The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-05-16

| Atleast, so they seemed to Charles
Hazlewood as he stood in the deep re-
cess OF tho gigantic bay-win-
dow, nearly hidden by the curtains
the faded splendor of whose tarnished
embroidery carried the mind uncon-
sciously a century backward on the
stream Of time.
The tall, old-fashioned clock in the
hall was striking twelve, and the COLO
ny of crickets under the warm hearth.
stone were falling into a dreamy,
sleepy sort of a chirp, when Aunt Re-
becca emerged from her door, treading
on tiptoe, and carrying a dim light in
her hand.
Now, Aunt Rebecca, in nodding G
false curls. lace coiffure, and eighteen
year-old style Of dress, was a very
different sort of parsonage from Aunt
Rebecca, with her head tied up in a
SILK handkerchief, her false curls laid
aside, and long white dressing-robe
enveloping her lank figure; and the
latter was by no means the more pre-
possessing of the two.
Probably some such consciousness
swept across the good spinster's brain
for she shufl1ed with accelerated rap
idity past the solemn eyes of the grave
Old family portraits on the wall.
81 am sure 1 dropped them some
where here" she murmured, pausing
in font of the bay-window. "How
provoking! There goes my candle
out! But I believe I can find them
however, the starlight is so bright
Mercy upon US! what is that? The
ghost!-the ghosty'
And Aunt Rebecca fled shrieking
down the corridor. her hands clapped
over her eyes, before which was i'm
printed the vision of a tall figure
sweeping past, all in white with a
crimson stain at its pallid throat!
The house was aroused into instan-
taneous commotion, lights flashed into
brightness at the various doors, and
an eager circle of inquirers surround
ed Aunt Rebecca, who evinced strong
symptoms of an intention to go into
Mysteries.
ut glided past Inc like gust of
wind! she shrieked, replying at hazard
to the questions rained upon her-"all
in white, with that dreadful mark Of
blood upon its throat! lisa warnips
I know it's warning that / haven't
long to livel Oh, what shall I do
what shall 1 do?"
"But | don't understand what YOU
were doing out in the Ghosts
Corridor at this time of night inter-
rupted Col. Orme, staring at his sister
as if not quite certain whether this
were an actual occurrence in real life
or merely a fragmentary part of his
last dream.
"Well, if you must know said Miss
Rebecca, with little by steric sob. 81
dropped my false teeth there, just at
dusk, and l didn't like to look for
them there with Violet and Capt.
Hazlewood standing by, and so--and
So
"Oho! that'sit eh?' said Col. Orme,
laughing. Upon my word, Sister,
Becky, you are rather over-particular
for woman fifty years old"
"Only forty-nine, james," interrupt
ed Miss Rebecca, with shrill accent
of indignation.
"But the ghost?" inquired young
Ha2lewood, who had just arrived on
the scene Of action, with rather
flushed brow and embarrassed air.
Upon which Aunt Rebecca gave
way to the confined influences of her
hrothers unkind remark and the
fright of ghost-seeing, and fairly
tainted without further notice. Ac-
cording to the usual custom ofwoman-
kind on such occasions, Col. Orme and
all the other gentlemen were hustled
out into the hall. while the victim of
the female officials was deluged with
eau de cologne, stifed with burnt
feathers, and vigorously treated with
hot flannel.
she's coming to, poor dear
creature!" was the final verdict hurled
at Col. Orme through crack in the
door.
"Well, I'm glad of it, I'm sure, said
the colonel dolorously, rubbing Ills
hands, "for it's cold out here in the
hall. Why, halloa! is this you, my
little Violetp What's the matter?
Yon haven't seen ghost, hope?"
mo, papa faitered Violet, "but
Suppose we three adjourn into the
library. Col. Orme, and will under
take the task of explaining" interpos-
ed Charles Hazlewood. while Violet's
cheeks grew like fame.
"Well, may ! venture to inquire
what all this means p interrogated the
bewildered colonel when the library
door was safely closed.
at means sir" said Charles, laugh
ing, yet little puzzled how to pro-
ceed, that Violet. your daughter, and |
| were just looking out at the stars. in
the embrasure of the great hall win.