The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-03-03

"a grammar. Whera
that queenly Imogene when VOW
er's first love was murderer" Ofo
"She was here. She was To h,
one of the bridesmaids"
All! What a delightful tea ro.
have" she ratified on; and IooS,e
her gay. careless face, an indjfrero.
server would not have believed thas
ever had serious thought in ba. y
Helen had not been long at thu
before she got hint of the b.a'
chamber and she at once made t.,a
with the servant, and obtainaa
whole story. Instantly she mada
solve. She meant to sleep in that -.
and fathem the mystery. She was,
OF strong nerve and undaunted ~
age, and not by any means inc,,ras
superstition. During the day she =.
the chamber visit without the bn..
edge OF any OF the household
1t was large lofty room, with VIII.
ceilings and paper hangings Of a ~
rose color and white. 1t had been srr'
tously furnished, but now the dpu, !.
thick and dark over everything y
great windows were hung with ~
webs and the closed blinds gave \
mittance to no ray of sunshine. Tn.
was the bed, snowy-curtained, whs,
she had last slept. BY Ralph's order,
had remained undisturbcd ever sin.l
Helen touched the costly trinket, u
the table with something like awe-nJ
membering who had used them lad
There was a knot of ribbon that M
murdered girl had worn on her bosom
there, too, was the little gold brooc,
that had fastened her collar. In Gloss
hung the bridal dress, spotted will
blood, side by side with the stiffenp
and stained veil. to which the des
orange flowers yet chung. Their pe,sl
crumbled to dust beneath the touch q
Helen, and emitted a faint, sickI
sweetness.
Helen Fulton, are you afraid
asked the girl OF herself, putting h,
hand on her heart to see If il be;
quicker than its wont. mo" she sal
Helen is not afraid. Not at all. Won
it be splendid to tell grandchildre
that their courageous grandmoth
slept in a genuine haunted chambe
Won't the little darlings creep into b,
in a hurry and wrap their heads
under the coverlet?"
When night arrived, Helen excus
herself early and went up to her char
Der. She dressed herself in a thic
warm dress, put a heavy shawl ov
her shoulders and making sure that {
lamp was full of oil, she made
noiseless way to the haunted chambt
entered, and, locking the door behil
her, put the key in her pocket.
meant TO be secure from all intrusic
Ghosts. she agreed would not need
open the door to get in, if they We
orthodox ones. The lamp burned brigi
ly and lighted up every nook and Ct
ner OF the apartment. Helen did 7
mean TO go TO bed; she sat on the 81
and crochetted, laughing a little to h,
self, at the idea of watching a GIT
and crochetting a sontag at the sal
time. A dead silence reigned. The wi
which had blown through the day 81
sided and not even a deathwatch tick
in the wainscot. The old clock chin
10, then 11-Helen's bright eyes beg
to droop. She was growing decided
sleepy, and before she knew it her he
had sunk to the arm of the sofa and |
was asleep!
The consciousness OF some presel
beside her own woke her suddenly.
started up and rubbed her eyes. A CT
current OF air swept over her, chilli
her from head to foot. The door int
passage stood wide open and her la
swayed in the blast of air like a will
tossed by autumn gales; and Just
hind the great arm chair where Mar
had sat when the fatal blow was stru
stood a tall figure enveloped in gal
white, and upon her head and over
face was the bridal, blood-stained '
Helen could have sworn it! The Ri
hand OF the spectre, the long, delics
marble-white hand was extended
ward the chair: the other was tigh
pressed against her heart.
Helen took step forward, but Def
she could lay a hand upon the stral
presence 1t returned, dropped the
upon the floor and vanished through
open door. Helen gave pursuit, but
long corridor was cmpty-there did
linger behind even so much as the e.
OF a foot. For this time the girl
baffled. But one thing she remember
The door OF that chamber had been
locked and the phantom had forgot
to lock II after her; she was unable
appeared, to pass through keyho