Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-05-30
AUNT REBECCA'S GHOST.

AUNT REBECCA's GHOST.
81 don't believe word of it!'' said
Aunt Rebecca.
The wine-like glow of sunset yet illu-
mined the great bay window; but the
rest of the apartment was already shroud-
ed in the gray shadows of twilight, in
whose misty indistinctness the huge chairs
of carved oak looked like gigantic mons
| tiers from some foreign shore. From the
walls frowned down dark old family por-
traits, and the crimson hanging above the
arched doors waved restlessly back and
forth in the draughts of wind that swept
! through the vast corridor.
81 don't believe word of it y repeated
Aunt Rebecca, with more emphasis than
before. GA ghost story. indeed!"
"Tell me about it. Violet" said young
Lakewood, to who n the deep bay-win-
dow, with its far-off prospect of snowy
bills, yelled in gathering twilight, to say
nothing of pretty Violet Orme's close
vicinage, were infinitely more attractive
than the more modern regions of Alnwick
Place.
''It is not much of story" said Violet,
flushing up to her very eyelashes at the
sound of her own sweet voice, "only years
ago, long before my great grandpa built
this house, the site was all one unbroken
wood, and there was tradition that a
beautiful girl was murdered by her lover.
Her grave, they said, was beneath the
foundations of the house; but I scarcely
credit this part of the legend.''
"Of course not,' interrupted Miss Re-
becca, with toss of her false curls. II
have no patience with the relics of old su-
perstition."
"What are you looking for. aunt Have
you dropped anything? Shall call for
Harris to bring candle 2'' asked Violet,
moment afterwards, coming to her aunt's
side.
Nothing, nothing" said Miss Rebec-
ca, with little embarrassment in her
voice. "Come-don't stay here any longer
in the biting cold, unless you both want a
| weeks medicine and DOCTORS visits"
''It's not cold, Aunt Rebecca," pleaded
Violet, land the starlight is so beautiful
on the stone pavement. just let US wait
until that fiery planet mounts little
higher."
But peremptory summons from Col.
| Orme himself, who had just walked from a
comfortable nap beside the glowing fire in
the library, to sort of vague wonder as
| to "where Rebecca and the young people
could possibly be,'' speedily settled the
matter. .
''Never mind, Violet,' whispered
Charles Lakewood; 'by and by when
your father has gone to his room and
Aunt Rebecca is busy with her rl-papers
in her own special dormitory. we can have
a starlight stroll through the ghosts ter.
ritory!"
Violet gave him an arch glance as she
trlpped after Aunt Rebecca into the hall
which led to Col. Orme's brilliantly light.
ed library.
II wish Capt. Lakewood wouldn't re-
main out there:'' SAID Aunt Rebecca
anxiously. "He will catch his death OF
cold; and, besides"
besides what, Aunt Rebecca 7"
"Violet." said the maiden lady. II
wish you would 60 down and see if the
housekeeper has prepared that posset for
my sore throat, that's good girl think
l shall 60 to bed"
Violet went to execute her aunt's he.
hests.
How peacefully the distant hills and
Valleys slept in their snowy nantes that
glorious December night. 1t reminded
one of lovely painting executed with
brushes dipped in liquid pearl, and shaded
with pencils of glimmering silver.
At least, 50 they seemed to Charles
Hazlewood as he stood IN the deep recess
of the gigantic bay-window, nearly hidden
by the curtains. the faded splendor Of
whose furnished embroidery carried the
mind unconsciously century backw arc
on the stream OF time.
The tall, old-tashioned clock in the hal
was striking twelve, and the colony o.
crickets under the warm hearthstone were
falling into a dreamy, sleepy sort of 9
chirp. when Aunt Rebecca emerged from
her door, treading on tiptoe, and carrying
dim light in her hand.
Now. Aunt Rebecca, in nodding false
cur]s. lace couture, and eighteen year.ol Ii
STYLE of dress, was very different sort Ct
nersonaee from Aunt Rebbecca, with hel
head tied up in silk handkerchief, bel
false curls laid aside, and long dressing
robe enveIoping her lank figure; and the
latter was by no means the more prepos
sessing of the two,
Probably some such consciousness swept
across the good spinster S brain, for sht
shuffled with accelerated rapidity past thu
solemn ewes of the grave old family por
traits on the wall.
II am sure dropped them somewhere
here. she murmured, pausing in front Of
the bay-window. GLOW provoking! There
noos nv candle cut But believe I Car
find them however, the starlight is SO
bright. Mercy upon nsl what is that?-
The ghost!-the ghost!'
And Aunt Rebecca fled shrieking down
Tho corridor. her hands clapped over hel
ayes before which was imprinted the Wis
ion Of a tall figure sweeping past, all II