The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-31
The GhoStly ManifcS-
tatiOnS of Aunt
DruSlla.
by ELISABETH PlJLLEN,
Author of "The NIan from Aldone.''
y Bachelor Johusn

quite ready to leave the room she lett
the photograph where it lay. Finally
she picked it up. averting her eyes
, from it. and set it in its place. Then
she hastened 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
erence. And he set her up again.
He did not see the fright in Corinna's s
eyes. All that evening the girl sat with
her shoulders toward the picture: If ii
sprang down again she did not wish to
see that. Once, indeed ii seemed to
her that she heard a light thing strike
on the floor; hut 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 so 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 it re-
main The strange contest Of wills be-
tween herself and the unCanny piece of
pasteboard dspirited and wearied Co
rinna. Finally she put the photograph
away i'm the table drawer and hoped for
peace. She did not wish to coniide 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 watcher for
Herbert's coming her father. who was
adjusting a window-shade roller in her
little parlor. called to her: ''Corinny.
where is aunts picter?'
She saw the gleam of the car light
down the road. but she must run to
find the photograph. Her father took
ii in his hand.
"a pleasant likeness. Looks almost
pooty," he commented. Hel;tood hold
ing it. studying the face. Then he heard
the sound of the approaching car.
"Therc. run along, Corinny," he bade
her, good -naturedly.
And, not to mar the lovers meeting
he remained just where he was. gazing
at the picture until he judged IT discreet
to appear and welcome young Jennison.
Then he set Aunt Drusilla in her place
and went out into the entry. Glad to
see you. Herbert" he said, cordially.
But late 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 1t. 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
tho MI, n Al Ih lut that NnIlll dis
please her father. Moreover, what
would he the use. since if the ghost of
Aunt Drusilla really took that menas
of disturbing the lovers. no doubt her
unkind spirit could find other ways to
the same end. Corinna decided to bear
these poSt-mortcm spteS as she had
borne the whims and ratings ofsAunt
Drusilla i'm the flesh But the girl began
to grow pale and thin: there was an
anxious pucker in her pretty, white
brow; her manner was listless and ner-
VOus. Her mother noticed this change
in Corinha; hut, having decocted and
prescribed "a tonic Of bitter herbs, she
plunged headlong into spring clean
ing" which from that moment occupied
all her mind. Beside Corinna declared
that nothing was the matter with her.
And spring weather let's everybody
down." Sarah Brockway concluded.
one gusty, rainy evening of late April
it seemed to Herbert that as he and
Corinna entered the parlor together she
started as if frightened. What is IT,"
he asked her.
Nothing, nothing" answered Co.
rnna.
He looked at her. Her lips were