The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-05-23

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provoking There goes my candle
out i But believe l can find them,
however, the starlight is 80 bright
Mercy upon us what is that? The
ghost the ghost!
And Aunt Rebecca fled shrieking
down the corridor, her hands clapped
over her eyes, before which was i'm
printed the apalling vision of a tall
figure sweeping past, all in white, with
a crimson stain on 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 surrounded
Aunt Rebecca, who evinced strong
symptoms of an intention to 90 into
Mysteries.
at glided past me like a gust of
wind !" she shrieked, replying at haz
ard to the questions that rained down
upon her-"all in white, with that
dreadful mark of blood upon its throat!
It's a warning-I know it's a warning
that haven't long to live Oh, what
shall do 2"
"But don't understand what you
were doing out in the Ghosts Corridor
at this time of night interrupted Col
onel Orme, staring at his sister as if
not quite certain whether this were an
actual occurrence in real life or merely
fragmentary part of his last dream.
"Well, if you must know said Miss
Rebecca, with little hysteric sob, 81
dropped my false teeth there, just at
dusk, and l didn't like to look for them
there with Violet and Captain Halle
wood standing by, and so-and So
soho! that's it, eh 2" said Colonel
Orme, laughing "Upon my word,
Sister Becky, you are rather over-par-
ticular for woman of so years old"
"Only 40, James," interrupted Miss
Rebecca, with shrill accent of indig
nation.
"But the ghost :" inquired young
lakewood, who had Just ar
rived on the scene of action, with
rather flushed brow and embarrassed
air.
Upon which Aunt Rebecca gave
way to the combined influence of hel
brothers unkind remark and the fright
of ghost-seeing, and fairly tainted
without further notice. According to
the usual custom of womankind 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 col
ogne, stitled with burnt feathers, and
vigorously treated with hot flannel.
"She's coming to, poor dear cres
ture y was the final verdict hurled al
Colonel Orme through a crack in thu
door.
"Well, I'm glad of it, I'm sure" sale
the Colonel dolorously, rubbing hi
hands, "for it's cold out here in tn,
hall. Why, hilloa! y is this you, M,
little Violet? What's the matter
Yon haven't seen a ghost, l hope?'
"No, papa" fi.ltered Violet, "but-
Suppose we three adjourn into th'
library, Colonel Orme, and will un
dertake the task of explanation" in
terposed Charles Hazelwood, whil'
Violets cheeks grew like fame.
''Well, may venture to inquire
what all this means?' interrogated the
bewildered Colonel, when the librar.
door was safely closed.
at means, sir" said Charles, laugh
ing, yet little puzzled how to pro
coed, "that Violet, your daughter, an(
| were just looking out at the stars, il
the embrasure of the great hall win
dow, when we saw some one approach
ing with light. Violet went to SCI
what the apparition meant, when Mis-
Rebecca (whom it proved to be) drop
ped her candle and ran shriekins
away"
$50 Violet was the ghost, eh? :" sale
the Colonel, repressing very strong
inclination to laugh.
"You see, papa" interposed tha
young lady, 81 wore my long cash
mere mantle, for was afraid of taking
cold, and it was neatly tied at tn
throat with red ribbon, and
"And Aunt Rebecca took it TO
granted that you were the murdered
heroine of our family ghost story,
said the Colonel, archly. "But allo,
me to ask, young people, what yo
were so much interested in -
"Well, sir, said Hazelwood, 81 ha
just asked her if she wouldn't MARI
me-don't run away, Violet--and sh
said Yes, that is, if | could win he
fathers consent"
swell 2"
"And l would like to know what he
father says to the proposition ?" adde
the young officer laughingly, detair
ing Violet, who was struggling to e'
cape.
"He says answered Colonel Orm'
"that your intrepidity in facing tn
ghost deserves some reward, and h
likewise supposes that his daughte
must be allowed to have her own wa,
Take her, Charley, and don't spoil he
No thanks now, but let me go and Sc
after your Aunt Rebecca"
"Papa," whispered Violet, as h
rose, with his hand on the door.
swell, my dear?'
"Don't tell Aunt Becky that
that"
) "That you were the ghost Just {
= you please"
And he went, chuckling, to inqui
after his sisters health There is I
evidence that he ever did betray VII
let's secret; but two things may be r.
garded as settled facts in the recort
of Alnwick Pace-one is that Aul
ltebecca strenuously denies the exis
ence of ghosts, and abhors the vel
= sight of her niece's white mantle wit
.. cherry trimmings; the other is, tn
she is particularly careful never to pa
through the solemn old haunted ha
alone after sunset Bow Bells.
Borings for salt in Northern Germ
ny have revealed the existence of il
mense deposits of the mineral in son
of the most neglected and forlorn /
: cslitles. One of these drills reache