The Colfax chronicle., 1891-12-19

not crazy, maj
I'm not afraid of ghosts" said Mr.
MUM. II thought you had more spirit
why, before you pa failed / found
burglar in my room robbing nv Jewel
box, and i collared him. l though
you took after me and had some spirit
Clarity"
You cannot collar ghost" sobbet
Clarity.
You can try" said Mrs. Mum
, NOW, what ask of you is to take nv
foiding bed into the parlor tonight
and let me sleep in your bed upstairs,
and If she that was Mrs. Sheers an.
pears to me I'll make her come to
terms"
That night Mrs. Mum in the little
upper room put out her lamp, hid a
dark-lantern behind the pillow and
awaited events.
The clock struck eleven-twelve-
and nothing happened. At 1915 a curl
Gus noise was heard under the bed.
A groan followed-a voice, and it
sounded very like Mrs. Sheers' voice.
whispered: CLARITY Mum, you shall
not have my husband!'
For moment Mrs. Mum felt faint
1t was all true, then!
Indeed, it was far, far worse than
seeing a burglar, even to hear that
voice! And now-now! Yes! Slowly.
soiemniy arose from behind the foot
board figure all in white Mrs. Mum
covered her head with the quilt.
"You are right to quail before me-"
said voice. II claim my husband for
my own. Marry him, and you dier'
1t was the voice of Mrs Sheers. It
seemed to the old lady. She had al
ways disliked it. Now it irritated her
and helped her to be brave. Making
one great effort, she sprang to her feet
and faced the ghost.
The ghost retired. Mrs. Mum fol-
lowed Itstruck her that she had fright
ened the spirit more than it had fright
ened her. This encouraged her. And.
stretching out her hand, she grabbed
The ghost by the collar, as she had the |
burglar. Her face was close to its
paiiid face now, and her blood curdled |
N her veins as she fancied that she
recognized the sharp nose, small mouth /
Ind nat forehead of the late Mrs.
sheers amid the folds of the ghostlv
leaddress. But the thing did not van.
sh. 1t was quite substantial.
II believe I've materialized voun
aiu Mrs. Mum as she crowded the !
host in the corner and reached f,r tho
which she had hidden
nder her pillow, and opened the slide.
n moment more she had pulled away
ne white wrappings and stood over
harp-featured young woman in a hello
rope-colored gown, who crouched and
hivered in the corner-Miss Selma
hepherd, whose resemblance to her
ster vanished when one saw her red
air. for Mrs. Sheers' hair had been ,
Lack either by nature or by art.
pinions varied as to that.
$50 it is you," said Mrs. Munn-"vou :
lat have been frightening my Clarity ,
II OF marrying your sisters widowcr?
suppose she'd have gone on thinking
'u ghost forever. But you've got :
e to deal with now. How did Won
t IMP" .
'Oh, Mrs. Mum, have mercyw Selma
oaned. SISTER left everything to
m, and I'm to be turned out of house !
ID home. 1t was just life and death :,
me that he shouldn't marry"
''You didn't want him yourself Z
emp" asked Mrs. Mum. y
NO." said Selma; mo more than he !,
lnts me. | meant to keep house and y :.
his sister; and don't know how to :; !;
rn my living. Now he'll be furious "
d he'll hate me-"
Miss Selma, said Mrs Mum, show
you get in here?'
"A trap door in the corner opens on :,
'air OF stairs to the drug store. This i;
"a to be storeroom, sobbed Selma. q
bolts on the other side" :.
III see it is nailed up" said Mrs.
lnl. Nov we may come to terms. :.
tell Clarity, but neither of us will -
the doctor or anybody else. Stop .sq
lnting and be friendly and Clarity NJ
MT let the doctor send you away.
ing he's got your sisters money.
t will be but fair. Only. the pr
lutte Clarity is tormented I tell NV :"
~" IN
[iss Selma stopped sobbing and
ambled to her feet.
Agreed" she said. Women who
e had hard times ought to feel for Tel
h other" 20
aving lighted the ghost down the 'ei
Ter and thrown her white vest
It's after her, Mrs. Mum put a cas-
Tx over the trap door and retired pic
ream of weddings. WI
tier Clarity married Dr.. Sheers PIC
pie used to say how wonderful it'll :
. that Miss Selma received her pal
her-in-law's second wife so pleas ful
y, and how curious it was that she sew
SO friendly with Mrs. Num- wa
side Companion. del