Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-12-23
the lower doors, and she knew dinner

the lower doors, and she knew dinner
was about to be announced.
They were quite at the other end of
the table at dinner, which was not the
function the Christmas banquet itself
was to be, with the children waiting up
stairs for their tree; and Mrs. Boards
ley's great eyes did not fairly take in
the people who were interesting her till
she saw Fidelia standing against the
dark background of the forest tree with
it's great star glittering over her head
while Vesalenyi passed her the last of
the gifts to distribute, which Mrs.
Beardsley observed she did as a young
queen might do. And then she led the
children in their shrill choral, Mr.. Vesa-
lenyi playing for them at the piano, and
the maids came and swept the little peo-
pie off with their treasures.
tits as good as German favors with a
nouveau richie" said Fannie Forbes
''What was your loot, Maria?' as she
held up her own jeWeled slick-pin.
''Look at Annals prayerbook, if you
please. If those are not Sixteenth cen
fury covers, may l guess again"
you seem so slangy, Fanny"
Seems, madame-nay, am! AS we'll
be out of the world as not Of the world
[ assure you | can talk English. though,
as we'll as the prince yonder. What are
they going to do now? Ghost stories?
Oh, fine!'
Mrs. Beardsley is going to do some
sort of ghost business" said Archie,
crossing the room to them.
'Who is this Mrs. Beardsley! asked
Mrs. Vanslicken, lifting her glass.
ITS not so easy to say who she is"
began Anna.
GAS what she is" said Archie. "You
can call her a hypnotist, or a mind
reader if you prefer. mahatma. a
ghaudana, power of the air"
'That doesn't brighten me for a cent?
said Fanny Forbes.
But Archie saw Fidelia standing
alone. and was off,
ooh, yes" Mrs Beardsley was saying
in her clear and resonant voice, Il have
seen ghosts
you! Mrs Beardsley! You have seen
ghosts!' came chorus of voices.
L can make you; see them
Mrs. Beardsley!'
would you like?'
There was an instants silence.
ooh, something apropos of Christmas
eve" she said. Startling, perhaps, but
Illuminating"
They had all gathered behind Mrs.
self with her white ostrich feathers on
the opposite side of the fire from Mrs.
BeardSley.
Madame" said Archie, whom Mrs.
Murray Douglass had detained and kept
by herself, this is very creepy
1T shall be more so, if you will. Obey
me, and [ promise you"
"A ghost to make our hair curl, said
Fanny Forbes. Bring him on. Mrs.
Beardsley. 1t will have to be Il real
midnight prowler to chill my blood, after
the ghost | saw in the hunting field last
month when Hassan came a crupper and
the whole winter without a dance started
up before my eyes"
Il suppose this old house is full of
historic and ghostly possibilities, said
Mrs Vanslicken.
Il shall not show you the ghosts of
this old house. | shall show you only
the ghosts that have walked in your
own particular churchyards. There is
one condition. You will promise to tell
what you see"
''Oh. we PROMISE
Where shall we look for them 2" said
Archie.
You can look at Miss Searles. Herer'
She rose quickly, detaching her needle
and threw her j,eweled5 altar,scarf over f
standing half way down the room.
You can fix your eye on that, Archie
Bleeckher"
An agreeable thing to do said young
Peters.
You are going to call spirits from the
vastly deep, Mrs. Beardsley?' said Archie
his unbiased gaze on Fidelia. We'll, I
am with Hotspur. Will they come when
you summon them by our fixing our eyes
upon this shining thing? A ghost
apiece"
You will have two, Archibald Bleeck-
her" said Mrs. Beardsley.
I don't know why should be so dis
tinguished." said Archie, humbly. But if
my merit warrant it.
He stopped suddenly and felt himself
grow white. Where was he? What had
happened? What were the watts of cool
air in his face? He was surrounded by
darkness; he was conscious of shudder,
as if cold steel had touched his back.
And-what was this before him-tall and
fair, exquisitely fair, clad in trailing cloth
of silver, and wearing a coronet, every
spike of which glittered with a great dia-
mond. What a glory was this on the
face full of all sweet and strong benigni-
ties-the face full of the bright spirit that
was doing some great work among
wild people, as he knew, but knew not
by what sense he know. Was it the face
of some young princess wearing the hon.
oTs graciOuSly-Or Stay-was it the face
of FideEia Searles-or was it that his
obsessiOn was not quite complete? Then
he trembled and his glance wandered.
and he came to himself, if from himself
he had been away.
Are you satisfied, Mr.. Bleeckher?''