Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-17
AUNT COMFORT.

lady, in borlbazine Dress just 'iie
color of her false front, a quilted SIX
hood, edged with fur, scarlet WOOL
en- scarf and an umbrella which
might have cone out OF Inc ark itself,
so antique and ponderously fashioned
was it And her spectacles gllmmer-
ed in the twilight Of the early winter
evening like miniature moons.
"Yes'm," the driver gruifly an
swered from his elevated situation;
"ths 'ere's the hollow
"lts dreadfully lonely spot, Said
Miss Comfort.
"Well, | never heard 1t called very
lively" said Joseph Jones. Come up
Whitefoot-what We bout"
"Are there any bears or hyenas in
these woods?" hesitated Miss Dixie
man.
BLESS your heart, ma'am, no!
Han't been these twenty year! Here's
the road that leads up to Squire Pom
sonby's, il that's where you're goln'."
And he drew rein opposite a grass
grown road, which wound lis way
into the woods.
Il s'pose they'll be down here some
on 'em, to meet you said he. as he
helped Miss Comfort Dikeman to
terra frma. I'D wait a spell, ef |
wasn't behind with the Peckyli!e
mails, but"
."Oh, it isn't necessary at all" said
Miss Dikeman, looking rather fur
ously, and taking up her carpet-bag
and bundle. IL can soon walk tnere."
ut is a little lonesome, she
Thought, "but it will be so nice TO
surprise Marian and the girls
And she turned and began to
trudge up the hill with new resolu'
ton.
ITS long way" said Miss Com.
fort, dolefully, to herself but jus.
then friendly red star glowed
through the network Of boughs-the
light from the crimson-curtained
windows of the old Ponsonby man
sion! And Miss Comfort Dikeman
took courage and plodded bravely on.
"0h, mamma, I'm sure heard
some one step on the plaza floor. And
do hear Rover barking! Mamma, do
you think it's burglar?'
Don't be goose, child" said Mrs.
Ponsonby; but Effie could see her
mothers startled glance toward the
window.
Mamma, you're never going to
open the door!" as q little knock
came to the panels without. RE-
member we are all alone in the house.
We may be robbed or murdered! Oh,
dear, dear, why did papa go away
and leave us all alone? Why didn't
he at least wait until the boys were
home from college?" and Effie Pom
son'by chung hysterlcally TO- ner
mothers arm.
care they never coming to let me
in?" Miss Comfort Dikeman thought,
with chattering teeth and nose dyed
in cerulean blue. eve a great mind
to peep in at the windows and see
what they're all about"
ring the dinner bell, mamma"
cried Eifie. ''Patrick will be sure to
hear Papa said If anything hap.
pened we were to ring the dinner bell
out of the back window. Oh, run,
mamma-quick, please"
"Teas ready" said Miss Comfort,
already, in her imagination, shining
the Chinese fragrance. There goes
the bell"
But when Mrs. Ponsonby came
back, herself nervous and alarmed,
she found Effie in a state of wnd ter
r0r.
Mamma, mammal it was a ghost"
she shreked, wit a bloody mark
upon its throat, anc great livid eyes!
| saw it myself at that very window!"
"Eifie. I'm astonsbed at YOU" said
PonsonLy, trying to speak collective
ly. "a ghost, in deed! Hush, control
yourself, Etfle, | insist. Patrick will
be here presently and them
FLUSH, mammal" and Effie held up
her plump fingers. "0h, thank Provi-
dence--here he comes now"
And Miss Comfort Dikeman, pa
tlen,ly waiting with carpet-bag and
umbrella for sorle one to come and
let her in, was nearly terrified out of
her senses by heavy steps rushing
across the'veranda and a rough hand
m her bombazne cloak.
TITS yourself, is it, painted Pat
rick, "frightenln the ladies out o.
their Swim senses, when the mashter
ain't at home. But I'll teach yez."
"Ruifan, unhand mel" tragicaly
cried out Miss Comfort. in her dis
may; but Patrick only pulled the
harder.
Mike! Teddy" he roared, cts the
ould gypsy-wife, that robbed the
Een-roosts night before last and took
Biddy's wash off the bushes between
daylight and dark. Sure, don't |
know the ugly mug Of her? Come,
boys, quick, an we'll shut her up in
the ould corn-crlb till the masther
comes home to clap her into the Jail,