Telegram-herald., 1891-06-12
MISS DALWEII'S GHOST.

neither too large nor too small; had
flowers ana trees in front and . vegeta-
bic garden ~ the back. was within
twenty minutes hide Of the station. and
yes stood in the shadow Of the hills
III must DO . tsrrisly disasreeabls
soll that could not b happy there
said 70 my mother - we looked the
place over.
II hope Miss DAlwell win hike it,
mamma said simply. stopping 10 fft
trailing vine that lay across the path
Now. may IS well say il az once, that
this same MiS Martha DAlwell was tho
bone Of contention ia our otherwise happy
household. She was an ''oid maid" OF
about eight and-thirty or forty perhaps.
A more disagreesble, crotchety creature
never lived than she. and yet mamma
chung to her as though she were the very
pink Of perfection. That, too, when the
woman had no earthly claim upon her
no right 10 a seat al our table or shell
ter beneath our roof She had the best
of everything too-the best room. the
best bed. the best chamber furniture.
At the table the cream of the food found
its way To her plate-the daintiest piece
Of fowl and the most luscious share of
the fruit al in all. Miss DalweIl was
q nuisance in our house.
'Oh. mamma. Miss Dalwen is such q
drag on all my happiness. such cloud
on every enjoyment"
MY dear child. Miss Dalwell is very
excellent parsonage, and it is most un-
kind of you to begrudge her the benefit
of this summers sojourn in the country
Il don't. She's welcome TO all the
country on earth-all save this one lit
tie spot. | suppose she'll be here to-
night and take possession Of that south
room with the dormer window"
l shrugged my shoulders and tried to
look the very picture OF righteous in
diSnation.
''she will come tonight, and will have
the chamber with the dormer window"
my mother said decidedly.
well, I'm glad my rooms on the
other side of the house, that's ALL" in
tent on having the last word, though
couldn't have my way.
We waited tea for Miss Dalwell, who
was to come little after dark by the
evening train. The house was pretty
well furnished, and with the few articles
of furniture which we brought with US
distributed about looked quite charm
ingly in the soft glow of the lighted
lamps. The dining room, with low win
dows opening into a veranda, was es-
pecially inviting.
was watching mamma put the finish
ing touch to the tea table in the shape of
blue shell-hke vase filed with white
lilies, when the door bell sounded peal
long and loud through the house.
1T must be Miss Dalwell," mamma
said, going into the hall; "but / never
knew her to ring bell like that before"
Sure enough. there was Miss Dalwell,
shawls and travelling basket in hand,
standing as white as ghost.
"Oh, my dear Judith" she began on
seeing my mother, and then sat down in
the veranda and began to cry.
"What has disturbed You so, MarthaT
rly mother said in such a beautifully
cool way.
A sob was the answer.
"What is the matter, dearT and
mamma put a coaxing arm about her
neck.
Il got such a frightw my lady an
swered at last. gasping for breath.
Miss Dalwell frightened! / put my
handkerchief over my mouth to keep
from laughing outright.
Just as l stepped into the veranda,"
she said. "a man sprang right up in
front of me. was looking for the door
bell, when he placed a big white hand
on the knob and rang-you know just
how hard he rang-and then faded right
out of my sight without taking step.
And, oh. Judith. he had that ring on his
middle finger!"
"Hush!" my mother said, laying a
white hand upon her lips, and giving one
quick look backward to Phil and me.
"You are nervous. Martha; probably
the driver touched the bell for you, or it
might have been the gardener"
Spence! Has Spence white hands? and
does be wear a diamond ring on his
middle finger"
"Well, never mind, dear; como in
tea is waiting for you"
But Miss Dalwell was not inclined 10
bulge an inch. She turned her startled
face full upon me, and spoke in such a
scared, tremulous voice that l began
straightway TO pity her.
Dear Louise. won't you look the
place over, just TO please Inea You are
not afraid of anything. are your
Nothing tn the world. Miss Dalwel,"
I answered. spence and will look
around"
50, in spite Of my mothers warning
look. went straight to the kitchen TO
find the gardener.
Come" said; there's fun in this.
Miss Dalwell has seen ghost. Let's go
and hunt him up!"
We went out upon the gravel walks
together. Spence and ]. he trembling 20
that he could bat Just step. and most
kecnly alive for an adventure The
moon was shining brightly, and the
shrubbery and trees were not ruffied by
breath Of air. | made straight for the
deepest shadows. though cannot to this
day tell why did 60 There was n row
Of trees standing close against the wall.
by the farthess one. in the extreme cor
ner. caught glimpse Of something
white. or bright. could not tell which,
hit | went directly to il, poor. scared
Spence and the little house dog, Fido
fUhn had volunteered in NV servical