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

figure sweeping past all in white, with
crimson stain ut its pallid throat.
The house was aroused into instantan-
eous commotion, lights flashed into
brightness at the various doors, and an
eager circle of inquirers surrounded
Aunt Rebecca.
ut glided past me like gust Of
wind!" she shrieked-"all in white,
with that dreadful mark of blood upon
its throat! It's warning-I know it's
warning that | haven't long to live,
Oh, what shall l doP What shall l
do?"
"But don't understand what you
were doing in the ghosts corridor at
this time of night" interrupted Col.
Orme, staring at his sister.
"Well, if you must know" said Miss
RebeCca, with little hysteric sob, ii
dropped my false teeth there, just at
dusk, and didn't like to look for them
there, with Violet and Captain Hazel
wood standing by; and so-and So
"Oho! that's it, ehP" said Colonel
Orme, laughing. Upon my word,
Sister Becky, you are rather over-par-
ticular for woman so years old"
"Only 40, James," interrupted Miss
Rebecca with shrill accent of indig-
nation.
'But the ghostP' inquired young
Hazelwood, who had just arrived on
the scene of action, with rather q
flushed brow and embarrassed air.
Upon which Aunt Rebecca gave way to
the combined influences of her broth
er's unkind remark and the fright Of
ghost-seeing, and fairly tainted, with
out further notice. According to the
usual custom of womankind on such
occasions, Colonel Orme and all the
other gentlemen were hustled out into
the hall, while the victim of the female
officials was deluged with Eau dc Col
ogne stiiled with burnt feathers, ana
vigorously treated with hot flannel.
"She's coming to, poor dear crea-
tureM was the final verdict hurled at
Colonel Orme through crack in the
door.
"Well, I'm glad of it, I'm sureW
said the Colonel, dolorously, rubbing
his hands, ''for it's cold out here in the
hall. Why, hilloa! is this you, my lit
tie VioletP What's the matter2 You
haven't seen ghost | hope?'
"No, papa, " faltered Violet; "but-"
Suppose we three adjourn into the
library, Colonel Orme, and | will I'M
dertake the task of explanation in
terrupted Charles Hazelwood, while
Violet's cheeks grew like flame.
"Well, may venture to inquire what
all this means?' Intercepted the be-
wildered Colonel, when the library
door was safely closed.
at means, sir" said Charles, laugh
ing, yet a little puzzled how to pro-
coed, ''that Violet, your daughter, and
l were just looking out at the stars, in
the embrasure of the great hall WIN
dow, when we saw some one approach
ing with light. Violet went to see
what the apparition meant, when Miss
Rebecca (whom it proved to beg drop
ped her candle, and ran shrieking
away
80 Violet was the ghost, eh?' said
the colonel, depressing q very strong
inclination to laugh.
you sec, papa" interposed the
young lady, l wore my long cashmere
mantle, for was afraid of taking cold,
and it was tied at the throat with red
ribbons, and
"And Aunt Rebecca took it for
granted that you were the murdered
heroine of our family ghost story"
said the colonel, archly. But allow
me to ask you, young people, what
you were so much interested in?'
We'll, sir said Lakewood, 81 had
just asked her ii she wouldn't marry
NEEDN'T run away, Violet-and she
said 'Yes'-that is, if could win her
fathers consent
"Well?"
and | would like to know what her
father says to the proposition?" added
the young officer laughingly OBTAINING
Violet who was struggling to escape.
"He says, " answered Colonel Orme,
that your intrepidity in facing the
ghost deserves some reward, and he
likewise supposes that his daughter
must be allowed to have her own way.
Take her, Charley, and don't spoil her!
No thanks now; but let me 90 and see
after your Aunt Rebecca."
Papa" whispered Violet, as he
rose, with his hand on the door.
well, my dear?'
Don't tell Aunt Becky that-.hat-
: That you were the ghost? Just as
a you please"
+. And he went, chuckling, to inquire
after his sisters health. There is NJ
t evidence that he ever did betray Vic
/. let's secret, but two things may be re
h garded as settled facts in the record
of Almwick Place-one is that Aun
Rebecca strenuously denies the exist
! ence Of ghosts, and abhors the yer,
a signt Of her niece's white mantle witt
+ cherry trimmings; the other is that sh
/ is particularly careful never to pas
through the solemn old haunted hal