Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-10-13
MABEI'S GHOST

tzlng the travellers fir two miles.
A party OF tive descended from the
wagon as the wide doors were flung
open BY the housekeeper. aud a kind.
N welcome greeted them. as well as
comfortable fires.
MY! how cold il isfn exclaimed 4.
HeSh Young voice. az the speaker hur.
ried close To the generous heater.
BE careful. dear. you nav burn
Soor coat. warned m older lady.
while = stslwart Young fellow. the pict.
nre OF rudy health. tenderly looseued
the seal wrap in question.
Placing the fair wearer in a erea,
armchair he said:
There. Mademoiselle Jessie he a
good girl-if You can. Now. sister
ours, what can ! do far vou?n turniuo
ga'lantiy to the other lady.
thanks, you foolish boy" was the
pleasant rrioinder. ''look after those
parcels and those live commoditie,
shiyeriug there"
The live commodities were a Mali.
csc eat. a canary bird, and two rather
raw recruits from Erin, and the "fooI-
ish boy at once set about assiguiuv
80 - ALtl NAflrltH.
There's a kitchen somewhere back
n're Come ahead. Michael. All right
Katie. follow me. aud fetch the mens.
geTio along"
Properly installing them in their do
main. the young gentleman made nj.
way back through the wide, chilly
rngms that interviewed. and Joined the
tadies, who were fast making them
selves at home.
"A trifle bleak. this. isn't itr- he
said. rubbing his hands before the fire,
Hbnt Just take note of that fragrau,
Oeeistcak. Say, girls, | don't see any
table set anywhere" Aud he locked
ruefully around.
Give US time, young man. rem,n-
Strated the elderly lady. Here is a
move in the right direction Already
she added, as the hOusekeePer appear
ed with the teatray.
Mabel, can't we have mufins?f'
pleaded the younger voice.
Mullins! Not on such short notice.
dear: but you may have toast and
eggs"
You'll discnchant me with YOU
enormous appetite" whispered the
Young man. and be got a saucy slap
Tor his pains.
"Riding hours and hours on tina,
hoFrid train is enough TO starve auy
one," vas the ready defense: ..you onIy
came from New York"
Mabel and Jessie Winthrop were
orphan sisters, the one fifteen e
the elder, aud mother as well as sister
tn her idolized charge. Her own life
romance was a buried chapter. and noy
she was chiefly concerned for the hap
piness OF the W young persons seated
there.
George Barrett was a distant cousin,
and was to be married to Jessie Win.
throp in two weeks time. They had
come down to make ready the villa,
which was their favorite home. j,
stood upon a winding river, close to
the SeashOre, and commanded a view
of the surrounding country for many
miles. Ii Y IS an immense house, con-
tanning about twenty-five rooms, and
full of unexpected inches, hooks, and
grantees 1t was kept thoroughly
furnished. but locked up through the
winter months. An unexpected cold
NNNC Ia tARAC w COAtlth- Va luc DID
spective bridal party 3 somewhat drea.
ry affair.
A few happy touches here and there
transformed the gloom into cheer, and
it was with renewed animation tina,
they arose from their repast an hour
later.
George was 10 return to the city mex.
day. bur would run down ~freouently
before the wedding. Meanwhile. this,
their first evening. passed quickly and
~agreeably for all.
The ensuing week was a busy one.
A whole army of sweepcrs, busters,
ard ~reuovatOrs. were turned loose 10
the villa. and the good work went Oh
with a viii.
Michael took charge of pony and
phaeton, and the sisters often drove 10
the village stores, two miles away.
where the nearest railroad station was.
1t was very necessary, however, that
Mabel should make a final trip TO the
citv. to purchase some indispensable
articles, and she arranged her time 50
ihat George could return with her on
the last evening train.
..You won't he afraid, darling?" was
Mabel's fond question, as she made
out her long list of purchases
.Afraid?" echoed the other. "Why
no,-wIIat is there to be afraid Of? /;
IS perfectly safe"
.Yps. I know. Otherwise / would
not leave YOU"
The house is big" said Jessie. .'bu.
VIC have near neighbors- Besides,
there j. Mike and Katie, and Mrs.
Lawrence. Oh, I'm all right, Mabel
darling"
See that the honse is securely fast
end, dear. ami look for US tomorrow
night" was Mabel's parting iniu"
ton. as she kissed her aud said good
By.
.-Indade. Miss Jessie" said Katie, Q
little later, ..indsde iS's not right for
the loikes ov wees tn be here all alone"
WHY. Katie. what's the matter?"
laughed jessie; ..you don't call this
being alone do y"u?"
..Ah. but haven't you heard the
cuare noises in the tower. Miss Jessie?
An shure an there IS a ghust in this
house. HowIy Mot Ell defind u.s. aud
Katie piously crossed herself in real
terror.
~ ghost. Katie! I'm ashamed of
Won. Ii IS oniy the wind. IL always
bluws here fraI fully. You might turn
= reg loose in the house, and
thev could scarcely make more noise
than these big, rafting Windows
-Arsah, me jewell protested Katie,
s.tLeIes a terrible walkin' abo1t In
the tpwer livery night these two nights.
And didn't vees hear about the awful
murtheP in the town beyant Us, and
murtherer iscapin'? Sich a quare
murther, too, with the inger-rings al!
left on. and the money-purse in the
pocket. Ali. Miss Jessie. a mur 'heriu
ghost won't niver be laid
.-You silly Katie" said Jessie, mer-
rilv. Don't be afraid. Ill take r
of the ghosts. We are all right"
The night passed without incident,
and the next day Jessie devoted her
energies to an important task, which
SIC had Iazily deferred till now.
Mabel was TO take supper in the city
aycJ reach home about 3 o'clock; so,
after an early tea. Jessie amused her.
self for an hour at the grand piano.
then retired to her coz room in the
second story, which had been elegantly
fitted up.
The high winds from the sea had
luiled. and for once the house was Ut
terly quiet-so quiet that the stiffness
became Oppressive. Mrs. Lawrence
had retired with a nervous ldaeh
Mike was bent upon routing an army
of rats at the barn; and Katie had asked
permission to come up and sit with
Ms Jessie after the days work was