The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-06-17
A GHOsTLY EPISODE.
It Might Have Been Explained by
Helen and Her Lover.

took a 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 sacrilcge," 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. l 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 remodeling,
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; 1--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"
81 tell Helen she will only have the
clothes, not the air of one born to them.
My grandmother was a belle and
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 tat pale
glimmer 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 chin
with dimple set in it, her large, lus-
trous eyes, were framed in mass of
such curls as We're worn in that day.
They hung over her lovely shoulders
down to her small waist.
"There," said Helen, in an eager
voice, "looll at that peach-colored silk
tlounce to the waist; see the putfed
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 camphor! Great
grandmamma wore it as 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 - oh! it
would be too lovely! And l." she con-
cluded, with pardonablc pride, ''am
said to resemble her."
"You do" said her mother; "at least
we think you look like her picture, but
you need not imagine, you presumptu-
ous child, that you will ever be half SO
beautiful"
Not 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
turn
Not as entities?" suggested Hclen's
aunt.
81 do not know. All my traditions
! teach me to respect that which can
!. not understand. l have often beer
shocked by the unllind haste will
, which the living appropriate the pos
. sessions of the dead, as If they wert
( eager to obtain the spoils."
"We brought nothing into this world
-" began the aunt.
"Don't," interrupted Helen; "I take
: quite another view of it. AS my grea.
. grandmother had her day, why should
she object to me having mine? Sh'
does not need these gowns of hers il
0 her present condition, and should b'
pleased to know that after lying il
, state for SO many years they are to b.
e brought out by one of her descendants
am quite willing to run the risk Of in
{ curing her wrath, if you will let mt
!, have the gowns" added Helen, turning
a to her mother
Mrs. King shook her head. and tn
subject was dropped.
But another one was evolved from
a later in the evening, when Helen an
s her lover, Walter Harter, and visitin
young couple disappeared to the library
a leaving their elders basking in the fire
y light, so grateful on the spring evening
n and telling to each other a collection c
4 ghost stories such as people who don
believe in ghosts can always tell bette
] than those who are more credulous
There was Aunt Lavinda, from L
Is Porte, Ind, who told a story curren
e in the family ever since the first part c
a the century, concerning her great-aun
IS whose son came home at night from
u journey, entered her room, took off hi
a coat, which was wet, hung it over
$ chair, wrung the water out of his hail
y looked at her steadily and intently, br
lr did not speak, leaving the room tinall
I'd without breaking the silence. The ne.
e morning the mother sent to his room
G. walsen him, but he was not there. nc
'e had his bed been slept in. An hor
m later came the news that he WI
n drowned at the very time that h
e mother had seen him, while crossing
le ford on his way home.
K, "That was merely a coincidence, 'sai
a. a fin dc steele matron who was r.esen
I'd "his mother dreamed it all, of course
nr II should find that as hard to accouI
'e for rs the ghost" said cousin, lookir
~ over her shoulder.
n. II should hate to think there were I
ghosts" remarked Virginia branch
~ the family; Pm sure l saw one once
Is our gallery. 1T was dressed in whi
I'd and strobe up and down just like re
to ghosts do on the stage. Our dog howl.
y snd the lights all burned blue"
" ~ sat up with Aunt Polly William
y til. night before she died, and heal
three cracks of whip right over Il
looking glass. And they broke u