Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-07-06
A GHOSTLY EPISODE.
It Might Have Been Explained by
Helen and Her Lover.

They were very comfortable party
of ten or a dozen adults visiting in an
old ancestral house, and all nearly or
remotely connected or related. And II
often happened that the conversation
took turn TO include those deceased
ancestors whose portraits hung on the
walls, and whose possessions were UNI
der the same roof with themselves
at seems like sacrilegc," their host
ess was saying, as they sat in the twi-
light glimmer, between hearthlight
and daylight, in the old-fashioncd draw
ing room, "but Helen has about per
suaded me TO let her have her great
grandmothers wardrobe. could
never think myself Of disturbing those
things which my mother gave me as n
sacred bcquest. 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.
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 privilegc?'
~ tell Helen she will only have the
clothes, not the air Of one born to them.
My grandmother was belle and u
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 can
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 chm
with dimple set in 1t, 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
| flounce TO the waist; see the pulled
sleeves and the capes-oh! isn't II 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 II as IA bride. And
those lace mitts and the dear little
! handkerchief bag on her arm, and the
medallion picture OF grcat-grandpa
with his hair In a queue OH 1t
would be too lovely! And I :" she con-
cluded, with pardonablc pride, lam
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 80
beautiful"
Not even in that dress?" quoried
Helen, with an alluring smile.
IL 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"
Not as entities2" suggested IIelen's
aunt,
III do not know. All my traditions
teach me to respect that which | can
not understand. have often been
shocked by the unltind haste with
which the living appropriate the pos
sessions Of the dead, AS If they were
eager TO obtain the spoils."
eve brought nothing into this world
-" began the aunt.
Don't" interrupted Helen; 81 take
quite another view of IL. As my great
grandmother had her day, why should
she object TO me having mine2 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, IL 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 II
later In the evening, when Helen and
her lover, Walter llarter, and visiting
young couple disappeared 10 the library,
leaving their elders basiing 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 crcdulous
There was Aunt Lnvinda, from La
Porte, Ind, who told n story current
in the family ever since the first part OF
the century, concerning her great-aunt
whose son came home at night from q
journey, entered her room, took Off his
coat, which was wet, hung IL over q
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 % his room u
wnlSen him, but he was not there, MOI
had his bed been slept in. An houi
u later came the news that he WA
drowned ut the very time that hii
mother had seen him, while crossing {
ford ON his way home.
THAT was merely a coincidence, "saiC
fin de steele matron who was present
: This mother dreamed il ALL OF course.
II should find that as hard 10 uccoun
. for as the ghost" said u cousin, loolsin
. over her shoulder.
81 should hate 20 think there were n
ghosts, " remarked Virginia branch G
the family; "l'm sure | saw one once /
our gallery 1t was dressed in whit
and strobe up and down just like res
ghosts do on the stage. Our dog howle
. and the lights all burned blue"
II sat up with Aunt Polly William
the night before she died, and hear
thsA@ asankA al a Uhin riSht avAr Oh