The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-09-11

she saw the tall, sheeted form standing
motionless in the doorway, but she was
ct bay, and after the first few moments
of terror, she found her voice.
"Who are you? and what do you
want ?"
Miss Justine had not provided for that
question, not crediting her cousin with
courage enough to ask it, but an answer
was not needed.
A great owl had taken up his abode in
the hall, and disturbed by the unusual
sounds, and the flicker of candlelight,
he gave one awful boot, and Tapping his
wings, swooped down over the head of
the ghost into the room.
1t was more than the waiting-maid
could bear.
ooh, Lord, Miss Rilla, what is it ?"
she shrieked ; and tearing her ghostly
raiment of, fed to the girl for protec-
ton.
It was case OF "run, black devil,
white devil catch you" and after recov-
ering from her establishment, Rilla
laughed aloud.
"Sarah, what does this mean ?"
"Miss Justine made me do it. Don't
don't let the thing touch me? I
didn't want to do it'll"
But after knocking down the chart,
which fell with crash, and upsetting
the candle, the owl few out at the win
dow and vanished.
Rilla soothed her terrified companion,
relit the candle, and then essayed to
pick up the broken chart. But the
frame fell to pieces, and out from the
back of it rolled bundle of papers.
Meanwhile, all went merry as mar
riage bell at the party. Bessie left it to
Justine to make excuses for Rilla, and
that young lady did so with the bes'
grace in the world, and then she danced
and firted SIS though she had not u care
on her mind
But timid Bessie suffered cruel
anxiety, and she drew breath of relief
when late in the evening Paul Daverant
entered the room.
He glanced slowly around, and shade
of disappointment crossed his handsome
face
"Where is Rilla, Miss Sage? P" he in
quired as 'soon as he reached Bessie.
That question loosened Bessie's
tongue, and she poured out the whole
story to the gentleman, who listened
with a quietness the gathering fire in
his eyes belied.
He glanced at his watch.
eft is time the Joke ended. If you
are ready, we will go ON together If
not"
"Oh, yes, I am glad to go! Call
BERTHE, and I will speak to Miss Pen
rynn."
Justine smiled disagreeably, but think
ing that it would not do to go too far,
she made no objection to an early de-
parture, but gave her version of the
little joke, and all called Rilla silly
child for taking any one so literally.
The others listened in silence, and
Bessie clasped her hands and strained
her eyes through the gloom to catch the
first sight of the Grange, but there was
a keener pair of eyes watching, also, and
the horses had hardly been pulled up
before the gate when Daverant dashed
open the carriage-door and sprang out.
All his careless indifference, his Ian
guild nonchalance. fell from him under
the pressure of fear and anxiety.
He entered the empty, echoing house.
He mounted the stairs two at time,
softly yet clearly Calling
"Rilla, Rilla!"
She met him at the doorway of her
grandfathers bedroom, flushed but
radient and unframed.
"Rilla, love!" he cried, and snatched
her to his breast with hurried, passion
ate words of love.
" Is it true? DO you really care for
me?" she said, in a sort of glad wonder.
$50 well that if you had come to harm
this night my peace and JOY would have
been forever destroyed" he said, bend
ing his lips to hers.
In her happiness she could afford to
be charitable, and she explained the
presence of the waiting-maid with as
little blame to her cousin as possible,
and then came brief account of the