Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-06
ETsl

.4sNNIlD -
I find IL on the floor While you are
reading to me that dreadful thing tot
ters forward and then leaps off the shelf
toward us. i didn't want you to know
about 1t. 1 thought / could keep it
from you, because you always sit with
your back that way. But tonight
we staid awhile talking with father and
mother-and Aunt Drusilla had been
mentioned. Observation-Disclosures, I'm
afraid of her! You know what she said
that she would haunt us!" The blue
eyes of the girl were strained with ter
ror; there was a husky trcmor in her
voice.
Don't be afraid" said her lover.
THAT was easy for Aunt Drusilla to
say-but they don't come back from
the other world. She didn't have any
tioketwhen she went over
the Stygian ferry that we read about,
and old Mr.. Charon, of Charonsville
won't deadhead her this way again"
So, staid with reason and comforted
with the classics-or, ia Their, such very
slight and secondhand acquaintance
with them as they had-the lovers
PASSED pleasant evening. Thrice, in
deed, did the likeness of Aunt Dru-
silla stir and pitch forward as II to
menace them, then stagger and drop to
the floor. Each time did Herbert, who
had seated himself where he could keep
an eye on the image Of the bag, take
her up untenderly and replace her on
the shelf.
"Will you set where you're sot?" he
inquired Of her stcrnly, quoting an adj
monition Of Neighbor Dunn to her
youngest child, who on one occasion in
his presence had been an mquict pas
scngcr in the electric car.
But tits no use testing with ghosts;
for all that we call them "old true
penny" and "old MOLE" they chill the
marrow Of the bones and prick the hair
on end. SO when Herbert had set Aunt
Drusilla in place for the third time he
ceased reading and fell on thought.
Corinna watched him anxiously. Final
ly he spoke, consulting his timepiece:
Eve will read thirteen minutes more"
said he. "Then we will listen, at the
same time keeping our eyes fixed on
that bewitched old photograph. I'm
less I am mistaken, Corinna, we shall
learn something to our advantage"
She was puzzled, but all her trust was
in Herbert. Ten minutes were gone,
and she hitched her chair little t'urcr
to his; when he held out the dial of
his watch to show her that twelve min
utes had passed she slipped her little
finger into his hand with the action of
timid child. Then they heard a far
away sound that mixed with the wind
and the rush of the rain, but was more
unvarying and stronger than those.
"That is the electric car" said Her
bert. 'Steady, Corinnal Look ut your
aunt"
And truly, just rs the car Numbered
by, the photograph OF Aunt Drusiila
reared itself like viper and leaped
from the mantel shelf. Corinna gave {.
slight scream and started TO her feet.
But Herbert was laughing.
1 ought to have thought of that at
once" he said. Don't YOU under
stand, Comma? There a ledge
of rock that runs across the street and
by this side Of the house. That is the
reason that the grass cannot take deep
root here, and turns yellow; shat is
why the old birch has pulled up stakes
to run away. When the car goes over
the ledge, it jars this room and makes
the photograph jump. That is all,
truly, my dear girl Twill lay the ghost
for you; l will bring a neat and rather
solid flame for the picture tomorrow.
And 1 warrant you that from this out,
Aunt Drusilla will behave herself"
Herbert kept his word, bringing n
heavy standing frame in gilt metal.
Holman Brockway thought it very
handsome in the future son-in-law to
do such honor to the aunt who had
been so ungcntle to the lovers"
81 take i. cry kind of you, Herbert"
he said. ""Tis right, tbs accordin' to
religion. You're kind o hcapin Goals
of fire onto her head, a-gittin' that nice
frame for her pictcr, 1t shows good
disposition in you, Herbert. An that
promises well for Corinny's happiness
! guess she's doin' we'll to marry you"
And Aunt Druslla--as woman, ghost
or photograph-troubled them no more
THE END.