Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-08-21

brought out by one Of her descend
ants. I am quite willing to run the
risk of incurring 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 it
later in the evening, when Helen and
her lover, Walter Harter. and q visit
ing young couple disappeared to the
library, leaving their elders basking in
the freight, SO grateful on the
spring evening, and telling to each
other a collection of ghost stories,
such as person who don't believe in
ghosts can always tell better than those
who are more credulous, There was
Aunt Lavinia, from Laporte, Ind,
who told 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, en-
tered her room, took off his coat,
which was wet, hung it over q chair,
WIunH Vic WdttT out VI nlS
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 a coincidence"
said fin de steele matron who was
present; "his mother dreamed it all,
of course"
81 should find that as hard to ac-
count for as the ghost" looking over
her shoulder.
81 should hate to think there were
no ghosts" remarked Virginia
branch of the family; 'Im sure I
saw one once on our gallery. 1t was
dressed in white and stroke 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 a whip right over the
lookingglass And they broke the
glass into three pieces" related an
amt.
This had been told so often that the
original number, lone crack of the
whip" had been increased to 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.
"No, never! He had been dead
year on that night when l went to the
hall clock to see if it had been wound
up. You know the clock-one of
those tall ones 1t has been in the
family for generations. It's up in the
nursery now As 1 put my hand on
the door the open it, 1 saw father
standing close by me with a smile on
his face as if something pleased him. I
was frightened and ran from the
hall but afterwards 1 looked into
the clock and found n deed to some
land we were dispossessed of, hidden
there. I suppose, really, l only
imagined seeing him. You know /
can't believe it was really father, but
it was strange it should lead to finding
that paper"
"Another coincidence" said the fin
de steele matron. "When my ghost
walks in with its head under one arm
I shall look for rational explanation
of the phenomena.
Talking about ghosts" said an ell
derly widowed relative, speaking in n
weird, mysterious voice. "did ever
tell you how my first husband appeared
to me when was thinking about mar
second-did ever speak of it2"
"a hundred times to my certain
knowledge, said the fin de steele ma
tron under her breath.
eff never did, it was because I
don't believe in ghosts myself, but that
was just one of the things / couldn't
understand. / was sitting in the par
lor just as if it might be now, only
was alone. There came three raps-"
"Mercy goodness what is that2"
No one responded, no one moved,
ana Tor that time, at least, the ghost
of the widows first husband was laid
uncermoniously - something ghostly
was happening under the very face
and eyes of the party.
A puff of cold air ran through the
room with such startling rapidity that
the wax candles fsred and went out,
leaving only the light of the full moon
through the lace-draped windows,
mingling with the Pickering freight
in strange, spectral glare, which was
focused upon the square Of velvet
carpet in front of the portrait they
had been examining that very even
ing.
But what was this2 Had the picture
come to life and stepped out of its
frame? The startled group at the
fireside could see only shadow there
that paled and flickered, but stepped
bodily and audaciously into the light.
Was it the semblance of the portrait,
or was it really the beautiful form and