Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-06
beating eggs in the kitchen, her father

beating eggs in the kitchen, her father
chopping wood in the barn. the noise Of
the electric car that had passed the
house aud was speeding down the slope
Of the hill toward Neighbor Dunn's.
These everyday sounds dissolved the
spell. Corinna would not be silly; she
finished her task, busting everything
conscicntiously. But until she was
quite ready to leave the room she left
the photograph where it lay. Finally
ehe picked it up, nverting her eyes from
it, and set it in it's place. Then she
FASTENED away.
That evening when Corinna, accom-
panied by Herbert, opened the door Of
the parlor the likeness of Aunt Dru-
silla was lying upon the carpet.
"The old lady has tumbled Off her
perch" said Herbert, with scant rev.
crence. And he set her up again.
He did not sec the fright in Corinna's
eyes. All that evening the girl sat with
her shoulders toward the picture; if it
sprang down again she did not wish to
see that. Once, indeed, it seemed to
her that she heard light thing strike
on the floor; but at that moment Her.
bert was reading aloud and the car was
passing, so that she could not be GER
tain. When he arose to GO away she
followed him into the entry without
looking back.
At all events, the following morn
ing she found the photograph prone
upon The carpet, and there she let il re-
main. The strange co est of wills be-
tween herself and the uncanny piece of
pasteboard dispirited and wearied CO.
rinna. Finally she put the photograph
away in the table drawer and hoped for
peace. She did not wish to conlide her
fear to Herbert; of course, it was
fanciful dread, and he would laugh at
it, Neither would she let the charm of
the parlor be spoiled for him as it was
for her.
But one evening as she watched for
Herbert's coming her father, who was
adjusting q window-shade roller in her
little parlor, called to her: "Corinny,
where is aunt's pictcr?"
She saw the CLEAN of the car light
down the road, but she must run to
find the photograph. Her father took
it in his hand.
"a pleasant likeness. Looks almost
poorly" he commented. He stood hold
ing it,studying the face. Then he heard
the sound of the approaching car.
There, ran along, Corinny," he babe
her, goodnaturedly.
And, not to mar the lovers meeting,
he remained just where he was, gazing
Mt the picture until he judged it discreet
TO appear and welcome young Jenni-
son. Then he set Aunt Drusilla in her
place and went out into the entry.
"Glad to see you, Herbert" he said,
cordially.
But later that evening Corinna heard
again the light impact of the PASTE
board as it fell to the floor; and again
she would not look at it, but waited
until the wholesome daylight should
companion her, when she would lift the
evil thing and put it in its own place.
More than once in the days that fol-
lowed Corinna thought of destroying
the photograph, but that would dis
please her father. Moreover, what
would he the use, since if the ghost of
Aunt Drusilla really took that means of
disturbing the lovers, no doubt her UNI
kind spirit could find other ways to
the same end. Corinna decided to bear
these post-mortem spites as she had
horne the whims and ratings Of Aunt
Drusilla in the flesh. But the girl be-
gan to grow pale and thin; there was
an anxious pucker in her pretty, white
brow; her manner WAS listless and
nervous. Her mother noticed this