The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-07-12


Yes, | know" said Miss Caxton.
But YOU must remember that there is
a fallible spot in every armor, and
think this is mine
Mrs. Bibb looked at the illuminated
calendar that hung above the mantel.
WELL" said she, ''Ash Wednesday
comes on the fifteenth this year. To-
day is the tenth. Your season of pro-
baton will soon be over now"
Il do not suppose that one of our
nonsense" said Miss Caxton.
'Not oner' said Mrs. Bibb, decidedly.
eff we can pass over this first ami
yersary, we are all right" said Miss
Caxton.
1--WE are all right!'' automatically re-
peated Mrs. Bibb.
Ash Wednesday, like the Ides of
March, arrived, and not the keenest
eye could have detected the least change
in Miss Caxton's demeanor, as the slow
hours crept on, settling at last into the
warm purplish twilight of a winter
night, in which hung the crescent of a
young moon, silver pale and pure.
Tea passed over, the last yawning
schoolgirl went unwillingly to bed,
and Mrs. Bibb was just returning from
administering a dose of laudanum and
sweet-oil to the youngest pupil, who
was afflicted with earache, when one of
the housemaids bounced out of the din
ing-room door and stood before her, as
pale as sheet of paper.
please, ma 'am,' said she, clasping
her hand over her head, ''it's therer'
What's there? What's there?" sharp
ly demanded Mrs. Bibb.
''Why, you know, ma'am," said the
porter, who was close behind with an
empty coal-scuttle in his hand by way
of excuse, land we knows, and all the
village folks knows"
''And everyone knows" gasped the
fat old cook, except those dear lambs
in the dormitory upstairs. Amt it
Ash Wednesday night, into the bar
gain?'
care you all crazyP" sternly demand
ed Mrs. Bibb, holding her lamp high
above her head, like statue of Lib
erty Enlightening the World" .sor
have you been drinking?"
''Hush, Louisa!" said the calm COM
posed voice of Miss Caxton. This
matter is best settled by being enquired
into. My good people," facing the lit
tie crowd, which was now augmented
by two or three more scared maids, the
knife-boy, and the gardeners assist
ant, ''what does all this mean?"
''It's Ash Wednesday, num- NUT
tered the cook, somewhat cowed by her
mistresses' magisterial aspect.
''It's the ghost!" cackled the garden
er's assistant.
''On the ruff o. the 'ousew whispered
the original housemaid. "And 1 seen
it with these eyes! And there's some
things as flesh and blood can't endure;
and month warning, ma am, pleaser'
''Give me shawl, Mary Ann" said
Miss CaXton, taking Mrs. Bibb's arm.
''Oblige me, my dear Louisa, with your
company for minute"
And Miss CaXtOn, accompanied by
the faithful Mrs. Bibb, and followed by
stream of quaking and whispering
retainers, opened the door and walked
out upon the lawn.
There stood Miss Parker, the music
teacher; Fraulein Ohrbach, the Ger
man instructresS, and the rest of the
maids, staring up towards the roof of
the old Hall.
Didn't tell you so?' said Miss Cax-
ton. There is nobody there. How
could there be?'
"Waitr' gasped Miss Parker. at
was there just now. 1t comes and
goesr'
Almost as she uttered the words, a
white figure glided across the roof in
full view, plainly outlined against the
starlight.
Mrs Bibb could feel her friend start,
but the irresolutiOn was mOmentary.
Like female Napoleon, Miss Caxton
turned once more to the little crowd.
.'I!ave the goodness to remain here"
said she, land be silent. Ghost or
reality, l mean to investigate this af-
fair. Mrs. Bibb will accompany me-"
.'Certainlyr' said Mrs. Bibb, with
alacrity.
"Oh. please. mum, don't!' whispered
the cook. There don't no luck come
to nobody as NEEDLES with ghOsts!'
But Miss CaxtOn and her lieutenant
paid no attention, keeping on their way
through the hall, up flight after flight
of chilly stone stairs, until at last they
climbed the ladder and emerged into
the frosty starlight, nearly running
into the arms of Mary De Barreter, the
eldest of the graduating class, who stood
there, staring up into the sky, while
close beside her crouched Nettie Vane,
the valedictorian of the year, with a
fur-lined cloak muftied around her,
while Miss De Barreter was wrapped
in a white flannel bed blanket folded
above her other garments.
'sIt's Miss Caxtonn' shrieked Mary.
.'And the Bibbr' screamed Nettie,
totally forgetful of her manners. ''Oh,
Polly, we are lostt'
Miss Caxton laid her hand, smooth
as velvet, yet firm as steel, on the
shoulder of the white vision.
Miss De Barreter," said she, ''may
l enquire what you are doing here, at
this time of night, and in this remark
able costume?"
..It's me, Miss CaxtOn," confessed the
conscience-stricken valedictorian. I'm
telling her fortune by the stars. All
about her future husband, you know,
and the rivals she is to have, by astrol-
ogy."
by what?" echoed Miss Caxton-
"Uncle Jamie's Greek servant that
came home from Constantinople with
him taught me-" said Miss Vane; land
Polly's natal star is on the meridian to-
night, and-oh, we didn't suppose you
would know"
"You are two very naughty girls!''
sternly spoke Miss Caxton. ''Step this
way, please, both of you, towards the
parapet."
'Gracious goodness! you're not go
ing to throw us off the roof, are yOu?''
said Miss De Barreter, with a giggle.
MARY Ann, Thomas, Peter-al OF
you," said Miss CaxtOp; in voice like
a well-bred trumpet. Il wish you to
observe that Miss De Barreter and Miss
Vane have taken it into their wise heads
to go star-gazing tonight. Now are
you satisfied"
Satisfied about what?" said innocent
Nettie.
The servants saw you up there, y
said Miss Caxton, land suppose must
have taken you for
Burglars! Oh, how funnym cried
Mary, dancing up and down to keep
warm. LAS if there could be anything
to steal off the roof! But please. Mis-.
Caxton, you're not very angry with us
are you? You won't write to our par
ents?"
This mustnever happen again!'' saiC