The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-06-02
A R%ECONClLlNG SPIRIT.
His Visit, with Peaceful Advice,
Welcomed by q Loving Couple.

A1A4ctocJ p1btS1, patlSA, tthc l%SO dcHu
leaves Of the old sycamore tree drifted
down upon the door stone.
It was an old, old house, and Mrs.
Maple was an old, old woman. But you
will sometimes find tufts of snowy bios
SONS bursting from age lichened apple
trees, and sprays Of greenery on the
boughs Of century old oak trees; and SO
it happened that Minny Maple, the an
cient crone's great-granddaughter, was
the bud and blossom of her worn out
life.
Old Mrs. Maple owned house and land
and had money out at interest; but she
was a shrewd old lady and liked TO keep
her affairs in her own hands. Ard
pretty Mimny, albeit an heiress in pros
pective, taught tho district school and
took care Of the farm dairy out of hours.
1T won't hurt her to work for her liv-
ingi if she isto be rich one of these days."
said Mrs, Maple. II worked when was
a girl"
And upon this dreary December night
Mrs. Naples swift knitting needles
CLEANED like steely lightning in the fire.
light, and Minny sat on a low chair be-
side her, mending table cloths, while
ever and anon q big drop would plash
down upon the daFned spots like a glis-
tening globule of dew.
"But, grandmother, why?' burst out
Minny at last, with blue eyes lifted up
like f-orget-me-nots drenehed in rain, to
the old lady's parchment like face.
Because I say So" said old Mrs. Ma
pie. And the FIRE cracked, and the snow
clicked softly against the window panes,
and the knitting needles made zigzags Of
light as they few back and forth.
sBut you say, yourself, grandmother,
that he's a good young man." pleaded
Minny.
Old Mrs. Maple nodded.
Without a bad habit in the worldr
And again old Mrs. Maple nodded like
aChinese mandarinina collectionof curl
osities.
And forehanded with his farm?'
For the third time Mrs. Maple nodded.
.Then, grandmother, why won't you
consent to our marriage?' urged the
girl.
"Child, said Mrs. Maple, turning her
spectacle glasses full upon Minny's sweet,
flower like face, i've told You why, half
a hundred timesl It's because your great
grandfather Maple and his great grand
father were mortal enemies. Because
you grandfather's last words upon his
death bed were: I leave my soul to
heaven, my money to my dear wife, and
my everlasting enmity to Job Croftonrn
ttT3,a% orrax5Nnn%1a - ecsI NFs.-~- "a
a shudder, that was very wicked And
surely, surely, the shadow of tombstone
should be a reconciliation"
Old Mrs. Maple shook her white head.
"Your grandfather was o very vindic-
tive man, Minny," said she; II never
disobeyed him living, and Inever will
disobey him dead.7
ssBut, grandmother" coaxed Minny,
with her fresh cheek against the old
lady's hand, she wouldn't know it. How
could heF
"Child, child, your Grandfather Maple
knew everything" said the old lady,
with a sudden superstitious glance over
her left shoulder, as something seemed
to rustic at the easement. ssAnd / do
believe his ghost would haunt me if I
didn't give good heed to his last words.
No, no; Gilbert Crofton can never be
your husband, and you may as well give
up the idea first as last
And Minny Maple cried herself to sleep
that night.
'For never, never can marry him
without Grandmother Naples consent"
she sobbed. ssIll stay single for his sake
until the day of my death; but I never
can disobey the kind old soul who has
taken amother's place to me and brought
up from a baby"
But the next night there was an apple
bee at Deacon Dangerfield's, and Minny
Maple was there. Gilbert Crofton did
not make his appearance until late.
Colbert, said the little fancee, who
sat -reproaehfully amid crimson ava
lanche of apples, what makes you so
late?''
1--WE been busy" said Gilbert. .fBut
never mind, SO long as ] am in time for
the Virginia reel"
And they walked home together
through the snow drifts, talking hap
PLY Of what might be if only Grand
mother Naples adamantine heart could
be softened.
But, late thought 1t was, with the old
clock on the stroke of 1, there was a
light shining redly from the keeping
room windows, and through the uncur-
tanned easement they could see Grand
mother Maple marching up and down
tho like a sentinel on duty, her
high heeled boots tapping on the floor,
her fingers instinctively wandering
around and around the inside Of. her
empty snuff box.
Mlnny hurried into the room.
why grandmother, = cried she, sswhat-
ever is the matter? Here are the logs all
burned down to white ashes and the
candle wick guttering, and you in such
q futter as never wasl What has hap
pened, grandmother
Mrs. Maple turned her keen blue eyes
upon her great-granddaughter with an
expression like that of u sleep walker.
'sMinny, come in" said she; land
that door. Is that you, Gilbert
Croftcn, the great grandson of Job?
Come youth also. Children with her
bid hands shaking as if palsy stricken,
''I've seen d ghostr'
s.Inlpossiblel' cried Gilbert s5rofton.