The Opelousas courier., 1883-12-08
"HAUNTED.a

~ WEN C4AG CdE4OAo1y 0Ith1
loped shells-a very old house, seem
ing to lean toward the sea, from iii
place in the midst of a meadow of sea
grass, and the distant glimmer of sail:
beyond the curling lines of breakers
this was delicious enough to Kitty
Primrose as she sat under the shadow
of a monster white umbrella, and tried
to transfer to canyas the vague glory Of
the Gene. Kitty had not been strong
that summer. Either she had danced
too much or practiced her music too
theoretically, or lost her roses in the
ball room and theatre box too reck-
lessly! And when the warm weather
swooped down on the city. like a fiery
winged vulture. the old family doctor
shock his head at the idea Of Saratoga.
Newport. or even Atlantic City.
NO. no." said he. "None of those
human caravanseriesl It's like pour
ingoil on q fire TO put it out. Take her
into the country. The real country,
where she'll see nothing but COWS and
clover-blossoms. Tic it's within the
reach of a sea-breeze, SO much the bet
teri'
So Uncle Dionysius and Aunt Jean
-
had brought their darling to Sandy
Point-where the only inhabitants
were q busy old farmer with his hard
working wife and daughters; and
the ocean Tapped tile shores with a
soothing, m~onotonous southland rs
the days went by. the faint pink once
more began to bloom on Kitty Prim-
roses cheeksl
aAnd is it reaIly-hauntedgp she
asked that morning as she looked to-
ward the old ruin which leaned away
from the wind like some old man who
shrunk from q blow!
sIVell. miss said Prissy Hawk, the
farmers daughter. who had come out
tc bring her MONDAY glass Of milk to
the city young lady. awe know there
amt such things as ghosts. But all
the same there's been queer sights and
sounds around that old ruin eve since
we lived here. Folks don't like to 90
pastit after Oakland of a winter even
ing yonn see a strange red light shinin'
out DE the windows AS can only come
Or al least ID Aunt Pollock says
from the everlasting fires of the other
world!'
ION, nonsense" chirped Aunt Jean
who was d CHEEKY woman Of ifty-6ve.
How people am listen to such non
sense / don't Fnow.
.f only say what E'vc heard, ma'am,,
said Priscilla, aemnrely COMPRISING
her lips.
@Well, we'll there always must be d
certain amount Uf folly and supersti
ton n this world said Uncle Diony-
sins iadulgently.
Aid kitty sst and looked at the old
ruins, pnrplsrg ii tile distance, and
sighed softly. Aa.nt Jean watched
Ter with loving atentness. She was
thinking of Brix Balanore.
IA almost wish Dionysius, she said
to her Igisbasds that we had consent
IA q that mans suit. / think Kitty
was fond DC hs.n. And i am sure that
TIE loved her.
Pooh, pooh!s said Uncle Dionysius.
a poor, penniless artist Our Kitty.
who i IF to be i princes bridel How
would they mate together
But love Is better than gold. Diony-
sius, pleaded Aunt Jean, wistfully.
s1Iy dear, now you are talking the
shy FoEsaptic stuff they putin novels,
said Uncle nionysius, in q superior
sya5 sBallnoFe lever really cared for
ths Girl. AIl tEe world knows that liz
Al after that California heiresa-Wheat.
leigh her name was, wasn't itg IL {
had believed that he had loved her
Aunt Jean sighed. Ah, wei, said
she, eIsgpDose We must take things Ill
they come.
IN the soft. red flush Of the twilight
Kitty came down by the sea. Uncls
Dion was asleep III the one hard lounge
which tbs farmhouse parlor boosted,
and snored loudly. Aunt Jean was
peacefully arranging tie octagon
patches III her new silk quilt. beside
him. And Kitty Primrose with q vague
longing in her heart fol something
which slle herself could hardly have
paFficularixed, saunsered down ID
where She tides weEe going out IN j
manotaaous mufmur, lsaving soft
4Flngos 81 foam baliind in their tracks.
sHow y wouIa ike % 81 il the
talntsa house, she thought. II viii
so
ANA full WI ehis nHw ambition shs
AnSziea aaToss TIE Asdgy Sands. earalesa