Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-07-21
A PHANTOM BRIDE,

that this was none other than the mer-
ciful wrath Edie has 80 graphically de-
scribed, bent on its errand OF charity on
behalf Of the wretched soul In purgatO-
ry; and, without doubt, / should say
she cancelled q { II p%urgatorial year
II the calendar of the internal regions
corresponds with own-of the muir
derer's penance, by sending those other
angels in human guise, Tom and Bill,
10 our relief. Moreover, l."
"Hushl"
A sudden silence fell upon them all at
this juncture; Edie clutcbed her BROTH
er's arm s~pasmodically with n hand,
whilst with the other she pointed mute
ly In the direction Of the ~curtained win
dow, for the vicarage ''bow" vas OF the
old-fashioned type, the venetian shut
ters were secured by a bolt without,
and on occasions like the present the
white blind inside was seldom dropped,
the rudy curtains OF either side form
ing q cheerful framework and suflcing
to throw the window panes into sufic-
iently dark shadow, rendered dense and
Opaque by the outside shutters.
Thus apostrophised the eyes Of all
present turned by mute consent in tho
direction indicated by the girls out
stretched hand; then, for n long mo-
ment, a silence as of death ensued,
whilst the expression Of each face lex
elusive neither Of materfamilias nor
Dick's) underwent an instantaneous
change-a change which in the case OF
the three girls bespoke little less than
positive terror, bewilderment OF thu
mothers part. and a strange mixture OF
amaze, amusement, and incredulity
on that of the hero OF the night him
self.
Then Dick sprang to his feet, cleared
a chair In his path at a single bound,
darted out at the psrior door, down tho
narrow passage, and out at the front
door, almost in less time than it takes
me to narrate the fact; only to return,
however, In less than sixty seconds, and
drop apparently speeches. and exhaust
ed into the chair he had previously va
Gated.
well, did you see anything?" ques-
toned Kate hoarsely, whilst both the
other girls drew a long deep breath.
"Nothing-no onel' responded Dick
in awe-stricken tones, gazing blankly
round.
"now strangel" groaned Nell in sep
ulchral tones. yet 1t was plain-plain
as ones own face in a glass;"
"Plain-what was plain?' asked the
vicar, reused from the veritable SUM
Der which had overtaken him at last,
and glancing round with the injured
air of a man prepared to resent as a per-
sonal insult any i%nsinuati0n that he has
temporarily strayed from his own fire
side to the shadowy realms Of nod.
"Why, what on earth's the matter?
You all look as though you'd seen a
ghostl"
Then by general accord the three
girls, and mamma herself, not less than
Dick, burst into n fit OF uncomfortable
laughter-laughter which had an hys-
terical echo, and an undercurrent sus-
piciously akin TO sobs repressed; in
deed, Edie calmly produced her hand
kerchief. and wiped her eyes, declaring
she had laughed till veritable tears
ran down her cheeks"
but what is it all about?' the vicar
questioned with q rising sense Of griev-
ance, in that apparently he was TO be
excluded from participation in what
was evidently so excellent a joke.
Instead of answering him, however,
the family party continued to stare
blankly at one another, until Dick al
length broke the silence, turning Il
Kate with a melodramatic air: kitty.
tell me, did my eyes deceive me, or did
did | really see-over there, at the
window, pressed against the p%ane-lust
between the shutters, which seemed L
have been pushed apart, a"
a" echoed the three girls stimuli
taneously; then by tacit consent ali
paused.
"A what?" the vicar demanded impa-
tiently. "Dick, don't stand gaping there
like a fool; but open your mouth anG
speakl Mamma, Kate, l insist, tell mt
what you SAW"
What did you see, Dick?" Kat
questioned slowly beneath her breath,
turning to her brother, ''or you, Edie!
Nell mamma - why does no one
speak,"
II saw-or fancied I saw" began
Dick cautiously, "a small lie
paused. looking appealingly at Nell.
White face. pressed against the win
dow-pane!" she continued, taking up
the parable boldly; 1.-The face of-of Q
girl"
'All clothed in white. it seemed to
me-" Edith went on excitedly. each sis
ter being ready and eager o TO add
her testimony of the astounding truth,
once the ice had been effectually brok-
en- land with long elfin locks streaming
in the wintry breezeYn
"Vide Chronicles of the Barnes Com
mon Ghost" supplemented Dick in
low solemn tones. IF you quote, Edie,
why not quote correctly, and duly rem.
der up your authority"
What in Heavens name is all this
nonsense, childreny" questioned the vi
car, rousing himself for action, and
now thoroughly annoyed. Dick, I'm
,~,seal NJ xa.,f nn, s,a1aaI. onI
wife, really I wonder you encourage
ridiculous talk of this nature!'
but. Herbert dear, IL saw it too!'
faltered pool Mrs. Carlisle, turning
wide-opened eyes towards her husband;
II did, indeed. my dear"
Saw what?" the vicar yelled, spring
ing to his feet.
SHer! papa" "She! dad" at
father" simultaneously escaped the
lips of the wears three daughters;
some of whom, in this moment of emo
ton, waxed more emphatic than gram
NAUTICAL, as the reader w~ell-versed in
Lindley Murray may observe.
The Barnes Common Ghost" Edie
added boldly. ''of whom we were speak.
ing but a few minutes ago. She opened
the shutter and just peeped in, and then
disappeared-as they always do-in O
trice, before one could draw BREATH"
And when Dick rushed out" con
tinued Nell, behold. she had left nc
sign. Dick, without doubt it was the
merciful wandering spirit, who cans &c
see tiff the carriers had obeyed her
and whether you were safely housed
Though, after all."Kate opined con
temptuously, one would hardly think
q ghost required ocular demonstration
Of a fact. / rather incline to the belle,
that creatures of that sort know every
thing by instinct, and"
But the vicar interfered peremptorily
at this juncture, expressing himself
!, both grieved and shocked that intelll
gent and carefully-educated girls. mucl
less daughters of his, could condescent
to speculation of this vulgar nature
He hardly knew whether he was mos
disguised by their ignorance, or indig
nant at Dicks fopIery. lie sterniy Tor
babe the very mention of ghostlore fol
the remainder of the evening, and mucl
regretted that he must consequent,
, deprive the company, by way OF pun
ishing their frivolity, of a long-prom
Used treat in the shape OF q Celebrates
Christmas story OF Dickens's-treatin,
of hobgoblins in general. and a highly
interesting spectre in particular-whicl
he had previously undertaken to rea'
aloud when they should all be assemble'
j - n n-.-.l- - rk-e... H.