The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1899-10-27

ball of yarn and tell Susan what we
are going to do"
1t was nearly twelve o'clock when
the girls reached the Hamilton house.
The lantern which they carried threw
an uncertain light around, and the de-
serted house looked grim and forbid
ding. A low wind was wailing through |
the branches of pine tree which |
stood at the gate, and heavy clouds OBJ
scured the sky.
"Why" said Nellie, Show lonely it
is here! Take my advice, Amy, and
don't go into the house."
Il am not afraid" said Amy, calm
ly. "But l must not go into the old
kitchen, for the floor is not safe, and
| might fall into the cellar. I'll 60
into the new kitchen and throw the
ball down the cellar stairs. What a
lot Of weeds and rubbish. may fall
going up the path"
Take the lantern, do," urged Jes-
sic. Il
Eyes, do" said Ada. "We can get
along without it, and you can leave it
outside"
Amy could not help feeling little
timd as she picked her way up the
path, carrying the lantern. But |
will not turn back" she thought; "the
girls would laugh at me, and no won
der"
Reaching the house, she left the
lantern on the door-stone and went
into the new kitchen. As she had
been there many times when Grand
ma Hamilton was living, she had no
difficulty in going to the cellar door in
the dark. Throwing her ball of yarn
down the stairs, she began to wind,
murmuring softly:
If my lover stops my winding,
The way to my heart he'll soon be
finding.
Suddenly she paused; Out from the
darkness below came low, but dis
tlnct groan.
Amy's heart was beating wildly now.
Could it be a ghost? She reflected that
she had never heard Of a ghost secret
ing itself in a cellar and groaning.
And while she was thinking low,
prolonged moan fell upon her ears.
ut is no ghost" she said. "Some
one is in distress, or | am the victim
of a joke If l go back without find
ing out what it is, the girls will not
come with me-they are SO timid. I'll
take the lantern and go part Of the
way down the stairs at least"
Amy felt braver when she had the
lantern in her hand. Turning up the
wick, she went carefully down the
rickety stairs, and reaching the cellar
bottom, held the lantern above her
head and peered around. Something
attracted her attention. 1t appeared
to be a human form. but she was not
certain, as it was half hidden behind
some old barrels.
As she drew nearer she saw that
man was lying there. He was yOung
and evidently handsome, with cluster
ing dark hair; but now he was death
ly pale, and his eyes were closed. He
appeared to be in stupor.
Amy saw that help must be brought
at one. She went back to the girls
and told them her story, and together
they fastened to neighboring farm
house. Help was soon obtained, and
an hour later the young man was es-
tablished in more comfortable quar-.
ters. 1t was found that he had re-
ceived painful injuries, evidently by
falling through the broken floor above.
The next morning he was able to re-
late how it had happened.
His name was Gerald Tracy, and he
was employed in the nearest city.
Coming TO the little country town of
Cliffdale on business, he had gone out
for walk just at dusk,and being over.
taken by IA sudden rainstorm had gone
into the old house for shelter. Stumb.
ling in the dim uncertain light, he
had fallen through the broken floor In
the old kitchen, and received injuries
which rendered him unable to move.
No one came In response to his cries
for help, and his strength failed rapid
". He had been In the cellar thirty
hours when Amy had gone to the
house to try her experiment
As soon as the young man was able
to walk, It was only natural that ne
should call to see Amy and thank her
for the service she had rendered him.
He was at once struck by her grace
and beauty, and some way ne pro-
lopged his stay In Clifdale rather
longer than was absolutely necessary.
When he did go back.to the city he
had won Amy's s-conseut to be his wife
with the sanction Of her parents.
"And SO; Amy" said Jessie Adams,
laughingly, "your Halloween project
brought you husband. 1t Is
the first time l ever knew Ut an ex
no ri mont canning trucN