Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-06-07
From Ficton.l
WORSE THAN a GHOST.
RY A. YOUNG.

The winter of 1857 was extremely
severe, even for that country where
Jack Frost holds high carnivals, Nova
Scotia.
For six months there was a level
whiteness of dazzling splendor. The in
crusted snow became firm as ice, render
ing roads unnecessary. Fences and
strawberries were things of the buried
past, and offered no impeachment to the
flying sleighs. The graceful, verdure-
clad, forest-tipped mountains, rising
from either side of our beautiful valley,
could be hkened to nothing under the
sun but exaggerated sugar-loaves.
But, TO me, 1t was a glorious, enchant-
ing winter-the first [ had known of
angels coming upon earth, and, by their
beauty and sweetness, turning it into
paradise; or, In other words, it was the
first winter 1 had known love.
The previous autumn our beloved
pastor, who had been a widower for
many years, surprised his congregation
and friends at large by bringing to the
parsonage a wife, the widow Of British
officer, and a lady of great beauty and
refinement. With her came daughter,
fifteen years of age; but the child, as 1
considered her, had not the slightest
interest for me.
[ had arrived at that stage of hobble-
dehoyism when all feminines under the
age of twenty-five were looked upon by
me with the most supreme indifference;
and, moreover, [ had the satisfaction of
considering myself irresistible to those
whom honored with my attention.
I accordingly arrayed myself in kill
ing attire, and sauntered forth, one
frosty night, bent on conquering the
new wife. | came away from the min
ister's house forever conquered by the
"new wife's daughter, Lillian.
When she entered the parlor, where [
was chatting pleasantly with the mother,
/ started to my feet with establishment,
for the slip of a girl, whom I had
thought too insignificant for my notice,
was more lovely than L had dreamed
mortal could be. She was quite tall,
and, IN spite of her tender years, her
form was moulded in perfect symmetry,
and every motion was grace itself.
At the first glance [ could distinguish
nothing clearly; there seemed to rise be-
fore me brilliant combination of white.
pink and gold; but as she drew near, I
was spell-bound by her wonderful eyes.
Were they blue or brown, I could not
tell. / could only think of the dark vel
vet Of the pansy, and wonder at their
glory.
That night opened to me new phase
of existence, and I walked HON eward
under the twinkling stars, dreaming
strange dreams of wild impossibilities,
woven thick with golden tresses and soft
velvet eyes.
The Christmas of that year brought
with it unusual festivities. Ny mother
gave party, and invited every one far
and near. The old, gray, weather.
stained walls grew young again with the
sweet laughter of children.
The tables fairly groaned under their
load of delicacies, and were partaken of
by the numerous guests with the true
zest that clear conscience and good ap-
petite always give. The evening was de-
voted to games and dancing, in which
both old and young joined, heartily for
getful of the passing hours, until some
of the more steady going ones were hor-
rified tc find themselves out of bed after
twelve o'clock-a dissipation they had
not been guilty of for years. Then
came hasty gathering of wraps and
heating Of bricks, and they were gone.
After hearing the last sleigh-ben die
away In the distance, entered the house,
and was made supremely happy by find
ing that Lillian and young friend were
to remain with us for few days.
The clouds had been threatening dur
ing the day, and as night closed in there
came with it a solemn stiffness, and the
air was soft and sitting with unfallen
snow. Before morning it commenced
falling gently, and with no appearance
of violence at first; but gradually the
wind rose to furious gale, and the ali
was dense with whirling, Kissing snow.