Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-05-23

WELL said she. ash Wednesday
comes on the hfteetth this year. To day
Is the tenth. Your season of probation
wilt soon be over now
Il do not suppose that one of our sixty
pupils has heard that ridiculous non
sense, said Miss Caxton.
mot one!n said Mrs. Bib, decidedly.
III We can pass over this first anniver-
sary, we are all right said Miss Caxton.
We are all right!n automatically re-
peated Mrs. Bibb.
Ash Wednesday, like the Tdss OF March,
arrived, and not the keenest eye could
have detected the least change in Miss
Cations demeanor, as the slow hours
crept on, settling at last into the warm
purplish twilight OF winter night, in
which hung the crescent of young
moon, silver, pale and pure,
Tea passed over, the last yaw, ing
schoolgirl went unwilhngly to bed, and
Mrs Bibb was just returning from ad
mlnistering dose of laudanum and
sweet oil to the youngest pupil, who WIS
siiil with earache, when one of the
housemaids bounced out of the dining
room door and stood before her as pale
as a sheet OF paper.
please, ma'am," clasping her hand
over her head, "it's thereW
whats thereY What's there % sharply
demanded Mrs Blbb.
why you know. ma'am,' said the por
ter, who WAS close behind with an empty
coal scuttle in his hand by way OF excuse,
"and We knows, and all the village folks
knows
And everybody knows, Rasped the fat
old cook, "exoept those dear lambs in the
dormifory up stairs. Amt 1t Ash We'd
uesday night into the bargaiuY'
care YOU all crazy ?" sternly demanded
Mrs. Bibb, holding her lamp high
above her head, like statue OF Liberty
Enighteniug the World,' or have you
been drinFiugfh
Hush, ouisal" naid the calm oompos-
ed voice OF Miss Caxtou. "lhis matter
Is best settled by being euquired into.
My good people, facing the little crowd
which was now augmented by two Or
three more scared maids, the knife-boy
and the garduer's assistant, "what does
all this meauf'
Its Ash Wednesday, num- muttered
the cook, somewhat cOved by her mis-
tresses' magisteriel aspect
ITS the ghostl' caokled the gardeners
assistant
"On the ruff o. the 'hcuseW whispered
the original housemaid. "And | seen it
with these eyesl And there's some
things as flesh aud blood can't endure;
and a months warning, me'am, pleasel'
"Give me shawl, Mary Anne said
Miss Caxtou, taking Mrs. Bibb's arm.
"Obljge me, my dear Louisa, with your
com pany for a minute"
And Miss Caxton, accompanied by the
fai'hut Mrs Bibb, snd followed by Il
stream of quaoking and whispering re-
tanners, opened the door and walked out
upon the lawn.
There stood Mics Parker, the music
teacher, Fraulein Ohrbacb, the German
instructress, and the rest of the maids,
staring up towards the roof OF the old
Hall.
'Didn't / toll you sof" said Misc Cax
ton. There is nobody there. How
could there beY'
"Waitm gasped Miss Parker. at wat
| there Just now II comes and goesW
Almost as che uttered the words q
white figure glided across the roof In
full view, plainly outlined against the
starlight.
Mrs. Bibb could feel her friend start
but the irresplution was momentary. Like
female Napoleon, Miss Caxton turned
once more To the crowd.
"Have the goodn 500 to remain here,
said she," and be silent. Ghost or reality
mean to investigate this affair. Mrs
Bibb will accompany me-"
Certainly" said Mrs. Bib, with alao
rity.
ooh, please, mum, don't, whispered the
cook "There don't no luck come TO no
body as NEEDLES with ghosts"
But Miss CaXton aud her lieutenant
paid 40 attention, keeping on their way
through the hall, up flight after flight OF
chilly stone starr, 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 olass, who stood there star
ing into the sky, while close beside her
crouohed Nettie Yane, the yalediotoriau
OF the year, with fur-lined CLOAK muill I'd
around her, while Miss De Barreter waa
wrapped in a white flannel bed blanket
folded above her other garments.
"Its Miss Ca1ton" shrieked Mary.
"And tbs Bibbl" soresmed Eettie, to
tally forgetfui OF her manners. son,
Polly, we are loatW
Miss Caxton laid her hand, smooth IA
velvet, yet firm as speel, on the shoulder
or the white vision.
"Miss De Bsrreter," said she, may
enquire what you are doing here, at this
time of night, and in this remarkable
| costumeP
"Its me, Miss Csrton," confessed the
conscience stricken valedictoriaD. I'm
telling her fortune by the stars. All
about her future husband, you know, and
the rivals she IL 20 have, by aetroogy."
"By whatY" echoed Mus Cs1ton,
Uncle Jamie's Greek servant that
came home from Constantinopls with him
taught me" said Miss Yan"; "ans Polly
natal star is on the meridian Tonight
aad ou--we didn't suppose you would
know"
"You are two very naughty girls'
,ternly spoke Mise Carton. Step thu
way, please, both OF you, towards tbs
parape'."
Gracious goodness You're not goins
to throw us of the roof, arc your salf
| Miss De Berreter, with giRgle.
MARY Ann, Thomas, Peter-au Of
you,n said Miss CaTton, in voice like
well bred trumpet, II with you 70 ob-ery
tb.t Mtzs De B4rrGter and Miss VAN