The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-12-28


fate. And it did.
On the appointed evening Bob made
his appearance attired in a bran-new
suit, and 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 a small
bouquet of his mothers geraniums and
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, COY
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 lnger over
the landscape.
Beautiful night, isn't it?" remarked
Bob, holding open the gate for Winnie
to pass through.
EYES," answered Winnie, carelessly.
Don't the bushes look pretty, drifted
with snow?" went on Bob.
These remarks were something unu-
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 a sentimental mood,
and there was no telling to what it
would lead.
"How ghostly Indian hill looks, 'sug-
gested Winnie, glancing toward the
haunted spot, white and desolate in the
twilight.
Bob looked toward the place and
shivered involuntarily, as the many
stories concerning it required to him.
ibid you ever see the Indian chief
that haunts the hill?" continued Win
ME, wickedly.
sNo, 1 never did, but lots of people
have" said Bob. at is a 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"
st would be great experience to
see ghost, though. 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.
"Let's follow the path across the
fields" proposed Winnie, as they were
leaving. ''It's 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,r declared Bob, some
what nettled, 81 was only thinking you
might be-"
So across the fields they went. Bot
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 herseli
felt anything but bold, and, fixing hei
eyes on the lights of her home CLEAN
ing in the distance, she hurried along
as fast as even Bob wished to go.
They were crossing the last fence a.
the very foot of the hill, when Winnie
standing on the fence, with her hands
on the top rail, involuntarily raised he
eyes. Instantly they fell upon an ob
ject terrifying to the boldest heart
Outlined against the sky was a tall
dark figure, seemingly wrapped in
white blanket, and decked about tn
head with feathers. The old chief wa
keeping his silent vigil over his sleep
ing braves.
Winnie uttered an inarticulate or.
and pointed with a trembling finge
toward the hin. Bob raised his eye
and saw the specter. For an instan
he stared at it with gaping mouth
and then, with yell of terror, turne
and fed
Winnie, left to her fate, started t
follow. But, getting the better of he
fright, she checked herself, and turnc
to get another view of the apparitior
When she had done so, despite the fas
that she was alone at that hour of mic
,, night in a haunted locality, she So
down and laughed more heartily tina
she had ever laughed before in her lifC
For the ghost was only blackene
stump, partly covered with snow, an
close beside it grew cedar shrul
whose bushy top had formed the featf
| L 90
the perspective was just right to PR
! sent to the excited vision the exact az
pearance of the Indian ghost as 1t wa
so often described.
"Why, Miss Ford, what is the ma
ter?"
: 1t was Ridley's voice that interruptc
= Winnie's fit of laughter. He, too, ha
: followed the shortest road, and w;
much surprised to come upon Winn
n alone nv the yavside Controlling h,