The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-06-11

vOking. There goes my canule out.
But believe can find them, however;
the starlight is SO bright. Mercy upon
us! What is that? The ghost-the
ghost!" And Aunt Rebecca fled skriek-
ing down the corridor, her hands clap
ped over her eyes, before which was inn
printed the appalling vision of tall
figure sweeping past, all in white, with
a crimson stain at its paliid throat!
The house was aroused into instan-
taneous commotion; lights flashed into
brightness at the various doors, and an
eager circle of inqurers surrounded
Aunt Rebecca, who evinced strong
symptoms of an intention TO 60 into
Mysteries.
1T glided past me like gust of
windr' she shrieked, replying ut hazard
to the questions raned down upon her;
''all in white, with that dreadful mark
of blood upon its throat. It's warn
ing-I know its warning that l
haven't long to live! Oh, what shall
do-what shall l do?"
But don't understand what you
were doing out in the Ghosts Corridor
at this time of the night" interrupted
Colonel Orme, staring at his sister as if
not quite certain whether this was 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, IL
dropped my false teeth there, just at
dusk, and didn't like to look for them
with Violet and Captain Razelwood
standing by, so-and-o-"
"Oho! that's it, ehP" said Colonel
Orme, laughing. Upon my word. Sis
ter Becky, you are rather over-particu-
lar for woman fifty years old"
"Only forty-nne, James" interrupted
Miss Rebecca. with shrill accent of in
dignation.
"But the ghost?" inquired young Ha-
zelwood, who had just arrived on the
scene of action, with Il 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-sceing, and fairly tainted without
further notice. According to the usual
custom of womankind of such occasions,
Colonel Orme and all the other gentle
men were hustled out into the hall,
while the victim of the female officials
was deluged with eau de cologne, stifled
with burned feathers, and vigorously
treated with hot flannel.
'She's coming to, poor. dear Great
ure!' was the final verdict hurled ut
Colonel Orme through crack in the
door.
"Well, I'm glad of it, I'm sure" said
the Colonel, dolorously, rubbing his
hands, '.for it's cold out here in the hall.
Why, hilloa! is this you, my little Violet?
What's the matterP You haven't seen q
ghost, l hopep"
mo, papa" faltered Violet. "but''-
Suppose we three adjourn into the
library, Colonel Orme, and Twill under
take the task of an explanation, inter-
posed Charles Hazelwood, while Violet's
cheeks flushed 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 little puzzled how to proceed,
"that Violet, your daughter, and L were
Just looking out at the stars, in the en-
brasure of the great hall window, when
we saw some one approaching with q
light. Violet went to see what the APP
partition meant, when Miss Rebecca
(whom it proved to be) dropped her
candle and ran shrieking away"
80 Violet was the ghost ehp" said
the Colonel, REFRESHING very strong
inclination to laugh.
You see, papa" interposed that
young lady, 81 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 grant
ed that you were the murdered heroine
of our family ghost story" said the Col
onel, archly. "But allow me to ask,
young people, what you were SO much
interested imp
"Well, SIR" said Hazelwood, 81 had
just asked her if she wouldn't marry me
don't run away. Violet-and she said
YES that is, if could win her fathers
consent"
"WellP"
"And 1 would like to hear what her
father says to the proposition" added
the young officer, laughingly, OBTAINING
Violet, who was struggling to escape.
liz says, duSWGICu SOlOucl OIHic,
''that your intrepidity in facing the
ghost deserves some reward, and he like
wise 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.
swell, my dearP"
Don't tell Aunt Becky that-that''-
THAT you were the ghost? Just as
you please"
And he went, chuckling, to inquire
after his sisters health. There is no
evidence that he ever did betray Violet's
secret; but two things may be regarded
as settled facts in the records of Alnwick
Place-one is that Aunt Rebecca strenu-
ously denies the existence of ghosts, and
abhors the very sight of her niece's white
mantle with cherry trimmings; the 9TH
er is that she is particularly careful new
er to pass through the solemn old haunt
ed hall alone after sunset.