The Monticellonian., 1895-11-15

house. A nttle snow lau IdIleni GOV ering the brown fields, and powdering lightly the green foliage of t.iae and cedar; little patches of it clung 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 finger over the landscape.
 Beautiful night, isn't it?" remarked Bob, holding open the gate for Winnie to pass through.
 "Yes, answered Winnie, carelessly.
 Don't the bushes look pretty, drifted with snow2" went on Bob
 These remarks were something unu- eual from Bob, who, as rule, main- tained 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.
 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 recurred to him.
 Did you ever see the Indian chief that haunts the hill?" continued Win nie, wickedly.
 No, l never did, but lots of people have" said Bob. Ut is a sure sign of bad luck, they say; Uncle Sam Gibson saw him a few nights before he broke his leg, and Joe Smith just before his house burned.n
 q It would be great experience to see ghost, though. l 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. Its ever so much nearer.''
 
 hill," objected Bob.
 You aren't afraid?" demanded Win nie, scornfully.
 No, I'm not" declared Bob, some what nettled, "I 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 felt anything but bold, and, fixing her eyes on the lights of her home gleam- ing in the distance, she hurried along as fast us even Bob wished to go.
 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 ly raised her eyes. Instantly they fell upon an ob- ject terrifying to the boldest heart. Outlined against the sky was tall dark figure, seemingly wrapped in white blanket, and decl1ed 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 q trembling finger toward the hill. 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 fled
 Winnie, left to her fate, started to 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 fife. For the ghost was only a blackened stump, partly covered with snow, and close beside it grew a 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 It was SD often described.
 Why, Miss Ford, what is the mat ter?"
 It 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 fence and have q look at the ghost"
 Ridley was much amused, and said the object was startling. He didn't blame Bob for getting frightened would have been 50 himself But 1 don't think l should have deserted you," he added; and Winnie believed so too.
 However, both of them were disposed to forgive Bob, as he had given them the opportunity of walking home to- gether.
 MT. Ford locked displeased as they entered the house. But Winnie, with a greater show of anger than she felt, perhaps, hastened to tell her father of Bob's cowardly act. He made no com- ment; but never again did he urge his daughter to accept Bob as lover And that luckless youth, feeling that now all his efforts were vain, ceased to infiict his attentions upon her.
 But Winnie and the young school master remained excellent friends. When school closed and Ridley re- turned to college, you may be sure he did not cease to hear from the farmhouse. Before many years had passed-but I have no right to carry this story fur ther, for it was only to deal with the legend of Indian hill.
 Large Family.