Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1894-06-06

N
| Fer the lands sakes-l Thought a,
was o'NeiL am sure I heard that
girl of your'n singing about her .dar.
lint Miss Nora O'Neii.'"
Mrs Allen smiled. and SAID that al.
though her daughters name was Nora.
Biddy's song had nothing TO do with
II
\ Incidentally. to invest herself with
some Importance. Mrs Simpkins stated
| that Fred Parsons, the richest young
man IN the town. was paying at.
J tention TO her daughter Sally This
remark provoked an inscrutable smile
on Mrs Aliens face
Mrs Simpkins made a long call. but
was not invited to repeat her visit. She
told her husband she could not find out
any thing. and was very sure there was
some mystery connected with that Allen
woman. for there were ever SO many
envelopes on the table, and she could
see the name Smith" plain as moth.
| Ing, and she was sure Mrs. Allen had
been reading them very letters Now.
what business had Mrs Allen with
Mrs. Smiths letters, she would like to
know?
by this time Mrs. Simpl<ins and her
friends were good deal excited over
the mystery concerning the people at
the river house. Mrs. Allen and her
daughter seemed oblivious of all tho
dark hints that were thrown out about
then.
Suspicion grew fast Many things
were said of the occupants of the river
house. 81 Jenkins. who lived near,
told his wife that lights burned there
all night Ezra Burke saw n woman
In white come TO an upper window and
look out with wild eyes. He knew IL
was a woman because of her long hair.
else he'd although il were old Smiths
ghost" Conjecture ran high. At last
II was decided that a delegation of
women headed by Mrs. Simplsins should
wait upon Mrs. Allen and demand an
explanation of the mystery.
For such is our Chris tian duty"
said Mrs. Burke, who stood high in the
church. 1T is my opinion that their
name is not Allen at all, but Smith.
and I'd not he one bit surprised IL they
turned out TO be some kin of that old
John Smith whose ghost haunts that
very house, and whose grandfather,
they do say, was hung"
So the next afternoon the delegation
started on its errand.
I'm just achin & 10 tell them what
think of such doings," Mrs Simpkins
said, as she raised the heavy brass
knocker and applied il with so much
energy that the door was opened al.
most Immediately by pretty Miss Nora
How are you, ladies? Walk right
ill.," she said, evidently rather sur
rN,-fgnA =.
very few minutes She has gone for
the mail"
Mrs. Simplkins nodded TO the others,
as much as TO say: Just in time" And
they followed Nora into the parlor.
She tried to entertain them until her
mother returned, but felt quite relieved
when she saw her coming and went to
the door TO meet her.
Come right in, mamma. There are
some ladies waiting for YOU"
Mrs Allen was astonished TO find SO
many callers in her parior at one time,
| but showed no trace of surprise In her
manner
Good afternoon, ladies; / am very
! glad to see you. 1t was such lovely
day that went for the mail myself
hope you have not been waiting long"
Her greeting was so cordial that Mira
Jones afterwards said she was glad she
was not head of the delegation. After
one or two Intellectual efforts Mira
Simpkins abruptly began:
Mrs. Allen, or Mrs. Smith, or whaU
ever your name is--the Lord only
knows, we don't!-we have come here
this afternoo n to find out who you are.
| You give your name as Allen, and get
letters for Mrs. Smith. aad we amt
used TO no such goings on, and we have
/ come here to have you explain, If you
can, for we don't want no mysteries il.
our neighborhood."
| Surprise rendered Mrs Allen speech
less for moment: then she coldly said:
Ladies, / gave my name as Allen
simply because that was my husbands
name, and consequently. is mine.
Mrs. Smith is my widowed sister who
resides with me. For reasons not
necessary 20 state, ! receive and an
swer her letters That is the meaning
of the supposed mystery which has
caused you 50 much distress. Like the
| ghost, il exists onl y in imagination"
She ceased speaking and glanced to-
ward the door, evidently expecting her
NloiJoIS 10 HOs DuJ MIS-. > lfnpkluS was
not easily routed.
You say your sister lives with you;
it's odd no one has ever seen her and
that you never have no company. And
can you tell US, ma'am. who the poor
critter is that rOams about this house
at night, all in white?"
Mrs Aliens face was very stern a.
she answered:
81 had hoped that il would not be
necessary 20 go into the details OF this
painful matter; but in order 20 check
malicious gossip will explain that my
sister is a confirmed invalid. and left
the city because she was on the verge
OF nervous prostration. We came here
/ that she might be perfectly quiet and
have avoided company ON her account
/ She Is not able % read or answer her
! letters, which all refer 90 business, as
she owns considerable real estate i'm
town. Now, ladies, as I have nothing
more 20 say concerning my private
affairs, ] will bid you good afternoon"
Mrs. Aliens tone and manner for
| babe further words, and the d discounted
women rose in a body and marched out
/ of the house. Not until they reached
/ the gate did Mrs. Simpkins recover
her powers Of speech; then she ex-
claimed.