The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-21

DelleVc IN ghosts ulSSeIA, ouU IliO W as
Just one of the things l couldn't under
stand. was sitting in the parlor just
as if it might be now. only was alone
There came three raps-'
Mercy. goodness! what is that?''
No one responded; no one moved. and
for that time, at least. the ghost of the
widows first husband was laid uncere-
moniously-something ghostly was hap
pening under the very face and eyes of
the party.
A puff OF cold air ran through the
room with such startling rapidly that
the wax candles hared 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 car
pet in front OF the portrait they had
been examining that very evening.
But what was this? Had the picture
come to life and stepped out of its
frame? The startled group at the fire.
side could see only a shadow there that
paled and ficl1ered, but stepped bodily
and audaciously into the light. Was 1t
the semblance of the portrait, or was 1t
really the beautiful form and face OF
that woman of a century past, wear
ing the same clothes which fluttered
noiselessly, diffusing a cold sweet per
fume that affected the senses like the
incense of death? Her eyes were fixed
as in the picture, but the red was on
her lips and cheeks, and her little feet,
peeping from the tiounces and laces of
her wide skirts, wore the clocked stock
ings and ribbon-crossed slippers of long
ago. There she stood before them all,
vet never noticing them, and then she
began to dance in stately measure
minuet, as if some unseen cavalier
were treading the meature with her,
and all the time that cold wind was
blowing and a strange, quaint melody
was being played by invisible hands,
aside from which there was not as much
noise as If hummingbird had flut-
tered its wings.
Then somebody sore AIMED or tainted,
and in moment the music ceased: the
dancer was gone. Somebody lighted
all the gas burners, and there was the
portrait Just as it had already been,
ard when the four young people, hear
ing the hubbub in the library, came
rushing in they were overwhelmed by
what they missed, nor dared they cast
discredit on the evidence of their elders
But youth throws off impressions
easily. and Helen and Walter and their
l. 1.SA Il
gavetv out of it that with the help OF
warm supper the elders were finally IN
duced to throw off the mystery and
solemnitv Of the astral dance, and
looked upon it as mirage, something
quite explainable by certain laws of hui
man occult development. Helen even
declared. saucily, that her greatgrand-
( mother must have been a giddy girl 10
come back for a brief visit to earth just
to dance that tiresorne old minuet, and
then she looked at Walter and blushed
wildly.
you see, you dear old stupids, you
/ had talked ghosts until you were quite
ready to see one in every corner. II
! -grandmamma did appear, then.
I it was 10 signify that she was quite
willing that / should step into her
/ shoes"
Il assure ron that no power on earth
would persuade ne 20 ever allow her
/ clothes to be disturbed IN my lifetime"
! said Mrs King with emphasis
/ Helen looked at Walter. and her pref
II mouth made distinct shaping Of
( the letters 'P-h-e-v,"
/ Walter looked at Helen and tele-
+ graphed the word back again But
none Of those world y-wisc people ever
! came near suspecting what might have
been the real truth. not even when they
! saw Walter auto-haTp, the most dreary
+ musical instrument that was ever con
/ ceiyed, lying on the hall sofa the next
I dav. or when they alluded, IS they Oft
en- did, . Hcler's wonderful rcsern-
! blanee 70 her great-gra EdEDothers poE-
! trait--Detroit Free Press