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

full thing it is to think that the spirits
OF the dead cannot rest peacefully
Don't you believe that if minister
were to come and say some prayers OK
something by the spring-'
"I'm sure L don't know" said Miss
Prudence, apparently unlearned in
tho manners aud cSstoms of spectres
in general.
Isn't it almost morning, Cousin
Pr.dence?"
NO; it isn't one o'clock yet"
Sleep had fled from the eyelids of
the two women. They turned, and
tossed, and whispered, until the pearly
tints of dawn, fairly coloring the east
ern sky, frightened into the rudy
orange of sunrise, aud Hiram's heavy
step, passing their door betokened
that the cares aud duties of the day
had once more arrived. Aud then
they rose, pale and heavy-eyed, and
! began their matutinal toilets.
why, girls, what's the natter"
demanded honest Hiram, as he saw
the weight of mysterious meaning in
their faces
Miss Prudence only shook her head
as she broke the eggs into tho frying
pan, but Mabel was less reticent. She
replied;
The ghost-Cousin Hiram-we
saw tho ghost last night"
''Nonsenser'
''Ah! you may talk about its being
nonsense as much as you like" said
Prudence; but we can't disbelieve
the evidence of our own senses. I'm
sure. We saw it, and we heard its
groans-aud so might you, if the Seven
| S!cepers had been circumstances to
you"
You saw the ghostn'
Yes chimed in Mabel, cali in
white, gliding around tho Haunted
| Spring, in the moonlight; and, oh,
Cousin Hiram, such groans"
81 gnoss you had double team o.
nightmares, said Hiram, shrewdly.
That's just like Hiram" said his
sister, Indignantly. "Ho's like the
doubling Thomas in Scripture. He
wouldn't believe it if he was to see it.
as we did, with his own eyes"
81 wish we had called you," said
Mabel.
II wish you had, too, " said Hiram.
picking up the milking pail, and go
ing ont, with laugh.
81 told you he wouldn't put any faith
in it" said Miss Prudence, while Ma
bel went on setting the table with
quiet alacrity. ''I only hope it isn't
meant for warning. Drusila Pear
sons husbands mother saw a figure
all in white, standing by the church.
yard wall, tho very day week afore she
died; and Squire Hopkins, down by
the saw mill"
She paused in her tale OF horrors.
for Hiram had re-entered, with n curl
GUS smile upon his face.
''Well, girls, I've seen your ghost"
Seen the ghosti" screamed Miss
Prudence.
Seen the ghosti" faltered Mabel.
eyes. | couldn't find the old white
COW nowhere, and finally I saw the
west barn yard gate had lost out it's
pin, and was squeakin' idreadfuly. so
l Just followed the tracks till came
to the edge OF the woods, and there
was old Bessie, caught by the horns
III them low CROWN cedar trees. and
the ground around the Haunted Spring
Z 80 p''' 'N'N IL ny lltI nOOl- DllllS.
There's your ghost; aud if any groans
can be worse than tho swingin' of that
rusty-hinged old gate, ia just like to
hear EN-, that's ALL"
Miss Prudence stared blankly mt
Mabel--Mabel looked back Mt Miss
Prudence, and Hiram chuckled audi.
bly,.
There's some excuse for Mabel"
he said; "but ! should think Prue had
lived years enough in this world to
know the difference between n ghost
and an old white COW.
Miss Prudence said never word
but went on dshing up the breakfast,
while Mabel folt herself rapidly de-
generating from the heroine, who had
seen a genuine, veritable ghost. into
very silly little girl
Cousin Hiram" she whispered.
laying her hand Hppealingly upon his
arm, ''yOu-you won't tell anybody,
will you?"
Not if you'll promise never to do
ii again said Hiram. waggishly.
Come, Prue, bring on the breakfast
I'm as hungry as two grizzly bears
this morning."
And Hiram Meiwyn never heard any
thing more of the ghost by the
Haunted Spring.