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

portraits hung on the walls, and whose
possessions were under the same roof
with themselves.
'It seems like sacrilege," their
hostess was saying, as they sat in the
twilight glimmer, between hearthlight
and daylight, in the old-fashioned
drawing room, "but Helen has about
persuaded 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 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
Rhoulder," remarked one of the cousins
present, in an awesome tone.
"Oh, if it comes to that, we are all
ghosts" said 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 borne to
them. My grandmother was q belle
and q beauty, she had-well, there she
is, you can all see her and Judge for
yourselves" 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
,girl of 10, 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
'uch curls as were worn in that day.
They hung over her lovely shoulders
own to her small waist.
"There," said Helen, in an eager
voice, "look at that peach colored silk
lounce to the waist; see the puffed
leeves and the capes-oh, isn't it de-
icious, just as they are wearing them
now, and it's upstairs in an old ma
logany trunk, packed in camphor
Why, the old lace on it is worth for
tunel 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
concluded, with pardonable pride, "am
said to resemble her."
''You do" said her mother; "at
least we think you look like her pic
ture, but you need not imagine, you
presumptuous child, that you will ever
be half 20 beautiful" :"
mot even in that dress?" queried
Helen, with an alluring smile.
81 have not fully decided that you
shall wear that dress, l have often
thought that there may be something
in the suggestion that people do re.
turn"
"Not as ontities?" suggested Helen's
aunt.
81 do not know. All my traditions
teach me to respect that which can.
not understand. / have often been
shocked by the unkind taste Nth which
the living appropriate the possessions
of the dead, as if they were eager to
obtain the spoils.
"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