would leave her
woman with the broom" 50 near the
door of our chamber, and in such Il
position, that it would inevitably fall
against Evelyn, as soon AS she entered,
with our letters.
SHE says that she is afraid of no
thing-that she does not 6eIteCc III
ghosts and apparitions,' she SAID to us
Now lets Try her courage. We Will
hide III the unfinished chamber, out
Size, where we can see and hear all
that passes between her and my phan-
TOM"
While VIC were cycling the image
from u respectful distance, and feeling
half afraid OF the hIueous Iacc and the
flaming eyes, W hich + .friGa had drawn
with Il few touches oil her CrayOn and
q little PHOSPHORUS on the white sur
face Of Tie snUet, Il ruStllug sound and
movement i'll the outer chamber made
lis all huudle together and strain our
eyes tearfuIly toward the dusky ell
trance.
We all felt relieved, think Ct own
did, for on") when our hostess, Miss
Mildred, emerged from the gloom and
entered our room without pausing to
knock.
(Which of you girls made this?
Why did you make it?" she asked.
holding it out at arms length.
Elfri,la told her.
''Anh please, Miss Mildred, don's
tell Evelyn" she said, coaXingly
I'VE only wish to find out whether
she is really Drawer about such thing
than we are. She says she is ; and sht
ideclarcd the other evening that tn
real woman with the Lroom' wOult
mot have frightened her in the least
if she had seen an hearI her sweep
ing, | mean, i'll the passages OF thu
royal palace
And did YOU believe her?" asked
Mis- Mildred, bending her keen, gray
seycS OIL ElfliLa's eager face.
No; did not" confessed Elfrida
>"DId you?"
Miss Mildred addressed us.
l owned that | had my doubts,
Marian Hurst, with Il half-averted
:timIi look at the dreadful object
that was still held by our hostess, de.
fclarcd that she had no doubt what
ever.
No one could help feeling terrified
at such Il sight coming suddenly upon
thcm,' she avvrrcG.
you are none OF you without you
fair share of common scnse,' said Mis-
Mildred. And You can dcliUeratelV
plan and aid AMI aDCt Il deed iik
lhis.;
She tossed thc Image out into thu
dirk, open chambc.,.
With an angry exclamation, Elfridi
was sprln5inY after it; but she IUuul
h'fSGit helt back by strong hand.
NO @iris! That same thing ha
been done III this very house once he
tore. Wait TIL tel You what cn,n,
OF it before YOU Try again to carry i
out"
At the thou ght of hearing a story
l. fri a forgot her momentary angcI
anI crowded i'll behind lis, near Ll
chair at the window, where Miss Mil
drcd had seated herself.
Size looked at Us very sadly. TIL
halt-light may have deceived NE, Du
thought then, ana | still think, tia
her keen gray eyes were full Of tear:
Is She began to speak.
Il did not always live here by my
self, girls, in the old homestead" sn
said. vc-amd-tWenty years ago
my dear mother and father were here
and had Il darling brother, one ye;,
oder than myself, named Oliver, am
sister, younger than either of Us
who was called Isadore, after TIL
heroine Of story that my mother ha(
read, aud liked very much, just be. or
her birth.
Il was always tall, and thin, ant
gaunE, as YOU see me now, girls.
took after my ftthcr. lie looked wei
enough, lor Il mtn, mind you. Blu
his features and ii cure do not suit 1
girl, and | was always called 'homcly
from child.