Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-05-13
THE HAUNTED CORRIDOR.

THE HAUNTED CORRIDOR.
Il don't believe a word of it," said Aunt
Rebecca.
The wine-like glows of sunset yet illum-
ined the great bay window; but the rest
of the apartment was already enshrouded
in the gray shadows of twilight, in whose
misty indistnctness the huge chairs of
carved oak looked like gigantic monsters
from some foreign shore. From the
walls frowned down dark old family por-
traits, and the crimson hanging above
the arched doors waved restlessly back
through the vast corridor.
Il don't believe a word of it, repeated
Aunt Rebecca with more emphasis than
before. "a ghost story indeed
"Tel me about it, Violet said young
lakewood, to whom the deep bay win
dow, with its far-of prospects Of snowy
hills, yelled in gathering twilight, to say
nothing of pretty Violet Ormes close
vicinage. were infinitely more attractive
than the more modern region of Alnwick
Place.
1T is not much of a story said Violet,
flushing up 10 her very eyelashes at the
sound of her own soft voice, "only years
ago, long before my great grandpa
built this house, the site was all one un-
broken wood, and there was tradition
that a beautiful girs was murdered by her
lover. Her grave, they said, was beneath
the foundations of the house; but |
scarcely credit this part of the legend
"Of course not interrupted Miss
Rebecca. with a toss of her false curls.
II have no patience with the relics of old
superstition
"What are you looking for, aunt: Have
you dropped anything. Shall call for
Harris 10 bring n candle?' asked Violet
moment afterward, coming TO her aunt's
side.
Nothing, nothing" said Miss Rebecca,
with a little Embarrassment in her voice.
"Come-dont stay here any longer in the
biting cold, unless you both want a weeks
medicine and a doctors visits
1T is not cold. Aunt Rebecca," pleaded
Violet, land the starlight is so beautiful
ON the stone pavement. just let us
wait until that fiery planet mounts little
higher
But peremptory summons from Col
onel Orme himself, who had just walked
from a comfortable nap beside the glow
ing fire in the library, to a sort of vague
wonder rs 10 where Bebecca and the
young people could possibly be, speedily
settled the matter.
"Never mind, Violet" whispered
Charles lakewood; "by and by when
your father has gone to his room and
Aunt Rebecca is busy with her curl papers
in her own special dormitory, we can
have a starlight stroll through the ghosts
territory
Violet gave him an arch glance as she
tripped after Aunt Rebecca into the hall
which led 20 Colonel Orme's brilliantly
lighted library
II wish Captain Lakewood wouldn't re-
main out there" said Aunt Rebecca anN-
iously. He viii catch his death of cold;
and besides "
Besides what Aunt Rebecca!"
Violet said the maiden lady, II wish
you would 20 down and see if the house
keeper has prepared that posset for my
sore throat, that's good girl think
shall 20 TO bed
Violet went 20 execute her aunt'- be-
hest-
How peacefully the distant hills and
valleys slept in their snowy mautles that
glorious December night. 1t reminded
one of lovely painting executed with
brushes dipped in liquid pearl, and
then shaded with pencils of glimmering
silver.
At least so they seemed to Charles
Hazelwood as he stood in the deep recess
of the gigantic bay-window nearly hidden
by the curtains the faded splendor of
whose furnished embroidery carried the
IN u',o'', ''''l " ,,', ~ wa
Ha2elwoud was in love.
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