The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-05-11

Really, il must be nice to take an in
terest in something outside of ones lif,
to really become absorbed in botany
or geology. or astronomy. or art, al
something" said Miss Bessie to herself.
1T is miserable to sit thinking-think
ing about silly old troubles. ri turn Il
new leaf I'll join Dorcas Society
and go to lectures and study Latin; and
I'll get up this very night and go on the
roof TO see the comet To begin with
Spinsters always take an interest i'm sci.
entiiic things, and should suppose as.
trOnOmy was about as absorbing q
study ~ one could find. might have
an observatory built, and get teles-
cope"
Having come TO this resolution, Miss
Barclay devoted herself during the day
to the destruction of some old letters,
and the careful packing away of Robert
Leslie's photograph and love gifts.
All these things. she said. should be-
long to the past. She owed herself the
duty of forgetting anyone who could
marry Miss Staple for her money and
in this high spirit she deliberately sat up
that night with heavy volume Of a
History of Meteors,' under the light
of her students lamp.
The time passed but slowly for Miss
Barclay, am afraid.
In September, 1882. the comet did
not show itself before four in the morn
ing, if remember rightly. At twelve
Bessie was sleepy; at one sleepier still.
At two she aroused herself by walk
ing about her room and snuiiing ammo
mia.
At three she foil asleep with her face
in the pages of the history of meteors,
but happily awOke with q start, rs the
hands Of the clock rapidly approached
the figures four and twelve.
A certain anxiety which will rutfie
the mind Of any lady who has been ly-
ing on her nose for some time. caused
her to rush to the glass. And when con-
vinced that il was not permanently flat
tened, il was time to ascend to the roof;
and wrapping herself in hood and shawl
and lighting pretty little Chinese
lantern, she proceeded with the adven-
turr.
''Four II. m. is rather an uncanny
hour. A ladder is not u pleasant thing
to climb. A trap-dOOr in the roof Is
hard upon Il wOman's wrist, and one
feels rather guilty when providing about
the house alone in tho darkness; but
Bessie bravcd these facts and fancies
successfully, and stood at last upon the
roof. from whence she saw, amongst all
the stars. the comet blazing in the sky.
II reminded her Of nothing SO much as
u strange phantom train of some sort,
speeding away through the sky, with
its headlight open. The thing itself
glOwcd changefully-nOw steady, now
Frightening and fading. and its fan-Iike
tail was alarmingly long.
Bessie could but wonder If the scien-
titic gentleman over the way was right,
and the milkman not so far wrong in his
terrOrs; and then, instead of thinking of
the facts she had gathered from the his
tory of meteOrs, she fell to brOOding
over those long-past days in ShrOp-
shire, and remembering n starry night,
when she stole ont to meet Robert Les
lie i'm the rOse-garden, and they sat and
talked as lovers talk. until the moon
set. At last she started up, wringing her
hands.
.'Oh, silly, silly met she whispered
to herself What can dOp Must 90
on thinking about him all my life?-
about the man who cared so little about
me as to marry an heiress for her money
in one little year?"
What did she care for the comet
unless, indeed, it were To strike the
earth and thus end all her troubles with
those of the rest of mankind.
IL wish it would" said Bessie. ITO
go on and get old. and be wretched
spinster. is that worth living for? Oh,
pshaw, I'll go in"
And she took up her Chinese lantern.
Alas, a terrible thing had happened.-
The roofs of the genteel row of houses
in which her own was situated was on II
level plane; all alike. When she came
out, she had circumspectly shut the door
after her. She had walked about a
good deal on the cracking Mates, and
she could not now tell which sOver hid
the ladder leading to her oWp upper
floor.
Vainly she strOve to decide. and at
last. quite terrOr-smitten, lent against
q chimney. and began to weep, sObbinS
aloud; ''Oh. dear, what shall / dO?'
Then
angels and ministers of grace de-
fend us! What is that?' cried mascu-
line voice at her very side.
Miss Barclay uttered q shrek, and
chung to the chimney. from the other
side of which arose u figure, in II long
ulster and u sealskin cap, some six feet
or so in height. A ghost, evidently,
Bessie decided, and waited for il to un.
fold its tale.
II beg pardon, madam. Is there any
thing i can dO?' remarked this spectre.
when at last it did speak. IT was hut
uan, then; but was it really better to be
Oh the roof with II man-a strange man
than with veritable ghost? Bessie
was not sure.
81 happened to come up to look at the
comet" continued the speaker, land
sat down here to keep my back warm.
Excuse my pipe; ! didn't anticipate
meetinga lady. You haven't hurt your
self, hope?"
"No. 1--we only been awfully stu
pid," said Miss Barclay. 81 came out
to see the comet, too; and they are all
alike, and / don't know which is mine.
These trap-doOrs, you know"
The man knew quite well what she
meant.
They are stupid things" he said
'.HOw il one to know them? Did you
come out of one of them. or drop from
heaven?"
T-I-Oh!' I'm frightened" cried
Bessie Barclay.
Don't be frightened. said the man,
coming closer. 81 beg Your pardon il
I'm mistaken, but are you. or were you
once. Miss Bessie Barclayp"
If you are stranger, You ought no,
to ask me my name, said MissFsarclay.
"Pray can you tell me which is the door
of number twenty-iive?"
'.But if am not strangely" said the
man. 'Great Heavens! is II possible tina,
we, who have not seen each other fOl
fifteen years, should meet ut last on the
roof of house i'm London, at four o..
clock In the morning! am Robert Les
10 nonft rnu kuoV n,Nps