The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-07-27
NUMBER %.
BLOSSOMS AND GOSSIP.
a Much-Needed Lesson Taught a
MeddleSOme Woman.

Joel Simpllins, you don't mean to
tell me that some one has moved in the
kouse by the river, do you?"
No, l did not say anybody had
moved in only said there had been
two women folks looking at it"
For the lands sake, what is this
world coming to? Two women looking
at the river house. Well, ! neverr'
When Mrs Miranda SimpIins said.
We'll. l never" in that particular
tone, you were to understand there was
nothing more to be said But this time
there seemed to be, for she continued:
We'll, all have got to say is that
they must be strangers for of course
they won't take it
But they did take it 10 e. insisted
land they are going To- send their serv-
ant to clean it for them right away"
Now, Joel Simpllins, tell me all you
know about the matter, and how you
found il out
why, Bill Jones told me You
know he has all the money he can
make 10y renting the old house. but be
tween you and me l didn't never be-
Hcvc he would let it. But he has, sure
enough"
For the lands sake-them poor crit
ters going in there, / tell you what
MS, Joel, it's dreadful, and / feel it my
duty to warn them. Where did You
say they lived?'
Goodness me, Mirandy, how should
| know where they live?''
why didn't you ask Bill Jones?
There ought to be something done
about it"
We'll, l don't see what it is to us, or
what we can do"
III tell you one thing you might do.
Joel Simpkins You might ask Fred
Parsons why he don't come round here
no more. lie came half a dozen times
to see Sally, and then stopped comm
If You was the right kind of father,
you'd try 10 make match tween him
and our daughter Sally. Hes rich
dreadful rich and our gal don't want
to have To drudge the way | have
''Sally's a heap prettiern ever You
was but she's jest as bad when her
tongue gets To wagging at gossip-and
Parsons Is man with enough sense 10
unde stand that he ought to keep
away" said Joel-but he said 1t under
his breath.
May blossoms and the new tenants
had come together, and, though the
river house might bc haunted. one OF
the most beautiful orchards anywhere
near New York was a part of the es-
tate
Mrs Simpkins, directly she learned
that a servant was cleaning the river
house. started on her errdnd. As she
entered the gate she looked all around.
a. Il expecting To see the ghost then
and there. After trying the knociler
at the front door with no result she
went around tt the kite hen. Here she
WAS met by buNom Irish maid-of-alI-
work who was singing at the top OF
her voice, and wor.Sed away with a
will, seemingly not caring a fiC for his
ghostship On seeing the stranger
Biady stopped, and, res ting on her
broom, said:
Morning, mum
Mrs Simpllins paid no attention To
her greeting, but olurted out:
My poor girl, do you know where
you be?''
''Shure, and that Is what do, num-
answered Biddy, with a cheery laugh
DO you know this house Is haunted
that every night at midnight old John
Smiths ghost goes roaming through it
slamming doors and groaning Jest
DREADFUL
Yes. num-" said Biddy.
And does your mistress know ito"
YES. mum-a by told her the other
day whin she came down here"
And is she coming in the face of all
this?''
No. mum; she and Miss Nora are
coming on the cars, mum"
BE you an IDIOT"
Yes, mum-or. that Is, / don't know,
but Miss Nora can tell We anything the
loiIxe of We 'ud be wanting to know
whin she comes She just dotes on
ghosts and such things"
We'll, never" exclaimed Mrs Simp-
llins. as she turned and left the house,
while Biddy resumed her song: Me
Darlint, Sweet Nora O'Neil."
Its my opinion, Joel SImpkins, that
they're a queer lot down there in that
river house." said Mrs Simpkins, on
reaching home.
What makes you fthink so. Mi
randy?'
well, | went down there to tell
them about the ghost, and would you
believe it? That servant of theirs said
she just dotted on ghosts?"
What's their name?"
'S'Neil, l guess
Didn't you ask?''
''No. / was SO upset forgot 1t. But
the Irish girl called one of them Miss
Nora. and when ! come away | heard
her sin.'ng about her darling, Miss
Nora O'Neil. so | reckon that's her
name l Jest think that Irish girl Is a
dumbed idiot"
A few days later Joel Simpllins told
his wife that the folks had arrived at
the river house
Accordingly. Mrs. Simpkins called a
second time at the haunted house
This time she was met 10y 4 middle
aged lady of tine appearance, who
greeted her pleasantly, but rather 70 n
ally.
How do you do. Mrs. O'Neil?'' Mrs
SimpIlins said II am Mrs Joel Simp-
kins, and | am not ashamed of my
name, either
II am glad to hear of it. Mrs Simp-
kins. VIII You walk in? You are
somewhat mistaken in regard to my
name. 1t is not O'Neil, but Allen"
For the lands salles-l thought 1t
was O'Neil. l am sure | heard that
girl of your'n singing about her 'dar-
lint Miss Nora O'Neil-'"
Mrs Allen smiled, and said that al
though her daughters name was Ncra.
Riddy's song had nothing To do with
IT
Incidentally. to invest herself with
some Importance, Mrs Simpllins stated
that Fred Parsons, the richest young
man in the town, was paying at
tention to her daughter Sally This
remark provoked AN inscrutable smile
on Mrs Aliens face