Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-07-25

age Of the upper verande' upon wnien
the long windows Of Prisciila's bed
chamber opened.
1t was an eerie illumination, and
Priscilla after she had sought her
couch, fell to watching 1t with still,
dreamy eyes, which presently grew
drowsy, then closed.
The night being so warm, she had
left the French window open. A soft
wind had arisen, and swayed the
dense clambering vine Of the veranda
gently, with q rustling sound. This
sound it might have been, or some
other, which aroused Priscilla present
| ly from the light slumber into which
she had just dropped.
Enclosing her heavy lids she saw a
sight that froze the blood in her veins.
Her husband had kept his threat-he
had, at her projected marriage, re-
turned from his grave.
In the window of the veranda,
lighted by the moon as it shone
through the vine, stood white figure,
small end slight, as If Peter had
shrivelled six inches IN the spirit
wolli. 1t entered the room, and a
long arm and hand, from which the
white drapery hoated, pointed to the
bed.
Priscilla gave a shrek and sprang
from the bed. But her paralyzed mus
cles would carry her no further.
With chattering teeth she tainted on
the carpet.
In three minutes there was an ir-
rvption of white figures in the room.
Priscilla was restored to consciousness
and screamed when she remembered
what had happened. But, needless to
say, there was no ghost on the veran-
da now.
The next morning there was an
early stir IN the cottage. At 10
o'clock Priscilla, in the deepest Wild
ow's weeds came out accompanied by
a maid, entered waiting carriage
and was driven to the railway station.
So swiftly and clsndestinely had it
oil been done that when Otto Lemmke
called later in the day he heard the
news with dumfounded mlen.
1t was Jessica who communicated
it, and che stood leaning against the
pillar of the porch, gazing up at him
intently, with eyes of sombre fire.
She ran off to get away from you,
she said. She was afraid that you
would insist on marrying her, and
that she'd be too weak to send you
off. And she saw ghost last night,
because she had said yes to you. Pet.
er always said he'd come back if she
wasn't true to everlasting. Bah! the
idea of you wanting to marry her!
She is 43, and she puts gold wash
on her front hair to hide the gray. |
Shame on you, l sayl What do you
do it for2 Because she's rich! Be-
cause she's richl'
The demeanor and the word were
unusual, but somehow they did not
surprise Otto Lemmke. He leaned
comfortably against neighboring pill
lar and smiled.
It's the FIRST time I've had real
ly good look at you for ever so long,
said he. How you've slipped out of
the way recently, just ike an eel.
You were gone when came in
But heard every word you said.
Oh, | heard your love-maklng last
night! Faugh! What lies you dc
speak! And all for money!
Jessical I'd give more for one
kiss OF yours-to have you for my
wife-than for all the money old Pc
ter left to this ripe widow, doubled
over hundred timesP
'Why did you not say SO, then, all
this timer angrily asked Jessica.
Did know it was you wanted?
And did you not know was ready
to marry you, though l was poor?'
'Why are men So weak? Vow
would have been married in three
months if I hadn't prevented it,
y our
Jessica turned on him with large
dignity.
You don't suppose Cousin Peter
really came back, do you2 l played
the ghost, of course. London It'd
Bits.