The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1889-10-04

"Never mind, Violet, whispered
Charles Hazelwood; "by and by, when
your father mas gone to his room and
Aunt Rebecca is busy with her curl pa
pers in her own special dormitory, we
can have a starligh stroll through the
ghosts territorym
Violet gave him an arch glance as
she tripped after Aunt Rebecca into the
hall which led to Colonel Orme's brill
iantly lighted library.
81 wish Captain Hazelwood wouldn't
remain out there" said Aunt Rebccca,
anxiously. HE will catch his death of
cold; and besides-''
'.Besdes what, Aunt Rebecca?''
''Violet," said the nader lady, ..I
wish you would 90 down and see if the
housekecper has prepared that posset
for my sore throat, that's good girl. I
think I shall go to bcd.''
hests.
How peacefully the distant hills and
valleys slept in their snowy mantles that
glorious December night. 1t reminded
one of a lovely painting executed with
brushes dipped in liquid pearl, and
shaded with pencils Of glinmering sill
yer.
At least, SO they seemed to Charles
Hazelwood as he stood in the deep re-
cess of the gigantic bay-window, nearly
hidden by the curtains, the faded splen-
dor of whose furnished embroidery car
ried the mind unconsciously a century
backward on the stream of time. But
then Charles Hazelwood was in love.
The tall, old-fashioned clock in the
|, hall was striking II, and the colony Of
crickets under the hearthstone were fall
ing into a dreamy, sleepy sort Of chirp,
as if their small lungs were fairly weari-
ed out, when Aunt Rcbecca emerged
from her door, treading on tiptoe and
carrying dim light in her hand.
Now. Aunt Rebccca, in nodding false
curls, lace coiffure, and eighteen-year-
old style OF dress, was q very different
sort OF personage from Aunt Rebecca
with her head tied up in silk handker-
chief, her false curls laid aside, and :,
long, white dressing robe envcloping
her lnnk figure, and the latter was by
no means the more prepossessing of the
| two.
Probably some such consciousness
swept across the good spinster's brain,
for She shuflicd with accelerated rapidi-
ty past the solemn eyes of the grave old
family portraits on the wall.
81 am sure dropped them some.
where here" she murmured, passing in
front of the bay-window How pro,
voking. There goes my candle 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 skrek-
ing down the corridor, her hands clap.
ped over her eyes, before which was i'm
printed the appalling vision Of a tall
i figure sweeping past, all in white, with
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 inGuirers surrounded
Aunt Rcbccca, who evinced strong
symptoms of an intention to 90 into
Mysteries. .
i at glided past me like gust O
wind!i she shrieked, replying ut hazart
to the questions rained down upon her
~ AL Jl,i}s, il Whits, hts. with that dreadful magl
: ing-I know its q warning that
haven't long to live! Oh, what shall
/ do-what shall l do9''
! But | don't understand what 70
were doing out in the Ghosts Corrido
at this time of the night" interrupte
t Colonel Ormc, staring at his sister rs
:. not quite certain whether this was Il
actual occurrence in real life or mcrel
e a fragmentary part of his last dream:
: well, if you must know, said Mis-
Rebecca, with Il little hysteric sob, g
; dropped my false teeth there, just q
e dusk, and didn't like to look for ther
e with Violet and Captain Hazelwoo
: standing by, so--and-o-'
e ssOho! that's it, c!l?" said Colone
Orme, laughing. Upon my word, Sis
ter Becky, you are rather over-particu
: lar for woman fifty years old"
ii "Onl forty-ninc, James, interrupte
Miss Rebecca, with shrill accent of il
e dignation.