The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-05-29
THE HAUNTED CORRIDOR.


Aunt Rebecca
The wine-like glow Of sunset yet illu-
mined the great bay window; but the
rest of the apartment was already en-
shrouded in the gray shadows Of the
night, in whose misty indistinctness
the huge chairs Of carved oak looked
like gigantic monsters from some for
eign shore.
a don't believe a word of it!'' re-
peated Aunt RaDecca, with more en-
phasis than before. "A ghost story,
indeed!'
Tell me about it, Violet" said
young Haz,ewood.
at is not lHuch of story" said
Violet, "only years ago, long before
my great grandpapa built this house,
the site was all one unbroken wood,
and there was tradition that beau
tiiul girl was murdered by her lover.
Her grave, they said, was beneath the
foundations Of the house, but scarce
ly credit this part Of the legend.
"Of course not interrupted Miss
Rebecca, with toss Of her false
curls. Il have no patience with the
relics Of superstition.
What are you looking for aunt?
Have you dropped anything? Shall l
call for Harris to bring a candle?'
asked Violet, a moment aiterward
coming to her aun,'s side.
Nothing, nothing said Miss Re-
becca, with a little embarrassment in
her voice. "Come-don't stay here
any longer in the biting cold, unless
YOU both want weeks medicine and
DOCTORS visits"
1T is not cold, Aunt Rebecca,' y
pleaded Violet, land the starlight is 81
beautiful on tie stone pavement
But n peremplory summons from
Colonc. OrMo himself, who had jus
walked from a comfortable nap besid
the glowing ire in the library to a sor
Of vague wonder as to "wAcrc Rebecc
and the young people could possi1l
be- speedily settled the matter.
Never mind, Violet" whispere
Charles Haztlwooi; "by-and-by, whe
your father mas gone to his room an
Aunt Rebecca is busy with her cuI
papers in her own special dormitory
We can have starlight stroll throug
the ghosts territory
Violet gave him an arch glance 6
she tripped after Aunt Rebecca into II
hall which led to Colonel Ormc's bri
liantly-lighted library.
II wish Captain Hazelwood wouldn
remain out there, said Aunt Rebccc
anxiously. "He will catch his dea
Of cold; and, besides"
"Besides what, Aunt RebeCca?'
"Nio!et, " said the maiden lady,
wish you would 20 down and see if Il
housekeeper has prepared that poss
for my sore throat, that's good gil
! think shall 20 to bed.
Violet went to execute her aunrs b
hests.
How peacefully the distant hills al
valleys slept in their snowy mantl
that glorious December night! 1t I
minded one Of lovely painting ex
cuted with brushes dipped in liqu
pearl, and shaded with pencils
glimmering silverl AT least, so tn
seemed to Charles Lakewood. b
then Charles lakewood was in love.
The tall old-fashioned clock in t
hall was striking twelve, when Au
Rebecca emerged from her door, trea
ing on tiptoe, and carrying a dim liz
IN her hand. Now, Aunt Rebecc
IN nodding false curls, lace coiffur
and l8-year-old style of dress was
very different sort of parsonage fro
Aunt Rebecca, with her head tied
in silk handkerchief, her false cur
laid aside, and long white dressil
robe enveloping her lank figure; al
the latter was by no means the mo
progressing of the two. ProbaL
some such consciousness swept acre
the good spinster's brain, for she sh,
fled with accelerated rapidity past t
solemn eyes of the grave old fam
portraits on the wall.
81 am sure | dropped them son
where here" she murmured, pausi
In front OF the bay-window. II
provoking! There goes my candle o
But believe can find them, howev
the starlight is so bright Mercy up
usl what is thatl The ghost!
ghost"
Aunt Rcbecca fed shrieking do
the corridor, her hands clapp