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

"I'M GOING TO DIE AND I'LL HAUNT YeU."
She grew gradually weaker, and as
her forces lessened, her temper APP
peared somewhat milder. She some
times thanked Holman Drockway when
he lifted her. you've been real good
to me, for one that amt blood rcla-
ton" she said to Sarah one day. But
although she seldom rallied at the lovers
us indeed she rarely had the oppor-
tunity-she never spoke kind word to
Corinna. For all that the girl in her
timid way tried to please the aunt An
hour before the old woman died, she
spoke again of the marriage with Her
bert Jennison, but only to repeat her
uncanny threat: I'm going to die, and
II. haunt you"
1t could be only felt as n relief when
nt last Aunt Drusilla was laid away in
the village burying ground, under the
fir trees. Now she can rest--and give
other folks a rest too" commented Mr..
Dunn, returning from the grave,
Tho strain had been long upon
Sarah and Corinna; they felt depressed
and nervous, after the fashion of weary
women. 1t was time to plant early
peas; so that for Holman Broclway
there was work III the open air, which
Is the universal solvent for all imag-
mary and some real troubles. The
young people were to marry the next
October; they would live with the
parents of Corinna, and had decided to
use Aunt Drusilla's room as their own
parlor. Herbert thought that the fur
nishing of it would be a wholesome and
cheerful occupation for Corinna:
"Tirst, it can be well scrubbed and
aired to drive ont the blue devils" said
this practical lover, Then Corinna and
her mother must come in town and we
will go to choose the furniture and the
carpet. We may as well get the room
ready now, and have some good time
evenings in it. / declare, feel next door
to married when Corinna sits by the
lamp sewing while read aloud"
So the room was freshly painted and
papered; white muslin curtains were
hung at the windows; n three-ply car
pet of modest colors and pattern and
sofa and chairs covered with blue plush
very cheap and stylish, the dealer had
called them-made up little parlor
which, II not artistic. was cozy and the
pi.oe of the heart of good little girl.
When her father was ushered into the
transformed room he admired it great
ly. Then he began TO look vaguely
about him as if missing something.
II seem to want to see Aunt Drusil-
ly's picter in its place again, he said.
sob, no, father. 1t is our parlor now"
Corinna protested.
II know that, daughter, an you've
made it real pretty. But ] guess we
hev to remember that twas Aunt
Drusillas room before that, an that we
owe the house an farm an ali to her.
She was aggravatin', know; but she's
gone where she sees things different.
! expect she looks some like her photo
graph now, all kind of smoothed out
and pleasant. 1t would appear to me
like rememberin' of her at her hest an
gratefully, to set her picter up where
she always kept it. An it can't hurt
you and Herbert none, Corrny. l
should call it just an right act on
your part"
Holman Brockway had streak
of firm will, q mild form per-
haps of that Of his ,itigious
father and his grabbed aunt. lie spoke
gently, but Corinna knew that there
was no opposing him. 81 shall simply
die, to have Aunt Drusilla always be-
fore my eyes," the girl complained. But
her lover persuaded her that it was bet
ter to content her father. I'VE may get
to be quite fond Of the old girl, she
looks so pleasant; and then she can't
talk, which is an advantage" he said,
jestingly.
During the daytime Corinna did not
care to stay in the newly-furnished
room; she had tender little instinct
that she would enjoy it only in company
with Herbert. She busted ii carefully
every morning; then went out, closing
the door behind her, not recntering
there until the evening brought her
lover. He came by the electric cars now,
new suburban line had lately been
completed. At 1855 she could see the
headlight at the turn of the road, in two
minutes more she heard the hoarse hum
or the wheels; at 1855 Herbert would
swing himself Off the car. which pro-
ceeded just as if it were n6s deprived of
its one valuable freight. At eight r~c-
cisely, Corinna's parents having greeted
her lover, the young pair would find
themselves in their own little parlor.
They were not sure whether they en-
joyed that room most in the present or
in anticipation. 1t was very coy
for engaged people; they OWNED that it
would appear still cozier when they
should be married.
PART III.
But from the day that Aunt Dru-
silla's picture was restored to it's old
place Corinna's pleasure. in the room
was subtly blighted. The next morn
Ing when she entered it, singing, with
duster in her hand, the first thing
which she saw was the photograph,
that lay face downward upon the floor
about three feet iii-front of the fire.
place, as If it had leaped from it's sta
ton on the mantel shelf Corinna took
1t up and replaced it, without thought.
But she felt curious little shudder.
She went ON singing in her clear and
plcasent vAica while she duota,l tha