The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-07-11
A GHOsTLY EPISODE.
It Might Have Been Explained by
Helen and Her Lover.

of ten or dozen adults visiting in an
old ancestral house, and all nearly OF
remotely connected or related. And il
often happened that the conversation
took turn to include those deceased
ancestors whose portraits hung on the
walls, and whose possessions were un.
der the same roof with themselves
sit seems like sacrilege," their host
ess was saying, as they sat in the twi-
| light glimmer, between hearthlight
and daylight, in the old-fashioned draw
ing room, ''but Helen has about per-
suaded me to let her have her great
grandmother's wardrobe. / could
never think myself of disturbing those
things which my mother gave me as a
sacred bequest. But Helen declares
that the time has come when those old
| gowns can be worn without renodeling,
and ! fancy she would be rather proud
of them as heirlooms.
| 81 should be afraid the ghost of the
owner would look over my shoulder, "
remarked one of the cousins present, in
an awesome tone.
''Oh, If it comes to that, we are all
ghosts" said another one; I'VE carry
our ghosts with us. But as the good
danes cannot, even as ghosts, wear
their old garments. why should we be
denied that privilege?'
II tell Helen she will only have the
clothes, not the air of one born to them.
My grandmother was a belle and q
beauty. She had-wel, there she is;
you can all see her and judge for your.
Selves" and Mrs. King led the way
down the long room into the vista Of
faint darkness to the portrait. A can
delabrum was lighted, and in that pale
glimmer they saw the beautiful face OF
a girl of nineteen, with the shoulders
and waist of an ideal figure. Her faiI
cheeks and rosy lips, her naughty chm
with dimple set in it, her large, lus-
trous eyes, were framed in mass OF
such curls as were worn in that day.
They hung over her lovely shoulders
down to her small waist.
There" said Helen, in an eager
voice. look at that peach-colored silk
founce to the waist; see the pulled
sleeves and the capes-ohl isn't 1t de-
licious, just as they are wearing them
now, and it's upstairs in an old mahog-
any trunk, packed In camphorl Great
grandmamma wore it as a bride. And
those lace mitts and the dear little
handkerchief bag on her arm, and the
medallion picture of great-grandpa
with his hair in a queue = OIL it
would be too lovely And T. she con-
cluded, with pardonable pride, ''am
said to resemble her"
You do" said her mother; lat least
we think you look like her picture, but
you need not imagine. you presumptu-
GUS child, that you will ever be half SO
beautiful"
mot even in that dress?" queried
Helen, with an alluring smile.
81 have not fully decided that you
shall wear that dress. / have often
thought that there may be something
In the suggestion that people do re-
turn
mot as entitiesP" suggested Helen's
aunt.
II do not know. All my traditions
teach me to respect that which can
not understand. / have often been
shocked by the unkind haste with
which the living appropriate the pos
sessions Of the dead, as If they were
eager to obtain the spoils."
sWe brought nothing into this world
-" began the aunt
Don't" interrupted Helen; II take
quite another view of 1t. As my great
grandmother had her day, why should
she object to me having mine? She
does not need these gowns of hers In
her present condition. and should be
pleased to know that after lying in
state for SO many years they are to be
brought out by one of her descendants.
am quite willing to run the risk OF in
curing her wrath, II you will let me
have the gowns" added Helen, turning
to her mother
Mrs. King shook her head. and the
subject was dropped.
But another one was evolved from 1t
later in the evening, when Helen and
her lover, Walter Harter. and visiting
young couple disappeared to the library,
leaving their elders basking in the fire.
light, SO grateful on the spring evening,
and telling to each other collection of
ghost stories, such as people who don't
believe In ghosts can always tell better
than those who are more credulous.
There was Aunt Lavinda, from La
Porte, Ind, who told a story current
in the family ever since the first part Of
the century, concerning her great-aunt,
whose son came home at night from
Journey, entered her room, took of his
coat, which was wet, hung 1t over
chair, wrung the water out of his hair,
looked at her steadily and intently, but
did not speak, leaving the room finally
without breaking the silence. The next
morning the mother sent to his room to
waken him, but he was not there, nor
had his bed been slept in. An hour
later came the news that he was
drowned at the very time that his
mother had seen him. while crossing
ford on his way home.
THAT was merely coincidence. "said
a fin de steele matron who was presents
s'his mother dreamed it all, OF course. "
II should find that as hard to account
for as the ghost, said cousin, looking
over her shoulder
81 should hate to think there were no
ghosts, . remarked Virginia branch Of
the family; I'm sure saw one once In
our gallery. 1t was dressed In white
and strobe up and down just like real
ghosts do on the stage. Our dog howled
and the lights all burned blue"
II sat up with Aunt Polly Williams
the night before she died, and heard
three cracks of whip right over the
loolsing-gl And they broke the
glass into three piecea," related an
aunt.
This had been told so often that the
original number, zone crack of the
whip had been increased 10 three, but
no one noticed that-the ghostly fact
remained.
''Did you ever account for seeing your
father after his death?" asked one OF the
relatives OF her hostess.
sNo, neverl He had been dead a year
on that night when went TO the hall
clock to see II it had been wound up.
You know the clock-one Of those high
onesq 1t has been In the family for
generations. It's up In the nursery
now. As put my hand on the door to
open 1t / saw father standing close by
me with smile on his face, as II some
thing pleased him. l was frightened
and ran from the hall, but afterward l
looked into the clock and found q deed
to some land we were diapossessed OF.
hidden there. suppose, really, only
imagined seeing him. You know
don't believe 1t was really father, but
1t was strange 1t should lead to finding
that paper"
Another coincidence" said the hn
de steele matron. when my ghost
walks In with ita head under one arm