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

V.
A few days after this Virginia and her
curly-' fred cavalier went out riding on
Bro Sy meadows. where she tore her
habit so badly in getting through hedge
that, on their return home, she made up
her mind to go up the back staircase so as
not 10 be seen. As she was running past
the tapestry chamber, the door OF which
happened to be open, she fancied she saw
some one inside, and thinking it was her
mothers maid, who sometimes used 10
bring her work there, looked in to ask her
TO mend her habit. To her immense sur
prise, however, it was the Canterville
ghost himself! He was sitting by the
window, watching the ruined gold of
the following trees fly through the air,
aud the red leaves dancing madly down
the long avenue. His head was leaning
on his hand, and his whole attitude was
one of extreme depression. Indeed, so
forlOrn and so much out of repair did he
look that little Virginia, whose first idea
had been to run away and lock herself in
her room, was filled with pity, and she de-
termined to try and comfort him. So
light was her football and so deep bis mel
ancholy that he was not aware of her
presence till she spoke to him.
81 am 80 sorry for you" she said, "but
my brothers are going back TO Elton to-
morrow, and then, il you behave yourself.
no one will annoy you"
1T is absurd asking me to behave N.Y.
SELF he answered, looking round in as
constituent at the pretty little girl who
had ventured to address him, "quite alb
surd. | must rattle my chains and groan
through keyholes and walk about at
night, If that Is what you mean. 1t IS my
only reason for existing"
1T is no reason at all for existing, and
you know you have been very wicked.
Mrs. Umney told US the first day we ar
rived here that you had killed your wife"
We'll, quite admit.it." said the ghost
petulently, but it was a purely family
matter and concerned no ono else"
ut is very wrong to kill any one" said
Virginia, who at times had Puritan
gravity caught from some old New En-
gland ancestor.
ooh, l hate the cheap severity OF alb
strcat ethicsl Ny wife was very plain,
never had any ruffs properly starched,
and knew nothing about cookery. Why,
there was buck / had shot in Hogely
woods, u magnificent pricket and do you
know how she had IL sent up to table
However. il is no matter now, for it's ali
over, and don't think it was verv nice
of her brothers TO starye me to death,
though / did kill her"
''Starve you to death? Oh, Mr.. Ghost.
! mean Sir Simon, are you hungry?
have sandwich in my case. Would you
like it?'
mo, thank you, never eat anything
now; but it's very kind of you, all the
same, and you are much nicer than the
rest OF your hOrrid, rude, vulgar, dishonest
family"
stop" cried Virginia, stamping her
FOOT ut Ia you who are rude, and horrid,
and vulgar. and. as for dishonesty, you
know you stole the paints out of my box
to try and Turkish up that ridiculous blood
stain in the library. First you took all
my reds. including the vermilion, and 1
couldn't do any more sunsets; then yon
took the emerald green and the chrome
yellow, and finally had nothing left but
indigo and Chinese white, and | could
only do moonlight scenes, which are al
ways depressing to look at and not at all
easy to paint. never told on you, though
/ WAS very much annoyed, and it was most
ridiculous, the whole thing; for who ever
heard OF emerald-green blood?"
"Well. really" said the Ghost, rather
meekly, what was / to do7 II is very
difficult thing to get real blood nowadays,
and, as your brother began il all with his
Paragon Detergent, / certainly saw no
reason why should not have your paints.
As for color, that is always matter OF
taste; the Cantervilles nave blue blood,
for instance, the very bluest in England
but know you Americans don't care for
things OF this kind"
lyon know nothing about IL, and tile
best thing you can do il to emigraie and
improve your mind. My father will be
only too happy to give you free passage,
and though there is heavy duty on spir-