The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-05-18
OUR ROBIN.
CHAPTER IT (Cosr1SuEp,,

OON NO0uN.
CHAPTER IT (CoNT1NUED).
ado came away!'' 1 urge in my mos
persuasive tones.
"All il good time, my DEAR" assents
Robin coolly.
A moment later she fairly bubbles
over with laughter.
"Oh, do COME here and look! Bee
Bee, I never saw anything 80 absurd
in my life! Isn't it ghastlys"
For a moment | hesitate, then
curiosity gets the better hand, and,
advancing to the table, l glance over
her shoulder, and own to myself that
her exclamation was not uncalled for
| The volume lies open at rough,
old-fashioned woodeut, which repre-
sents, in perspective quite unique, a
churohyard crowded with cross-boned
tombstones. IN the foreground form
is struggling out Of It's tomb, and
pointing its skeleton finger at d knock
kneed, cringing figure, who, with hair
standing on end like the quilts of an
angry porcupine, is vafnly endeavoring
to hide behind a diminutive headstone.
what horrid old book" I ex-
claim, turning over a few leaves, and
| reading here and there short sem
tence of the large-typed old printing
so old indeed is the volume that the
letter ''s" is throughout printed long,
NEARLY reser1h1fnp an ..f'
II must induce your brother to lend
it to me-" cries Robin, as she points to
q second woodcut, representing ruin,
with presumably evil spirits lowering
in the air. II never saw anything so
delightfully."- morbid in my life-see
here" and she reads aloud
"'To those who would have inter-
course with departed friends. The hour
selected should be after midnight, but
before the striking of one o'clock. The
night chosen should be at the early
shrinking of the moon'-what is the
shrinking of the moonp" interrupts
Robin.
"Just after the full moon, suggest,
for | am becoming interested.
perhaps so," acquiesces Robin
then she continues to read" Let any
one so DESTROYS select, if possible, q
burying- ground for his experiment,
and let him also fast for at least ten
hours previous to the trial-then let
him close his eyes and repeat three
times in a loud clear voice the follow
ing words robin pauses, and breaks
into Il half-vexed laugh.
What shame!" she cries impa-
tiently. at is in Latin; the whole
spell is written in Latin, and l did so
want to try it," Then she ponders for
a. moment meditatively-'I wonder
whether the ghosts would be very par
ticular about pronunciation; because
if not, you know, I could say it some
how. Any way, its a receipt worth
keeping, if only to put in ones scrap
book
She takes a sheet of paper from a
packet lying on the table, and, pro-
ducing a pencil from her pocket, pro-
ceeds hastily with her task, whilst 1,
totally oblivious of Johns anger should
he catch us in his study, turn to the
beginning of the fascinating volume.
| am obliged to read sideways, because
Robin is holding up the center pages
and copying from the end of the book.
So engrossed are we both with our all
absorbing occupation, that we become
forgetful of our surroundings.
Good morning, Miss Wolstencroft.
Johns scornful voice breaks in on
our dreams, and, Withdrawing my nose
from close proximity with. the fusty
leather-covered volume, l see my
brother standing like an avenging
spirit in the doorway.
Guiltily straighten my aching back,
and wonder what will happen.
'Oh, good morning!', answers Robin,
glancing up with one of her brightest
smiles. II shall soon have finished
my work, and then l will CO."
John stands for a moment undecided,
then he enters the room, wanders
round it in his usual aimless fashion,
and mechanically begins smelling
huge bunch of roses which Robin has
placed on the chimney-piece.
Wasn't it good of me to arrange
some flowers for your study?" she asks
in her sauciest tone. "And l have let
in the fresh air too. Bee Bee made
out that you would be furious at
my impertinence; but I thought you
wouldn't mind"
II forgot to lock the door last
night" answers John quietly, but with
no show of anger.
Robin only laughs.
'.Now call that the most base in.
gratitude" she remarks, pausing for
moment to glance up slyly at me, ..aft-
er the trouble ] have taken to make
your room nice too"
John has strolled away from the
hearth rug and moved round the room;
he now approaches the writing table.
care you sketchingp" he asks, bend
Ing over her chair.
mo; am copying receipt for rails
ing ghosts. 1t will be overwhelmingly
difficult to learn and worse to pro-
nounce; perhaps
But her sentence remains unfinished.
Johns hand swoops suddenly down
upon the volume, closes it violently,
and takes possession of it.
''Oh," cries Robin, springing to her
feet and facing my brother with an
Innocent look of establishment, "what |
did you do that forp Give. me back
the book, please have not finished"
..And never wilf!' answers John |
sternly, as he locks up the book in his |
big desk and places the key in his |
pocket. How dare you tamper with
such thingsp" he adds; and see that |
le is white to the very lips.
"tDare' indeed!" echoes Robin scorn-
July. and with flushed cheeks. "Dare |