The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1897-07-10
The House of the Ink Spot.
NJ LAyINIA II. H3AN.

had been asleep. Even after
awaked, the sweet drowsiness
slumber was on me, aud lay for son
time with closed lids in that though
less, dreamless state between slee
and waking. Suddenly 1 becan1
aware of presence in the room an
opened my eyes expecting to see IN
aunt. Instead saw flash of blac
before my eyes,a fash that shimmere
and quivered like superheated air an,
disappeared while I was blinking m
eyes to see what it all meant, but
was alone in the room. The thin
gave me queer sensation, and / la,
quite still for some moments shuttin,
aud opening my eyes to see if tn
black flash reappeared. But 1t di'
not; there was only sort of tiret
feeling back of my eyes.
Malaria" said resignedly, and
went to look for Amelia to get her t,
make me lemonade.
l found the little maid watering the
flowers down in the paved court.
leaned over the bauisters with my face
in my palms, lazily watching her swat
the dusty aloe, her deft little hands
gistening like copper where the sun
touched their wet brown fingers.
''Do You believe in ghosts, Amelia?'
Issked, YEARLY.
ooh, yes, msmzelle." said the little
maid in her pretty French. as she
turned her scared, brown face up to
look at me. Don't you?"
"Of course not" l answered, "but
I'm thirsty, Amelia"
Then she flicked the water from her
coppery fingers and went away to mix
me the cool drink Of lemon and lime
juice which no one could make so
we'll.
When the little maid was gone. Aunt
Ciny poked her big white kerchiefed
head from Ter kitchen door, nodded
at me "a moment and then came toiling
up the steps.
"You been sleep in de libr'y. amt
you, honey" she said when she had
waddled quite close to me.
''Yes," / answered, wonderingly.
''Das mighty po' place to sleep,
chile" she said.
''Why, Aunt 'Cilla?" I asked.
"'Case It's" she answered. lacon
icAlly, nodding her head backwards
toward Amelia, who was coming up the
steps behind her.
''Ts jess tellin' mamzelle she better
mex You git de feather buster and
bresh de dust off'n dem bananas and
dat palm 70 You sprinkle's 'em, Melia, .
said the old woman as she waddled
away.
''All right, Aunt ella, said the lit
tie maid, as she left me 70 my lemon
ade and 10 wondering what the old
woman meant.
Ihad told my aunt upon the frs,
day Of possession, that the house We
took was worthy to be haunted. ]
have always wondered why my aun'
selected it, 1t was, in many respects
the least prepossessing of any that tn,
agent showed us, yet to be sure it hat
. grandeur about it, a sort stately
succeed, Creole grandeur, which wa.
altogether charming to our eyes tina
beheld New Orleans for the first time
But the house was plain and tall ant
straight and square; there were n,
quips and cranks about its appearance,
on the outside, though the interior
was all that the most fanciful hear
could wish. There was an open cour
with rusty-throated fountain in tn,
centre and scraggy. scaly palm tina
clambered against one of the brick pill
lars quite to the upper gallery; Their
we're marrow corridors, winding stair
ways and sliding panels which lie
upon inches and closets which wer
empty enough in reality. but which, +
my awakened fancy. became teemin
with suggestions of ghosts and 70
nance.
] rummaged all over the house, il
every crack and corner, and foun
many secret closets and hiddel
springs. One day Amelia Was helpin
me to arrange some books and mags
xines in the big, empty wall case i
the library. Suddenly the little mai
let fall = heavy volume. The boo
had slipped from q pile which she Wa
attempting to lay on the shelf ant
striking heavily against the back {
the case. opened q secret door therei
concealed and dropped with sort ,
broken fall into the niche behind.
IL needless TO say I lost no time
searching amid the dust and cobwe,
Of the little closet, where found tv
small oil pictures and little plast
bust With eager hands brush,
the dust from the pictures and. TAXI
them TO the light, found one 70 be 4
portrait Of . delicate, svset-faced b
with timid blue eyes and fair ha
Across the back u the canvas "
written: 'Jean, aged 10 years" I
othsr picture was Of . lad seemin,
Is or l6 years Of age. q handsome bla.
haired, black-eyed boy, whose
preston I did not like. The plss
esst vas the bead Of . grinnins Fa,
- stained and dust covered ss to