Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-02-27

y
the chill, shadowy depths OF GhoStland
TO world of warmth and light and love.
The fire burned brightly; cat pured on
the hearth. Thisroom was gay and cosy,
the air sweet with fragrance OF flowers
Not the scent Of cold. dead blossoms, but
living incense which fioated around what
had once been my heart, as | raised my
hands ia mute benediction over his black
curls and her golden hair
lgathered from their conversation that
the golden haired girl was Matildas niece.
He was called Dick, and her name was
Emily. further gathered that she was
dependent on Matilda, who ruled with
the rod of iron wherewith she had ruled
me in the days Of old, when was ex-
pected either not 10 smoke or TO do so
without spelling the curtains.
Matilda. it appeared, had resolved
never TO consent 10 Dick aud Emily's
marriage, which was just what might
have been expected from Matilda.
Matilda had gone TO bed with cotton
wool in her ears and cold in her nose,
And poor Dick had crept down the area,
and cook had let him in 20 spend few
minutes with the beloved one, just to 10.
new their VOWS and comfort each other
lie was full Of hope. The world was
hard, he said, but love was stronger than
tho world or even death itself, and he
would conquer the world, and they would
live happily ever after in a suburban
villa, without being afraid of even n tax
collector. Then he somewhat sorrow
fully, forall his brave words, went away,
and Emily, her face buried IN the sofa,
prayed for something to soften that part
OF Matilda's anatomy which she called
a heart.
felt phantom tear steal down where
my nose should have been. Then | laid
my fieshless hand on Emily's shoulder
and pressed shadowy kiss upon her
fair, white forehead. Don't be afraid,
my dear" l said softly an tackle
Matilda; she can't hurt me-now and
l was upstairs before Emily could give
more than a startled little scream and
hide her face in the sofa cushions.
suppose it was rather rude thing 10
enter lady's room at that hour, espe.
cially as hadn't been invited to do so,
and didn't even knock. But l was very
angry with Matilda. She had made mo
miserable ON earth for 20 years and now
she was carrying on the same sort OF
thing with these young people Iperched
on the rail at the foot of the bed, an!
tried to prevent my teeth from chatter.
ing.
Matilda sat up in bed with the wool in
her ears and a stocking tied around her
head. As a preliminary proceeding.
blew out the wool. lt is favorite trick
of you mortals to stuff things in your
ears, and not listen.
A fire burnt cheerfully in the CRATE.
(Matilda always could take care of her.
self On her little round table stood a
bottle labelled 1.-The Mixture To be
taken as before. Ii smelt Qn spite of
Disgusting pepperminD like something
had tasted--something with an aroma
at bachelor parties when was alive.
reached over, and. forgetting my physi.
cal limitations, drank some. Yes, | was
right; it was much stronger than pep.
permint. 1t ran down over the bed,
but, fortunately for me, Matilda failed &c
notice il.
AS | scurried back to the bedrail, Ma.
tilda saw me and groaned. Matilda was
always rude) She appeared to be terri
bly frightened Its only me. Matty,
said, thinking the endearing diminutive
Matty might soothe her. "It'sonly me.
I've just dropped in for quiet chat
from up there.
Matildas wrinkled and i'll tempered
old face turned white. She tried to hide
in the clothes, but wouldn't let her.
"rm-I'm afraid it is rather indelicate,
Matty, said But I'm here on busi-
ness, and il won't keep. It's no use
screaming for anyone. They can't turn
me out
Matilda recovered. That woman AL
ways had plenty of nerve.) Its you. is
it2" she said, as if she didn't think much
of me. Ill fancied you'd gone to a
place where they couldn't give up smok.
ing
Just like Matty. Always ungenerous.
always unforgiving. 1t made me feel
alive again Just TO hear her shrewish
tones. She evidently wasn't bit afraid
of me now. That made the whole scene
seem natural at once.
"Just explain what you mean by com.
ing in at this hour. If you'd been alivt
you would not have dared. I'd have
scratched your eyes out.
"True enough" | said meditativeIy.
III should have been frightened. Time
hasn't softened you much, Matty"
"No, she said. I'm tough as old red
sandstone. If you don't 60 away I'll
throw things at you. What do you
want?"
"OnIy one thing" said. How do
you do itT Two and three-quarter per
cent Goschensf"
@Never you mind, she snapped. You
left me the money"
@Yes, , / said, thoughtfully nursing my
left leg and balancing myself in an airy
attitude on the rail, just TO let her see
that wasn't frightened. Yes, | did.
That's what I've come about.
"well. you can't have il, she replied
aYou'd better be off. If you come again
III prosecute you. You never did have
any sense of propriety when you were
alive.
Always hasty. Matty. An, met what
an escape had.
She sat upin bed angrily Ifyou don't
60 I'll have you turned out
IF you're not quiet I'll compromiss