Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-10

her brothers with their stud cs. They
were fond of her under their rough
ness and seltishncss They shoveled
snow. when il came. took care Of the
| poultry-she encouraged them ia their
ambition for prize chiekens-and kept
in wood and water. There was not a
brighter little bone in the village
Cara had finished the rooms herself
| with pretty artistic touches. On the
pale buff paper Of the sitting room she
had painted, here and there. n bunch
of red Bergundy roses She had
gilded the cornices and hung before a
doorway crimson curtain. AS for
ghosts-when people queried her. she
simply answered.: mo. / have not
seen any,"
But perhaps the air Of the noun
tain village did not agree with Cara
Clar ke. for she grew pale. She WAS
always sweet but sometimes she had
little wearled air. DIR. Leighton
asked her il she did not work too hard.
eft is not that" she answered He
wondered sometimes with secret dis
quiet if she had not some where a
sweetheart who did not write TO her.
But Cara kept her own counsel.
The fall and winter wore away with.
out bringing any revelation to him Of
what troubled her. Jack and Willie.
the boys. were jubilant over the pros
poet Of vegetable garden with peas.
| potatoes and squashes of their own
raising. But their sister looked so i'll
that the yourg physician felt called on
TO expostulate.
Cara" he said. Il want TO speak
to you. You must have n change or
you will die"
20. no. l shall not" she replied.
incredulously.
Your countenance gives token of
unmistakablc exhaustion. You are do
ing too much labor or you have some
trouble. Cara. why do YOU not con-
! fide in me? Do you not believe l am
| your friend?"
ooh, yes. It's nothing, only l do
not sleep very well.
why ?''
She made no reply. and seeing that
/ his insistance distressed her. no ceases!
! to erge her confidence at that time.
! though more certain than ever that she
/ had painful secret He was satisfied
that she had no organic disease; and
/ her mind seemed To have no morbid
tendency. But the colorless cheek,
the hollow temples. the air of languor.
betrayed that something daily and
hourly Slapped the young girfs
strength.
One morning. Willie. the younger
Toy. raped at his office door
Something's the matter with sis
/ ter" he sail. I'VE can't wake her utl
Won't you come overp"
DIR. Leighton found Cara in stupcr
and delir Gus. with every symptom OF
| brain fever. He lost no time in gettin o
assistance. Mrs Hodgdon. the village
nurse, was at CarS's beds de when she
K awoke
DR.. Leighton had just left the room
and was in the next apartment. He
did not go in Immediately, though lac
heard the girl talking.
Am so very sick p she asked
mo, dear. You was fcverish Nad
your mind wandered a little. and
was out Of place and told Dr. Leigh
tea | could stay with you day or twc
a. we'll AS not for NV board. | hahn
! forgotten the jackets as Willie out
! grow that YOU sent to nv Bohbie; and
/ l had feeling for II Young grl with 70
mothers hand in the hour o. need"
oh. moaned the Young girl. Il Z,
not sick I'm worn out. OF. this
dreadfu house, have not slep.
soundly all winter.
why. deare?'
.-Oh. Mrs. Hodgdon. there is some
body in this house besides ourselves
Besides me and the boys ncan.
Somebody creeps about and / sm al
ways listening for that step. II is
killing me- Oh. don't tell an-one.
| did not mean to- tell YOU. but IA So
weak. Don't. don t say word 20 DR..
Leighton. | must bear il. because its
all the home we have. and the bows
never had such Il pretty. nice home
/ before, and thcv are doing 80 we'll.
and are so good. | was not afraid at
! first | am not airs i'll now. only tOr
/ them. There may be some evil about.
though uothing has ever harmed Us.
But as soon as | fall asleep | start up
and listen.
Cara was begging the old woman
/ not to betray her confidence. when
DIR. Leighton came into the room.
You shaH tell me the whole story.
I CARA ne Sdtd- i OH Shall not lose
/ ANYTHING By Il" he added
But Cara broke out, crying. in her
weakness Civ ng way to her emotions.
and for time the tumult would have
| its way. She was brought 10 listen 10
/ reason at last
1T was two months after we came
kere." she said. that | first heard
those creeping. creeping steps. l tried
To think il was the trees. or the wind,
or the cat. but heard them when there
was no wind at all. and the cat was
asleep on the foot of my bed, and then
things were moved from their places
about tho house. and lately have m S.
cd food. That's since l would not al
low myself TO believe that a spiri,
haunted tho place. 1 have searched
every spot and nook in this house.
There is only the space above the scut-
tie in the roof and there are nc
stairs"
"Oh. DR.. Leighton!' groaned Mrs.
HodsdoH. Then OF course, its
spirits"
'Nonsense."