The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-21
A GHOSTLY EPISODE.
It Might Have Been Explained by
Helen and Her Lover.


OF ten or a dozen adults visiting in an
old ancestral house, and all nearly or
remotely connected or related. And 1t
often happened that the conversation
took a turn to include those deceased
ancestors whose portraits hung on the
walls, and whose possessions were I'M
der the same roof with themselves.
at seems like sacrilege," their host
ess was saying, as they sat in the twi-
| light glimmer, between hearthllght
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. l could
never think myself of disturbing those
| things which my mother gave me as
| sacred bequest. But Helen declares
| that the time has come when those old
| gowns can be worn without remodeIlng,
and l 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: ''we 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.
| NV grandmoth0 was belle and a
beauty. She had-well, 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 cam
delabrum was lighted, and in t4at pale
! glirnmer they saw the beautiful face Of
a girl of nineteen, with the shoulders
| and waist OF an ideal figure. Her fair
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
fiounce to the waist; see the puffed
sleeves and the capes-oh! isn't it de-
licious, just as they are wearing them
now, and it's upstairs in an old mahog-
any trunk. packed in camphorl Great
rrandmamma 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 queue - oh. 1t
would be too lovely. And l" she con-
cluded, with pardonable pride, ''am
! said to resemble her.
You do said her mother; Eat 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"
Not even in that dress?" queried
Helen, with an aliuring smile.
81 have not fully decided that you
shall wear that dress. I have often
thought that there may be something
in the suggestion that people do re-
turn
Not as entities?" suggested Helen's
aunt.
~ do not know. All nv traditions
teach me to respect that which l can
not understand. I 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"
1--WE brought nothing into this world
~ began the aunt.
Don't" INTERRUPTED Helen; 81 take
quite another view of it. 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 10 run the risk of in
curing her wrath, if 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 basllinC IN the fire.
light, 50 grateful on the spring evening.
and telling 10 each other q collection 81
ghost stories, such as people who don
believe in ghosts can always tell better
than those who are more credulous.
There was Aunt Lavinda, from la
Porte. Ind. who told story current
in the family ever since the first part Of
the century. concerning her Ereat-aUnt,
whose son came home at night from a
lourney Entered her room. took of his
coat, which was wet, hung il over a
chair. wrung the water ont Of his hair,
looked az her steadily and intently. bat
did not speak. leaving the room finally
without breaking the silence. The next
morning the mother sent u his rooE 20
walen him. but he was not there nor
had his bed heen slept N. An hour
later came the news that he was
| drowned at the very time that his
mother had seen him, while crossing d
/ lord CT MS way home
That was merely d coincidence. "sald
g M dc steele matroZ Tao was present
This mother dreamed it al. OF course.
Il should fnd tha; IS hard 10 sccoun'
for as the ghost. said cousin, loo&ln2
over her shoulder
i should hate TO think there were z
ghosts. remarked Virginia branch O.
the family; y II sure s>-w one once II
our gallery. II was ,rsessed N Tgai;e
and strobe Nd and down lssst ike rta
ghosts 90 on she stays. Our cor hogFlec
and the lights al burned bs1e
i sat an with Aunt POLY Williams
the night before she died. and aes-1
three CRACKS OF q whip riSGt oYe- -: