The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-04-04

Polly, flushed with the haste she had
made. ''Did you know, Mis- Arden,
the west door warn't bolted?"
Polly was tall fourteen-year Older,
with a curly crop of hair and nasal
voice.
''Betsy was careless about the
DOORS" said I, remembering with a
guilty paug Rufus had hidden me be
very careful about securing the prem
ises in his absence.
Because" he had said, "there's
that money Wexford wanted me to
bank for him in the studio desk
drawer, and the diamond necklace in
the cabinet.
And then, with sudden after
| CLEAN of recollection it flashed across
me just where Rufus had stood, by the
depot stove, when he spoke the words,
and how q stout, short man, in a
slouched fur cape and ragged over
coat, had watched us as he waited for
a ticket and chewed tobacco.
Could he have heard the word? And
how was he to know that 'the dia-
mond necklace" was only state
trinket of cut glass, borrowed of an
artist friend for the decoration of the
lay figure, or that Welford's money
was only few dollars, sent in repay
ment of something he had borrowed
from Rufus?
Upon the whole, was glad that
Polly Shapely had come to bear me
company during that long, solitary
winter night. OF course there was no
danger, but that
"We'll go back and bolt it, Polly"
said I.
"Oh, I done that" said Polly.
"Gracious amt them halls dark [
came through the study"
"Studio, Polly" 1 gently corrected
her.
Studio, them" Polly accepted the
emandation. "The fire amt quite
out, here. Amt no danger O. fire, is
there?"
Perhaps it had better be covered
with ashes, " said ]. run and attend
to it, Polly, and I'll see about the
tea.
''I've got some apples and chestnuts
in my bag" cried Polly, "snd some o.
mothers riz doughnuts. She thought
mebbe you hadn't nothin' baked up,
seein' Betsey was gone. Gimme a
candle, Miss Arden. 1 wouldn't go
through them halls in the dark ag'in
for nothin'. could swear there was
spooks a-rushin' arter me-"
"What nonsense, Polly !" said 1.
But, nevertheless, handed her the
brass candlestick that Rufus had
bought at sale on account of its an
tiquity.
l was just hanging over the tea-ket-
| tie when the scutfle Of Polly footsteps
was heard once more. this time at rail
road rate
81 wouldn't be hired to go through
that there study ag'in, Mis- Arden, {"
said she, slamming down the candle
stick on the table.
''Why, Polly, what's the matter?"
''Them portraits starin' down at
me P' gasped the girl. ''Their eyes a
follerin' me all round! Gracious, what
a start it gimme !"
That's the way portraits always do,
Polly" explained you're goose -
81 can't help it, painted Polly. 'It
fairly makes me creep. An the woman
in white, standin' up on the platform
she turned her head an looked at
me, she did"
"What, Polly--a wooden figure,
dressed like the Lady of Avenel?" and
[ burst out laughing. "Why, it's
jointed, like doll /"
'Well, can't help it. 1t did turn
its head. And I wouldn't go back
there ag'in, Mis- Arden. not if you
was to give me a silver dollar !"
"Well, Polly, you needn't" /
soothed her, perceiving that she was
really nervous and frightened "Well
have tea here by the fire, and after
ward we'll roast the apples and the
chestnuts. There are no portraits here
to follow you with their eyes "
And Polly soon forgot her tribula-
tions in the tea, the raspberry jam
and the tales | told her of life in beau
tiful, ice-girdled Montreal.
made her up an impromptu bed on
a sofa in my own room opening from
this cheerful, fre-lighted apartment
but when she was asleep and snoring,
l quietly threw shawl over my
shoulders and relighted the candle.
81 will see after that fire myself" "
thought l. "There's no telling what
accidents might happen, and we are
not insured"
Nevertheless, could but remember
Polly's idea of the "spooks" as l
passed along the silent, moonlighted
hall to the studio door.
Opening it suddenly, the draught
blew out my candle; but the moon IL
Illuminated the room with faint silver
radiance, and one or two live embers
yet glimmered on the deep hearth, the
last remains of Rufus's cherished Yule-
log.
Just in the line of the big mullioned
window the lay figure occupied its ac-
customed place on carpeted dais
close to Rufus's easel, and CHANGING to
glance in that direction my blood
froze chill,
From beneath the white hood of the
"Lady of Avenel," which had been
Rufus's last historical study, pair of
real, human eyes seemed to flash
sudden furtiye look at me, and-was
it only memory of Polly's panic, a
mere freak of my disordered imagina-
ton or did the figure really move a