The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-25

dOCut tno CusLOku mouse, as the Oftl-
GERS are all democrats. Once in New York
you are sure to be a great success. know
lots of people there who would give $780,
600 to have a grandfather, and much more
than that TO have family ghost"
Il don't think | should like America"
"Isuppose because welhave no ruins and
no curiosities," said Virginia, sarcastic
ally.
NO ruins no curlositiesp' answered
the Ghost; you have your navy and your
manners"
Good evening; / will go and ask papa
to get the twins an extra weeks holiday"
PLEASE don't go. Miss Virginia." he
cried; Il am go lonely and so unhappy,
and | really don't know what to do. l
want TO go to sleep and / cannot"
That's quite absurd You have merely
to go to bed and blow out the candle. 1t
is very difficult sometimes to keep awake,
especially at church. but there is no diff.
Guilty at all about sleeping. Why, even
babies know how to do that, and they are
not very clever"
Il have not slept for 800 years." he said
sadly. and Virginia's beautiful blue ewes
opened in wonder; "for 500 years have
not slept, and am 80 tired"
Virginia grew quite grave, and her little
lips trembled like rose leaves. She came
toward him and, kneeling down at his
side, looked into his old withered face.
Poor, poo: ghost" che murmured,
have you no place where you can
seep?"
Far away beyond the pine woods" he
answered in low, dreamy voice, ''there
is little garden. There the grass grows
long and deep, there are the great white
stars OF the hemlock flower, there the
nightingale sings all night long. All night
long he sings, and the cold, crystal moon
looks down. and the yew tree spreads
out lis giant arms over the sleepers."
Nirglnia's eyes grew dim with tears, and
she hid her face in her hands.
You mean the Garden of Death" she
whispered.
Eyes. death. Death must be 80 beauti-
ful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with
the grasses waving above ones head, and
listen to silence. To have no yesterday
and no tomorrow. To forget time, to for
give life. to be at peace. You can help
me. You cnn open for me the portals of
deaths house, for love is always with you,
and love is stronger than death is"
Virginia trembed. A shudder ran
through her, and for a few moments there
was silence. She felt as ii she were in
terrible dream.
Then the Ghost spoke again, and his
voice sounded like the signing OF the wind.
Have you ever read the old prophecy
on the library Window"
"Oh, often" cried the little girl, looking
up; u know it quite well. tits painted in
curious black letters, and is difficult TO
read. There are only six lines:
"when golden girl can win
Payer from out the lips of sin.
When barren almond bears,
And little child gives away its tears,
Then shall all the house be still
And peace come 10 Canterville.
But don't know what they mean"
They mean" he said, sadly, THAT Won
must weep with me Tor my sins, because
have no tears. and pray with me for ray
soul, because l have no faith, and then, if
you have always been sweet, and good,
and gentle, the angel OF death will have
mercy on me. You will see fearful shapes
In the darkness, and wicked voices will
whisper In your ear, but they will not
harm you, for against the purity of little
child the power of hell cannot prevail"
Virginia made no answer, and the ghost
wrung his hands in wild despair as he
looked down at her bowed golden head.
Suddenly she stood up, very pae, and
with q strange light in her eyes. II am
not afraid. she said firmly, land l will
ask the angel to have mercy on you"
He rose from his seat with a faint cry
of Joy, and taking her hand bent over it
with old-fashioned grace and kissed it.
His fingers were as cod as ice, and his
lips burned like fire. but Virginia did not
falter as he led her across the dusky room.
On the faded green tapestry were broid-
cred little huntsmen. They blew their
tasselled horns and with their tiny hands
waved to her TO go back. go back
little Virginia" they cried; "go back p
but the ghost clutched her hand more
tightly, and she shut her eyes against
them. Horrible animals with lizard tails
and google eyes, blinked at her from the
carven chimneypiece, and murmu-ed
Beware little Virginia, beware we may
never zee you again." but the ghost
glided on more swiftly, and Virginia did
not listen. When they reached the end
OF the room he stopped, and muttered
some words she could not understand.
She opened her eyes. and saw the wall
slowly fading away like mist, and great
black cavern in front of her. A bitter
cold wind swept round them, and she felt
something pulling at her. "Quick, quick !"
cried the ghost. ''or it will be too late, +"
and, in a moment, tho wainscoting had
closed behind them, and the Tapestry
Chamber was empty.
f., ~ ..o,-e, ,-r.,.,-