Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-06-11


a heart.
! felt phantom tear steal down where
my nose should have been. Then | laid
my fleshless hand on Emily's shoulder
and pressed shadowy kiss upon her
fair, white forehead Don't be afraid,
my DEAR" | said softly. IN tackle
Matilda; she can't hurt me-now;" and
| 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 to
enter lady's room at that hour, espe.
cialy as hadn't been invited to do so,
and didn't even knock. But | was very
angry with Matilda. She had made mo
miserable on earth for 90 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, and
tried to prevent my teeth from chatter
ing.
Matilda sat up in bed with the wool in
her ears and stocking tied around her
head. AS a preliminary proceeding,
blew out the WOOL 1t is favorite trick
of you mortals to stuff things in youl
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 "The Mixture. To be
taken as before 1t smelt lin 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 to
notice it.
AS scurried back to the bcdrail, Ma.
tilda saw me and groaned. matilda waa
always rude) She appeared to b" terri
bly, frightened. ITS only me, Matty." l
said, thinking the endearing diminutivo
"Matty" might soothe her. It's only me.
I've just dropped in for quiet chat
from up there. :"
Matilda's wrinkled and i'll tempered
old face turned white. She tried to hide
IN the clothes. but | wouldn't let her
"rm-l'm afraid it is rather indelcatc,
Matty," said But I'm here, on brsi.
css. and it won't keep. It's no usr
ser aiming for anyone. They can't turn
ne out.
Matilda recovered. THAT woman al.
ways had plenty of ncrve.) Its you. is
it :" she said, as if she didn't think much
# me- Il fanclcd you'd gone to a
lace where they couldn't give up smoh.
ng.
just like Matty. Always ungcnerous,
,lways 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.
ng in at this hour. If you'd been alivu
you would not have dared I'd have
scratched your eyes out "
True enough" l said meditatively.
Il should have been frightened Time
hasn't softened you much, OIatty."
NO., she said. I'm tough as old red
sandstone If you don't go away I'll
throw things at you. What do you
want?"
"Only one thing" said. How do
you do it? Two and three-quarter per
cent Goschens?"
"Neveryou mind, " she snapped. You
left me the money"
Yes" said thoughtfully nursing my
eft leg and balancing myself in an airy
attitude on the rail, just to let her SEQ
that wasn't frightened. "Yes, l did.
That's what I've come about. "
well, you can't have it,, she replied.
You'd better be off. If you come again
I'll prosecute you. You never did have
any sense Of propriety when you were
alive"
always hasty, Matty. All, me! what
an escape had"
She sat upin bed angrly; "Ifyou don't
20 I'll have you turned out. D."
IF you're not quiet Eli compromise
you, Matty,"I said. "You rigid Yves.
leyans don't like scandal, and I'll ma.
terialize myself. How doyou like that?"
"If you take the same shape you once
had," she replied, II shouldn't like it at
ALL What dyou want?"
"Only one thing-charming turban
you're wearing, Matty. There was al
ways something Oriental in your style OF
beauty. Oh. yes; it was just trifle ]
wanted.
"What is it?"
"You must make over your "a per cent
Goschens to your niece and consent to heI
marriage with Dick, orr paused sig
niicantly.
"Or WHAT" she interrupted.
Il don't like to put it into words, |
suggested. Really, this hedrail is very
narrow"
Or what?" she insisted
"Nrll, you see-but Id rather not cX-
plain.
You must"
oh very well. if you insist | suppose
II! iav" TO You know where You
hi"ret came FROM"
i,h nod .cd until her turbnn came of.
~. Il. don't want to seem uuEimd,
M"''r. hu unless you do ~ | wish about
th"r ti'tl matter you'll have to 20 back
wiz, me,
,., sArelrd. Then she reflected. Il
cnu! Eiak" it very uncomfortable 'or you
'Is'r", suppose" she inquired
"P"rirais, but I'm willing t" give up
my p rs"naI comfort for the ,tkcot those
yours, people
You always Mrrea fool, she sn"rrrd.
fir ri!i"mcss WE, quit" r"fr shing. |
felt ever so mr'rh Lrttor) "Iun always
wcr. u r"oI i}ut I'll do ii, if only to get
rid a. y1u
II :, y promi~c:" asked