Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-11
THE HAUNTED CORRIDOR.

Il dom, believe word Of 1T" said
Aunt Rcbccca.
The wine-ike glow Of sunset yet illu-
mined the great bay window; but tho
rest of the apartment was already en-
shroudcd in tho gray shadows OF the
night, in whose misty indistlnctness
the huge chairs Of carved oak looked
like gigantic monsters from some for
eign shore.
III don't believe u word OF it!' re-
peatcd Aunt Rcbccca, with more em-
phasis than before. "a ghost story.
indeedp'
"rcll me about it, Violet" said
young Lakewood.
"It is not much 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 u tradition that beau
tiful 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
Rcbccca, with toss of her false
curls. "a have no patience with the
relics of superstition. "
What are you looking for auntp
Have you dropped anything! Shall |
call for Harris TO bring q candle?"
asked Violet, moment afterward
coming to her aunts side.
Nothing, nothing" said Miss Re-
bocca, with n little embarrassment in
her voice. "Come--don't stay here
any longer in the biting cold, unless
you both want II weeks medicine and
Doctors visits"
at is not cold, Aunt Rebecca,"
pleaded Violet, land the starlight is so
beautiful on the stone pavement"
But y pcrcmp'ory summons from
Colonel Orme himself who had just
walked from comfortable nap beside
the glowing fire in the library to sort
of vague wonder as to "whcre Rcbecra
and the young people could possibly
be-" speedily settled the matter
Never mind, Violet" whispered
Charles Hardwood; "by-and-by, when
sour father has gone TO his room and
Aunt Rabccca Is busy with her curl
papers in her own special dormitory,
we can have u starlight stroll through
the ghosts tern ilory!'
Violet gave him an Il ch lance as
she trippci after Aunt r 'becca into the
hall which led 10 Colonel Orme's bril-
liuntly, lighted library.
II wish Captain lIazclwood wouldn't
remain out there said Aunt Rebccca,
anXious!y "lle vii! catch his death
OF colG; and bcsics--'
"Besidcs what, Aunt Rebccca?'
"Vio!c, y" sal! the maiden lady, Il
wish you would 90 down and see if the
housckuepcv has prepared that posset
for my sore ,hyUal, that's good girl.
I think sinai! 20 to bed.
:. Violet went to execute her aunl's be.
hcsts
How peacefully the distant hills and
= valleys slept in their snowy nantes
that glorious Decembcr night! 1t re.
minded one OF \ lovely painting exc
outed with brushes dipped in liquid
pearl. and shaded with pencils OF
glimmcring silver. At least, so they
seemed to Charles lakewood. But
then Charles Hazolwood was in love.
The tall od-iashonrd clock in the
: hall was striking twelve, when Aunt
Rebecca emerged from her door, tread.
ing on tiptoe, and carrying II dim light
in her hand, Now, Aunt Rebccca.
in nodding false curls, lace couture,
and lS-year-old style Of dress was q
very different sort Of parsonage from
Aunt Rebccca. with her head tied up
in silk handkerchief, her false curls
laid aside, and n long white dressing
robe enveloping her lank figure; and
the latter was by no means the more
prepossessing of the two. Probably
some such consciousness swept across
the good spinstor's brain, for she shut
fled with accelerated rapidity past the
solemn eyes of the grave old family
portraits on the wall.
, 81 am sure | dropped them some.
where here she murmured, pausine
in front of the bay-window. "How
provoking. There goes my candle out
But believe can find them, however,
the starlight is so bright. Mercy upon
us! what is that! Tho ghost! the
ghostN'
Aunt Rcbecca fled shrieking down
the corridor her hands clapped
over her eyes, before which was i'm
| printed the appalling vision of tai
l figure sweeping past all in white, with
crimson stain ut its pallid throat.
' The house was aroused into instantan.
: cous commotion, lights flashed into
, brightness at the various doors. and ar
eager circle Of inquirers surrounded
Aunt R"bccca.
at glidcl past me like gust o.
winu!' she shrickcd-' ail In white
with that dreadful mark of blood upon
its throat It's warning--I know it,
warning that haven't long TO live
Oh, what shall l do? What shall
do?'
But don't understand Whist YOU
were doing in the ghosts corridor a
this time of night" interrupted Col
Ormc, staring mt his sister.
"Weil, if you must know" said Miss
Rcbet On, with little hysteric sob, 81
dropped my false teeth there, just al
dusk, and ! didn't like to look forthon
there, with Violet and Captain Hazel.
wood standing by; and so-and So"
"Oho! that's 1t. eh?" said Coone
Ormc, laughing. Upon my word,
Sister Becky. YOU are rather over-par.
tcular for woman so years old
"Oaly 40, James" interrupted Miss
Rebecca with q shrill accent of indig
nation.
but the ghosl?' inquired young
Hazelwood, who had just arrived oil
the scene of seton, with rather 4
( flushed brow and embarrassed air
Upon which Aunt Rcbecca gave way tc
the combined influences OF her broth
cr's unkind remark aud the fright Of
ghost-sccing. and fairly tainted. with
out further notice. According to tho
usual custom of womankinI on sucl
occasions. Colonel Orme and NIL the
other gentlemen were hustled out into
the hall, while tho victim of the female
officials was dciuged with Eau de Col
ogne, sliied with burnt feathers, and
vigorously treated with hot flannel.
shes coming to, poor dear crea
turc!" was the final verdict hurled a
Colonel Orme through crack in the
door.
a "Well, I'm glad OF it, I'm. surer
said the Colonel, do!orously. rubbing
t his hands, for it's cold out here in the
hall. Why, hilloa! is this you, my lit
tie yioletp What's the matter? l0l