The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-10-31

IN room, reading an ancient aud
th-eaten copy of "Alonzo and
/ Melissa" which Miss Prudence had
rumma9ed out of an old chest, as a
hitting tribute to the sentimental
tastes OF her young cousin-sat up
until the fire on the hearthstone had
| dwindled down to n heap of white
ashes, aad the tall clock in the room
below was striking twelve, in solemn.
sepnichral tones.
Twelve o'clock! and [ promised
mamma / would not sit up late. "
Mabel hurriedly closed her book,
shivering slightly, and began to pre-
| pare for bed.
/ a low, moaning wind had risen, and
/ was murmuring, with said refrain,
around the old house; and rs Mabel
drew aside the snowy fringed curtain,
the moonlight, struggling through
dismal racks of flying cloud,
streamed iitfully in. Instinctively heI
eyes sought the cluster of pines on the
edge of the woods, that marked the
locality of the Haunted Spring.
What was it that paled her cheeks
and checked the warm life -current in
her veins rs she ga1ed? Not the ghost?
Yes, surely it was the ghost-some-
thing white, dimly visible, threading
its way in and out among the dark
trunks of the trees, now glimmering
into the patch of light, now disappear
ing entirely from view.
Hastily throwing IA shawl over her
shoulders, Mabel ran across the hall
to the room where her Cousin Prudence
slept.
''Prudencei-oh, Cousin Prudence!
l am so frightenedlr she cried,
Frightened, child! What's the
matter?"
Miss Prudence "a fearful sight to
behold, between her cap-border and
curl-papers-sat up in bed, rubbing
her eyes.
Come to my window, and see for
yourself" whispered Mabel, tremu-
lousy. ''rhe ghost!l'
Miss Prudence scrambled up, and
scudded across the hall, hurriedly as
Stunning her green calico double
| gown" as she went.
Are you sure you haven't been
asleep and dreaming. Mabel" she
asked.
81 have not been in bed at all, Pru-
dence. There, look at it,"
She chung conyulsively to the spins
ter's arm.
Miss Prudence herself quailed as
the white thing gided across an open
ing In the woods. when the moonlight
slept In momentary calm.
ITS the ghost, Mabelw stammered
Miss Prudence, recoiliug from the
window.
ITS the ghost, Cousin Prudence!"
sobbcd Mabel, clinging still closer.
i wonder what Hiram would say
now?' calculated Miss Prudence. fri.
umph0ntly. although little inclined
to be hystcrical.
Lets call him. suggested Mabel.
"And me in this double gown and
curl-papers? Bless your heart, child.
! should never hear the last of it, Be
sides, he sleeps like log it would
take ten men TO waken him, after he's
once dropped of, until five o'clock.
when he wakes of himself. and"
She stopped abruptedly-for upon
the midnight silence there arose n
wailing sound, between a groan and a
shrek, rising into discordant shrill-
ness, aud then dying gradually away.
Another aud another followed il, aud
the two women huddled together.
looking each other blankly in the face
That's just exactly as Chloe de
scribcd it, whispered Prudence. no
living creature ever made that sound
Mabel shrauk away from tho win
dow, with chill perspiration upon her
forehead
Let me 60 to your room with you.
| Prudence. ] am afraid to stay alone, 8"
size faltered and Prudence could feel
the violent trembling Of her every
limb. 'There is that frigbtful groan
again.
Miss Prudence led Mabel back to
her own apartment, and they lay down
together, drawing the bed clothes over
their heads, aud exchanging tremuloua
whispers, Gs II the ghost could hear
thcm.
Well, its odd, I must say, began
the spinster, "that I've lived here all
these years, and never seen il until
tonight ! do believe it is because
Of you, Mabel"
Mabel shuddcred She was begin
/ ming 60 think 1T was not quite 80 nice
. Co 1.-Two in n haunted house, after all
''Hush' What's that?' she sud.
. denly calculated
OF think it's rats, said Miss Pru-
I deuce, trcmulously.
NO but that crcnking sound"
''That's the old buttornut tree. II
often creaks 30 windy nights.
Cousin Prudence, I'm sure the
curtain is movingi"
ITS nothing but tho draught Lie
still and go TO sleep child.
~ don't feel as II could ever sleep
again, Prudencel Oh. what a dread