The free press., 1897-07-08

drowsy afternoon in spring, and
had been asleep. Even after ]
aked, the sweet drowsiness OF
mber was ON me, and l lay for some
Il with closed lids in that thought,
4 dreamless state between sleep
waking. Suddenly I became
are Of a presence in the room and
ened my eyes expecting to see my
ID Instead saw fash of black
lore nv eyes, q flash that shimmered
quivered like superheated air and
appeared while l was blinking my
Is to see what it all meant, but
alone in the room. The thing
he me a queer sensation, and 1 lay
lite still for some moments shutting
| opening my eyes to see if the
ck fash reappeared. But it did
|; there was only sort of tired
ling back of my eyes.
Malaria, I said resignedly, and
nt to look for Amelia to get her to
Ike me lemonade.
found the little maid watering the
wers down in the paved court.
ned over the banisters with my face
my palms, lazily watching her swat
dusty aloe, her deft little hands
stening like copper where the sun
ched their wet brown fingers.
DO you believe in ghosts, Amelia?'
&sked, YEARLY.
'Oh, yes, mamzelle." said the little
id in her pretty French, as she
med her scared, brown face up to
X at me. Don't you?"
'Of course not" I answered, ''but
thirsty, Amelia.
Then she ficked the water from hel
Ppery fingers and went away to mix
pol drink of lemon and lime juice
lch no one could make so well.
When the little maid was gone, Aunt
ly poked her big white kerchiefed
Pd from her kitchen door, nodded
me moment and then came toilina
the steps.
You been sleep in de libr'y, amt
,, honey?" she said when she had
|ddled quite close to me.
Yes" | answered, wonderingly.
Das mighty po' place to sleep,
le," she said.
Why, Aunt 'Cilla?" / asked.
Case tits" she answered, lacon-
ly, noddings her head backwards
Yard Amelia, who was coming up the
ps behind her.
rs jess tellin' mamzelle she Better
X you git de feather duster and
fsh de dust off'n dem bananas an6
palm'fo you sprinkle's 'em, 'Melia, ;
= the old woman as she waddled
All right, Aunt ella, "said the lit
maid, as she left me to my lemon
and to wondering what the old
man meant.
mad told my aunt upon the first
OF possession, that the house We
h was worthy to be haunted.
Ee always wondered why my aunt
feeted it. 1t was, in many respects,
ieast prepossessing of any that the
Fn' showed us, yet to be sure it had
grandeur about it, sort stately,
ccoed, Creole grandeur, which was
sether charming to our eyes thai
ield New Orleans for the first time
'le house was plain and tall and
aisnt and square; there were ne
~ and cranks about its appearance
'ne outside, though the interio,
an that the most fanciful hear
N,a~are There was an open court
Church. aroated fountain in the
account oraggy, scaly palm that
,obo., ast one of the brick pill
'0' convsupper gallery; there
T. p. Towiaors, winding stair
d.. Law" panels which LEI
sy hight fronplosets which were
MS family in Jelity,l but which, t'
Lawless conok became s aaIs teemlns M
wife to New d
snc lmparts ther the house, il
''on of a gradutner, and fount
her health and hidden
pa was helping
The Third Q uar : ma11 and .ass mas% :,
~ Inc Lumberton y little maid
aela at Richburg, thes The bcol
,o., luu'ng Saturday and Sh,lf 1fe and md'
Vsn and 11th lnsts. Mr,ack O
| nestly urges each stfhereir
poplarville church to sort 2 2,
,H'ohburg Rev. O. 4ime il
! \ preside. (bweb,
N two
~ ~ .l4as M. I'll vs. ~ .ls|s 5R En8I01