The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-03-21

1t came from your room, anyhow
Miss Carry. The night was so hot thai
L was restless and could not sleep, anC
as lay awake l heard your room door
shut, and something trail itself across
the lobby, and then my door gently
opened and something dim and tall, and
black, entered and came towards the
bed"
Horrible Did you start up? Did
you scream? We heard no noise"
NO." said Edward, somehow il
fascinated me and felt that must lie
still and watch it, There was very
little light, SO only saw itlike darker
spot in the darkness, moving slowly
towards the bed"
The three girls shivered, Carry's
face was as white as paper, so, to break
the spell, said:
&c But the spectral dog could not look
tall, Edward, though, it would look
big"
"How can you tell?" said Garry;
you never saw spectre. What did
it do, Edward?"
1T glided over toward the bed l
could hear it breathe quite distinctly"
81 did not know that spectres
breathed," said 1.
Carry stamped her foot.
"Do let Edward tell us, Jane; no
wonder it did not go to you. No
spectre would condescend to visit any
one 80 prosaic and commonplace"
Edward continued his tale.
ut stood up, tall and dim and dark
beside the bed, then it slowly bent over,
felt my head with its black paws, heaved
a deep sigh, then slowly raised itself
and again glided noiselessly from the
ROOM"
Here all drew long breaths of won
der. For some minutes there was dead
silence, then all began to talk at once.
"Well," said at last, :" If there is
going to be nothing but spectral con.
versation l shall go and hunt up Canon
Goodman and get him to take me for a
breezy walk on the hill to blow all this
nonsense out of my brains"
In the afternoon our old fellow ledger,
Mrs. Consadine, came in to see us.
Her eyes looked blacker and more glis-
tening than ever, and her manner was
certainly very odd. She asked Carry if
the noise of the sea did not prevent her
sleeping, as it had been rough night.
ooh" said, Garry came in to me
last night, and you know my room is at
the back OF the house and away from
the sea-"
"Ah, Miss Garry has changed her
room"
"Only for one night" said. &" They
were all made nervous by hearing the
legend of the spectral dog at Peel
Castle yesterday, and Carry could not
sleep alone lest it should come to her."
"Then, now you will lock your door?"
said Mrs. Consadine.
Indeed l shall not" said Garry.
" should always imagine l had locked
it in with me-"
LOCKED it in-with you and that
beautiful hair7 Yes, 1 see; it would
be most imprudent.'
On hearing this speech Carry glanced
at Edward, and catching his eve they
both Uttered audibly. Fortunately
the landlady just then knocked at the
door, and asked Mrs. Consadine to
speak to her, so she left US without
noticing the two young peoples rude
ness.
That night wakened with a sudden
start and sat up in bed, listening in
tently. l heard in the stiffness a low
moan from the direction of Carry's
room, and moment after the words:
Is Oh, Jane, come TO me-" not screamed
but sent, as it were, by the mere force
Of their fervor-through the interven-
ing space, to my ear. Not waiting to
strike match, was in an instant in
her room, the door of which found
open. She was lying quite still, moan
ing most pitiably: ooh, Jane, Janel
come to me-"
My dearest, am here" said, tax
ng her in my arms. What is wrong?
Are you i'll or in pain?'
Oh, Jane, it has been here, just as
Edward described It'll Oh, take me into
your room; let me go away from this
horrible place."
OF course, understood that my poor
title sister had had a nightmare and |
hat it was no use reasoning with her |
ust then, 30 led her to my room. her
yes hidden on my shoulder, lest even
n the darkness she should see the |
dreaded shape. Once in my bed, 1
wrapped her in my arms and by de-
'rees she ceased to tremble, and in a
little time we were both quietly asleep.
We did not wake till nearly breakfast
ime and were dressing hurriedly, when
it struck me that there was
very unusual about Carry's
lead.
Carry, l said, "whst have you done
o your hair?"
:. Done to my hair?" said Garry.
Nothing"
I" That is nonsense, my dear, Just
ook at your hair"
Carry went to the glass.
Then, Jane" she said, turning a
White, awe-stricken face to me-"Jane.
was no dream; something did lean
yer me in the night and touch my
air."
"Some one has played wicked,
PRACTICAL joke" said, angrily; and,
esides frightening you most cruelty,
as quite spoiled the front of your hair.
)ne side is cut off; Of course, now you
must cut the other side and wear 6or-
i'd fringe. Mother will be angry when
GU go home TO her with fringe"
Poor Carry began to cry and at that
moment the breakfast bell rang. There
vas no help for ia lock had to be cut
Ia -