The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-10-17
th,nk TINS Is mine.

..Wcll !" said she. Ash Wednesday
comes on the fifteenth this Kear. To-
day is the tenth. Your season of pro-
baton will soon be over now.
Il do not suppose that one Of our
sixty pupils has heard that ridiculous
nonsense said Miss Caxton.
mot onel'' said Mrs Bibb, decidedly.
.If we can pass over this first ami
versary, we are all right, said Miss
Caxton.
1--WE are all right.' automatically re-
peated Mrs. Bibb
Ash Wednesday, like the Ides of /
March, arrived, and not the keenest I
eye could have detected the least change I
in Miss Caxton's demeanor, as the slow |
hours crept on, settling Mt last into the
warm purplish twilight of a winter
night, in which hung the crescent of /
young moon. silver pale and pure.
Tea passed over, the last yawning
schoolgirl went unwillingiy to bed;
and Mrs. Bibb was just returning from
administering dose of laudanum and
sweet-oil 10 the youngest pupil, who
was afflicted with earache, when one of
the housemaids bounced out of the din
ing-room door and stood before her, as
pale as sheet of paper.
please, ma am. said she, clasping
her hand over her head, ssit's there
aWhat' theres What \ theresn sharp
IL demanded Mrs. Bib.
..Why, You know, ma'am,a said the
porter 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"
s..And everyone knows, gasped the
fat old cook. except those dear lambs
in the dormitory upstairs. Amt it
Ash Wednesday night. into the bar
/ gain?H
..Are you all crazy?f sternly demand
! ed Mrs Bibb. holding her lamp high
above her head, like q statue of Lib
ertv Enliehtening the World, cor
! have you been drinking?''
Hush, Louisai'' said the calm COM
posed voice of Miss Caxton. This
i matter is best settled by being enquired
into. Ny good people" facing the lit
tie crowd, which was now augmented
/ BY two or three more scared maids, the
knife-boy, and the gardeners assist
| ant. s.what does all this mean?
/ s.It's Ash Wednesday, num-" NUT
tered the cook, somewhat cowed BY her
mistresses' magisterial aspect.
4.It's the ghosti" cackled the garden
| er-s assistant.
s4On the ruff o. the 'ouse.'' whispered
the original housemaid. s.And l seen
it with these eyes, And there's some
things as flesh and blood can't endure;
and month S warning, ma am, please.'
ssGixe me a shawl, Mary Ann" said
Miss Caxton, taking Mrs. Bibb's arm.
.sOblige me, my dear Louisa, with your
company for a minute.
And Miss Caxton, accompanied by
the faithful Mrs. Bib, and followed by
a stream OF quaking and whispering
retainers, opened the door and walked
out upon the lawn.
There stood Miss Parker, the music
teacher; Fraulein Ohrbach, the Ger
man instruetress, and the rest of ths
. maids. staring up towards the roof O
. the old Hall.
. s.Didn't tell you so?'' said Miss Cax
: ton There is nobody there. How
could there be?''
aWaitir' gasped Miss Parker. Il
| was there just now. 1t comes ane
) goesr'
white figure glided across the roof il
: | full view. plainly outlined against tn
{ starlight.
/, Mrs. Bibb could feel her friend start
but the irresolution was momentary
I Like female Napoleon. Miss Caxtol
turned once more to the little crowd
I Have the goodness to remain here.
4 said she. ssand be silent. Ghost O
!. reality. mean to investigate this al
: fair Mrs Bibb viii accompany me.
.aCertainlyi- said Mrs. Bibb. wit
q alaerity.
~s<Oh, please. mum. don'tr' whispere
= the cook. There don't no luck com
n to nobody as NEEDLES with ghosts.n
- i
paid no attention, keeping on their wa
= through the hall. up flight after fiigf
: of chilly stone stairs. until at last the
! climbed the ladder and emerged int
: the frosty starlight. nearly runniu
: into the arms of Mary De Barreter. Ii
eldest of the graduating class. who stoo
n there. staring up into the sky. whil
= close beside her erouched Nettie VAN
: the valedietorian of the year. with
: fur-lined cloak muffied around he
i while Miss De Barreter was wrappe
r in a white flannel bed blanket folde
Ig above her other garments
T. 'sIts Miss Caxtonr shrieked Mary
I'd land the Bibb.' screamed Netti
:" totally forgetful of her manners. s'Ol
i, Polly, we are lostr'
Up Miss Caxton laid her hand, smooi
as velvet, yet firm as steel, on ii
as shoulder of the white vision.
Miss De Barreter,f said she, ssms
l enquire what you are doing here,
lie this time of night, and in this remar
in able costume?"
h. s.It's me. Miss Caxton," confessed Il
er eonscience-stricken yaledictorian. II
of telling her fortune by the stars. a
rs about her future husband. you know
ee and the rivals she is to have, by astrC
er ogy."
se. by what?n echoed Miss Caxton.
y, "Uncle Jamie's Greek servant tn
n came home from Constantinople wi
on him taught me- said Miss Vane; sal
si'' Polly's natal star is on the meridian
as night. and-oh. we didn't suppose =
would know
o You are two very naughty girls
in sternly spoke Miss Caxton. s'Step Il
ID way, please. both of you. towards t
/, parapet.'
"Graeious goodness! you're not G
nd ing to throw us off the roof, are you
said Miss De Barreter, with a giggle
for MARY Ann, Thomas, Peter-al
ro- you,n said Miss Caxton; in voice Ii
let a well-bred trumpet. Il wish you
a observe that Miss De Barreter and NJ
uf- Vane have taken it into their wise hea
to go tar-gazing tonight. Now 5
led you satished?n
Satisfied about what?n said innoet
at Nettie
rst- 1.-The servants saw YOU up there
lad / said Miss Caxton eand suppose mi