The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-07

The house with its mhssiNe tlihpois,
huge freplaces and many secret passage
ways. teemed with interest for some de-
lighttul romance or blood curdling ad-
venture of by-gone generations was con-
nected with every nook and corner OF the
dear old ancestral homestead.
Here it was that her neices and
nephews aways looked forward with keen
est delight TO spending few weeks IN
summer, and time at Aunt Cynthias
seemed to fly with the speed of wings
and much too soon our visits were at an
end.
All day long we would spend driving
over hin and dale after old Doll, the farm
horse. or gathering flowers by the river
hanks and sometimes spending whole
days strolIing about in the woods, Tor
there were many idoal picnic grounds
hut when evening was come ana the OUT
side world was cold and chill as III ire
uucntly was on the mountain side, we
were delighted to huddle together about
the Old fireplace on which huge logs were
snapring and cracking and there wo
would while away the timo passing lohes
and conundrums and what was better
still. li,tsning 70 Aunt Cynthia's STIR
ring tales of by-gone days, ana often,
rines when strong northeast wlnd
was rattling about the raftcrs or bowling
down the chimney, she would pause ana
grow very serious M
DO YOU hear that, children sho
would say, as a particularly mourllui
blast would cause uvefyole IN tie room
10 shuddcr Just sucn nights rs TINS are
when tho spirits are oitenest abroad on
the earth.
''Why, have often sat here where am
sitting now aud heard the spirits voices
so distinctly that could almost cali onch
b. ramc, and, now and aga n, 20 ne nhhu
would tap mo lightly on the shoulder ana
whisi or something IN my ear, and though
I would turn ever so quickly, nothing
could be scen only | could hear "a faint
muttcring, just as tho wind SOUNDS tonight
after heavy gust has sIont its force.
Aunt Cynthia was firm believer III
what are iamiliarly known as spirits, and
once fairly launched upon her favorito
there. she would settle bnck in her chair,
letting her knitting work fall lightly IN
her lar, ana tell us weird tales OF visits
of rhe spirits To this old house in years
gone by.
She would tell us that for one whole
week a light was seen in the attic win.
dow at certain hour each evening, and
within few dsys afterward her own
father was found lying on the barn noor
stricken with paralysis, and when theY
brought him into the house unconscious
ery because OF the light she had seem
which is sure sign of death
And then she would tell us how ofton
wi on she had sat in the same place where
che was then sitting and had felt sorey
tried and IerplexeG over some difiiculN,
the spirits of departed friends bad III i
denly appeared, advising her IN her truu-
bles and and soothing away all her cares
until she felt "A perfect peace and calm
steal over her.
Aunt Cynthia would entertain us with
these weird, uncanny tales until the
hour for retiring arrived, when We wolld
go upstairs huddled close together ana
start at any sudden no.se rs II we cx'
pected TO see the spirits themselves spriua
out at us, and long after we were in bed
we would lie awake and listen TO the
. meaning of the -wind, afraid To 80 &c
sleep and utter half-supprossed cry
when a heavy gust would shake tn,
house and rock the bed on which we were
lying.
But ms time went by and we were never
mt all moested by Aunt Cynthia's spirits,
we gave little thought To- them only as
weird, uncarny tales, which fascinated
us en- wild. clustering night, until {
certain event happened which rather un-
cxpectedly thrust thCm upon my notice.
IL Was late In August and my Co}sir
Dorothy and myself had been spending
two delightful weeks at Aunt Cynthia
and Just before our visit ended Cousin
Irwin came down FROM the city 90 sronC
few days, bringing with him friend
DR. George Brooks, a medical student
The remainder of our stay was spent
in helping Irwin point out TO bis front
the many beauties aBd attractions 0i tn,
surrounding country TO their best poSsibl,
nc vantage.
On tho last evening of our visit, We
wcro all standing by the sitting room
xxf
and valley, which were resplondent IL
tfe clear mellow light of the full moon
"Isn't 10 magnificent, sublimc" snit
Cousin Irwin, as he gaZed far away owe
tho pulioraina. : IL II he many "A montl
before we shall see its like again, In
thinking.
"And whnt a shame that we must leav,
IL all jest as IL is looking its finest, sni'
DOROTHY But as tho iron bands Of th'
old fashlncd time piece in the corne
pointed TO the hour OF nine, we reluc
tantly turned our backs upOn the seen,
at the window, and taxing a lighto.
cnnd g slowly projected up tie stairs I,
t7e rooms above, closely followed by Aun
CYNTHIA with whom IL WAS an uuwrittaI
iaw that each member OF her housohol,
should he In bed as near nine O'Clock "a
possible.
In remarkably short SPACE Of tim,
afser going TO our rooms. the loud re-
sonant sounds which proceeded from
Aunt Cynthia's rooms with regularity
eave proof that she hHd reached the lane
II pleasant dreams and happy self.forget
fulncss.
Dorothy and l were also not long ii
tourneying thither, tut just bow long
had been nsleep canuo. tell when | wa
suddenly awakened by Aunt Cynthia
firm grasp upon my shoulder.
wake up cLiidroc,' she said, "th
spirits arc abroa tonight maginl
melody. It's not Oi.en they c1u be hcart
60 plainly as they arc touight
Ard as she spoke thure came floating al
the stairway from che rooms below, th
most wonderful music / had ever hear
in my whole life. at least so seemed Z
mo "a the soft strains penetrated tht
soiemn stiffness Il the night.
Instantly felt tho cold moisture on IN
forehead and we two girls clung tighti
10 Aunt Cynthia for fear. in some mysteri
Gus way. she might slip away from u
leaving us 20 the mercy Of the spirits
For certainly i've miDutes, the musi
continued without cessation when ther
was n solemn stiffness again. but only 70