Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-11-17

dreadful ghost story-we had reached
ghosts as the final touch of horror
Wnen there was a clatter in the dining.
room. If it had been daytime it would
rave been perfectly clear to us tina,
Beauty had upset the spoon-holder. As
IL was, we felt sure it was the cat-or 50
we told each other-but untold sums
would not have tempted any of us alone
into that. dining-room.
1T is just as l have told O all
along" said Aunt Barlow. cit is not
safe Tor four women to live alone. Will
you come with me, or will you notP''
So, in a band, Lou well behind. we en-
Iered the dining-room to find that
beauty had indeed been promenading
the table. But by that time our fears
hao reached such a pitch that nothing
YOU'D DO but to count all the poo
men the forks, and finally to gather up
all the silver and return with it in q
hurry to the sitting-room. Somehow
the d%ining-room always seemed the
focus Of our fears.
BY that time a kind of frenzy came
over us, and when Somebody am sure
it was not proposed our oettino
other OF u valuables, it was at once
seized upon as a wise suggestion. In a
body Lou bearing the double student
iamp-less as a means of illumination.
1rom her manner of carrying it, than a
weapon to be flung at the burglar who
was probably hiding under some bed
we sWent over the house, COLLECTING
every bit of valuable property, even
that stored away IN odd hooks and
corners, Aunt Barlow unearthing her
precious gold watch from the recesses
Of the feather bed she always would
sleep on, and bringing to light from be-
hind one corner Of tie CARPET the dia-
mond earrings she had promised to the
hrst bride. Matilda clutched the gold
chain, and added a roll of bills, ffitty
dollars, the pay for a story, the check
for which l had cashed only that morn
ing, and my matchbox. Lou did not
q any special piece of property, but
was OF much assistance in reminding us
OF this or that valuable slowed away in
some old place, or out of use so long it
had been forgotten. We huddled them
in our aprons or over-skirts and return
ed to the sitting-room to wait for Mr..
Forbes.
Even in our terror I foreaye his
laughter when he came at last and
found the sitting-room presenting the
appearance of a pawnbroker's Shop,
with four disheveled females sitting
about in attitudes of disconsolate fear.
Even ghost stories had lost their charm
for that last half hour, and in silence
had we waited for the football of our
protector. We could laugh a little
Historically with him in our relief, but
begged him, just for that night, to take
u property under his " charge.
We should not sleep unless we knew it
was in his room. Lulled, however, by
that security, and tired with the excite
ment and unwonted late hour, we over
slept the next morning, and it was two
hours past the usual time that we could
talk over, at the breakfast table, the
terror of the previous night. A little
mingled with our daylight views,
and | think non of us were sorry that /
MI. Forbes, having breakfasted at the
usual time, had gone into town. He
would be back at his ordinary hour, |
and we did without spoons and forks at
breakfast and dinner, for he had forgot
ton to leave behind the key to his secre-
tary.
And then Billy walked in in the after
noon, and he had so much to tell us that
could only allude briefly to our
boarder, and passingly to our excitement
of the preceding night. However, Billy
knew us.
But MI. Forbes did not come on the
usual train, and Jack Walcott did. HE
walked straight into the house without
and greeted us with as little
ceremony as though he had seen us ev-
cry night for a month, instead of making
one brief call. What had come over
Jack in that month we had tried to
guess, but could arrive at nothing more
satisfactory than the humiliating con-
that Billy had been the attrac-
lion for him, and not our charms.
"I have some sorry news for YOU
about Walter Forbes" he began direct
ly. 81 thought / had better break it to
you gently, rather than have you learn
It through the papers, knowing how
much you were all attached to him"
He addressed us all, but his eyes were
fastened on me. "Embezzled. Alb
"What!
1t was a fourfold exclamation, and
even the n word had not come till
after a full minutes p~aralyzed pause.
Billy left the room. Something kept us
Ill from speaking still. We were try
to adjust our ideas of the universe.
Forbes a No, we could not
the word even to ourselves.
"Some mistake turned up two or
:hree days ago, but nothing was said
about it to him. Experts were set to
work on his books, and it seems he has
oeen helping himself systematically for
The last year. He got wind of it some
how, perhaps over the booksslast night.
and did not put in an appearance this
morning. A sad pity. Such a niceyoung
And it is the seventh case that
taken place on the street since
spring."
With one accord we took out our
handkerchiess and began to cry. All! 1
know why | was crying. But why. in
with equal vigor:? Billy had come back.
"Tve broken open the secretary" he
said. "There's nothing there. Will it
be a heavy sentence, Jack, if they get
80 11~-- A--..,sn MAJ |