Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-09-08
HIS SECOND WIFE.

fectly true. The person who told them
20 me, after had registered a vow of
secrecy, was Clarit = mother, and if any
one ought to know all about it she
should, and for 10 years held my
peace but since the obituary notice OF
Clarity's mother appeared in the local
papers three years after the only other
person who could have any objection to
the telling of the tale had gone to her last
rest, why not put it on paper? John
never knew anything about it. Clarity
would only laugh, and / shall not give
you real names or places.
Clarity was a very pretty girl. A
smart girl, too, and quick one.
No wonder that Will Sheers, who kept
the handsome drug store in the village,
fell in love with her. 1t was for her sake
that he hired to her mother.
Mrs. Mum advertised for summer
boarders every year under the hallucina-
ton that Cross Sticks was the country"
and she always caught few victims.
The Misses Shepherd, who had tempers
Of their own, having been deluded by an
advertisement, would have gone home
the evening of the very day they came
but that young DIR. Sheers appeared at
table, and was so very civil and offered
to drive them to see some fine views, if
they would permit him.
ave might as well stay week, Sc
lima, the youngest Miss Shepherd said
when they were alone, and the elder Miss
Shepherd nodded knowingly.
This concession ended in their staying
until the last red leaf had blown from
the only tree in the village. And when
they went home the youngest Miss Shep-
herd was engaged to DIR. Sheers.
She was older than he. She was sharp
of voice and elbows; bnt she had in
herited fortune from her grandmother.
Meanwhile Clarity went on dressmak-
ing and showed no signs of regretting
her truant lover; and when Mrs. Mum
proposed giving up the rooms, forbade
her to do so with the sternness with
which daughters do forbid their mothers
to carry out their own ideas in this 10th
century.
One day, from her window, she saw
the bride and groom return to take pos
session of their newly furnished rooms.
For while the bride and groom seemed
comfortable.
Suddenly cloud arose. Mrs. Sheers
was i'll. There was a consultation.
Shortly after that-as usually happens
there was Grape on the door. The
doctor was widower.
He was the most proper and decorous
of men, and he did what was required
of him.
However, the day after the anniversary
of his wife's funeral DIR. Sheers called on
Clarity Mum. Shortly afterward these
two were openly engaged to be married.
And again things seemed to be goingon
well, at least "very well, considering"
when people began to notice that Clarity
was pale, that she was growing thin, that
she cried over her work, and at last there
was a rumor that she intended to
"break" with DIR. Sheers. Why, no one
could guess.
They're talking it all over Cross
Sticks, Clarity, Mrs. Mum said, ~and
you do look most miserable. What is
the matterf"
"She haunts me-his first wife, you
know, said Clarity; ~and she says she'll
kill me on my wedding day"
"Now, said Mrs. Mum, ~what / ask
OF you is to take my folding bed in the
parlor tonight and let me sleep in your
bed upstairs. and if she that was Mrs.
Sheers appears TO me I'll make her come
to terms"
This was put into effect. Mrs. Mum, in
the upper room, put out her laup, hid a
dark lantern behind the pillow, and
waited events.
At quarter past 10 curious noise
was heard under the bed.
A groan followed-a voice, and it
sounded like Mrs. Sheer's voice, whis-
pered: @Clarity Mum, you shall not
have my husband. claim my husband
sor my own. Marry him and you die |"
1t was the voice Of Mrs. Sheers, it
seemed to the old lady.
Making one grand effort. she sprang to
her feet and faced the ghost.
Miss Shepherd that used TO be, /" she
said, SIN not afraid Of any ghost that
walks. Vanish and don't come here any
more I"
The ghost retired. Mrs. Mum fol-
lowed.
You had him while you lived she
said. ~Scoot now say why don't you
disappear" and stretching out her hand,
she grabbed the lost. Her face was close
70 pale face now, and her blood
curdied ia her veins as she fancied she
recognized the sharp nose, small mouth,
and fiat forehead of the late Mrs. Sheers
amid the folds Of her ghostly head dress.
But the thing did not vanish. 1t was
quite substantial
In moment more she had pulled
away the white wrappings and stood
over sharp featured young woman in
heliotrope coIored gown who crouched
and shivered IN the corner-Miss Selma
Shepherd, whose resemblance to her sis
ter vanished when one saw her rcd hair,
- Cfsr~~.4- Hs~t~ - k.,s.s.H II. Il