The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-11-30

his appearance attired in a bran-new
suit. and a high collar that rasped his
chin whenever he turned his head. He
waited in the parlor till Winnie COM
pleted her preparations. When she APP
peared he presented her with small
bouquet OF his mothers geraniums and
a bag of peppermint lozenges. Winnie
accepted these offerings with smile
that made Bob's heart beat rap
turously.
Then they started for the school
house. A little snow had fallen, coz
ering the brown fields, and powdering
lightly the green foliage of pine and
cedar; little patches of it chung to the
bare boughs of other trees, as if to
cover their wintry nakedness. The
moon had not yet risen, but the light
of the faded day seemed to linger over
the landscape.
Beautiful night, isn't ftp" remarked
Bob, holding open the gate for Winnie
to pass through.
"Yes," answered Winnie, carelessly.
Don't the bushes look pretty, drifted
with snov?" went ON Bob.
sual from Bob, who, as a rule, main
tanned strict silence till Winnie, in
desperation, made some comment on
the weather. Bob was evidently work
ing himself up into sentimental mood,
and there was no telling to what it
would lead.
SLOW ghostly Indian hill looks, sug-
gested Winnie, glancing toward the
haunted, spot, white and desolate in the
twilight. !,
h Bob looked toward the place and
shEered Involuntary, as the many
stories concerning it required to him.
did you ever see the Indian chief
that haunts the hill?" continued Win
ME, wickedly.
''No, / never did, but lots of people
have" said Bob. at is sure sign of
bad luck, they say; Uncle Sam Gibson
saw him few nights before he broke
his leg, and Joe Smith just before his
house burned"
ut would be a great experience to
see ghost, though. 1 almost wish he
would make his appearance now," re-
marked Winnie. But her companion
shuddered at the very thought
They soon reched the schoolhouse,
where Winnie escaped from her escort,
and sought the society of some friends.
The pupils of the rival schools took
their places on the floor, and spelled
without intermission till they were. all
tired out Then everybody prepared to
set out for home.
Lets follow the path across the
fields" proposed Winnie, as they were
leaving. Its ever so much nearer"
But that leads right past Indian
hill" objected Bob.
''You aren't afraid?" demanded Win
ME, scornfully.
mo, I'm not" declared Bob, some
what nettled, II was only thinking you
| might be-"
So across the fields they went. Bob
derived some satisfaction for the insult
offered him in the pleasure of assisting
Winnie over the.fences. AS they drew
near the haunted spot, Winnie herself
felt anything but bold, and, fixing her
eyes on the lights of her home gleam-
ing in the distance, she hurried along
They were crossing the last fence at
the very foot of the hill, when Winnie,
standing on the fence, with her hands
on the top rail, involuntarily raised her
eyes. Instantly they fell upon an OBJ
ject terrifying to the boldest heart.
Outlined against the sky was a tall.
dark figure, seemingly wrapped in a
white blanket, and decked about the
head with feathers. The-old chief was
keeping his silent vigil over his sleep
ing braves
Winnie uttered an inarticulate cry
and pointed with trembling finger
toward the hin. Bob raised his eyes
and saw the specter. For an instant
he stared at it with gaping mouth,
and then, with yell of terror, turned
and fed.
Winnie, left to her fate, started 20
follow. But, getting the better of her
fright, she checked herself, and turned
to get another view of the apparition.
When she had done SO, despite the fact
that she was alone at that hour of mid
night in a haunted locality, she sat
down and laughed more heartily than
she had ever laughed before in her life.
For the ghost was only blackened
stump, partly covered with snow, and
close beside it grew cedar shrub,
whose bushy top had formed the feath-
cry headdress. Seen from the fence
the perspective was just right to pre-
sent to the excited vision the exact ap-
pearance of the Indian ghost as 1T was
SO often described.
. s"Why, Miss Ford, what Is the mat
terss
:. 1t was Ridley's voice that interrupted
Winnie's fit of laughter. He, too, had
followed the shortest road, and was
much surprised to come upon Winnie
alone by the wayside. Controlling her
mirth, she explained the situation.
Then she invited him to go back to the