Marble Hill press., 1901-05-22


to pass away her evenings very pleas
antly this winter"
At that moment Rose entered, look
ing peculiarly we'll satisfied with her
self, and everything in general.
"a book for me, papa? Now that is
kind"
Mr., Cowley grinned to himself over
his toddy.
you'll be charmed with it. There
is picture on the first page, enough
to turn any ones hair white.
"I'll look at it directly" said Rose,
laying 1t down upon the table. "But
papa, how could you leave us so long
alone this evening? That cradle has
been rocking so dreadfully all the
time!"
Rats, my dear. Nothing in the
world but rats"
81 wonder what you would do II
you saw ghost, papa real ghost!"
What l told you once before-I
would pinch his nose with the tongs."
81 should like to SEE you tried!"
'Pah! 1t is all nonsense, my dear.
Ghosts are an exploded theory. For
my part, have so little faith in them
that | would not in the least. mind
staying here in the old house by my
self all night long"
AS he spoke the hall clock struck
twelve, and Rose gave her mother Il
peculiar glance.
"Oh, how dreadful! This is just the
time when ghosts go their rounds
Do let us all go to bed or we shall be
sure to see one."
Eyes, let us go to bed at once" said
Mrs. Cowley, rising from her chair.
AS matter of course, their end was
gained, for Mr.. Cowley was seized with
o fit of obstinacy upon the spot. They
knew we'll that nothing would induce
him to stir from the spot till he had
finished his gin and water and smoked
his cigar.
go to bed, all of you," he said be-
nignantly. "I'm not afraid to stop
here by myself, and l shall come up
before you are fairly asleep"
Mrs. Cowley and her two daughters
left the room. The bright face of
Rose was sparkling with mischief and
laughter; and the instant the door
shut behind her she caught her moth
er's hand and whispered joyously,
Mamma, you need be under no con-
cern. He will not want to stop here
long after tonight. You never saw
two such horrible objects as Charles
and Marjorie have made of themselves
with my help and Mrs. Macarthy's.
Come and see them before you go into
hour own room to wait for him.
Mrs. Cowley and Catharine followed
her into the turret chamber Though
they had been warned to expect q
ghastly sight, neither of them could
help staring and well-nigh crying out
when they saw the figures that stood
in the center of the room.
One was a nun dressed in the flow
ing black robes of Sister of Mercy
with her hands bound tightly together
and clasped above her breast. Her
face was white as death-and from the
right temple deep crimson strain ran
down toward the chin. The contrast
between the pallor of her face and the
bright blood stain were ghastly in the
extreme. On her left hand stood q
stalwart black man, clad in flowing
robes of the purest white. Mrs. Cow
ley's best dressing gown had been
pressed into this service and about hii
swarthy brow was folded a turban
consisting Of several yards of India
muslin, on which she set great store
In his hands he held a rusted dagger
which Rose had hunted up in her ex'
ploring tours through the house. His
height seemed almost terrific, a cir
cumstance soon explained when she
showed the false soles and heels hi
had managed to affix to his boots
His air stern and menacing; and, al,
together the pair were by no means
the most pleasant visitants that could
be imagined to the gentleman sitting
alone over his toddy in a haunted
house.
"Shall we do, aunt?" exclaimed Mr.
Cowley, as she entered
"Do? You are perfectly dreadful!
Who dressed you like that?"
"Rose."
"And where on earth could she have
got such dreadful ideas from? Yor
never saw ghost, child?"
"No, mamma; but l have read about
them often enough; and papa says
book knowledge is not of the slightest
use to us, unless We can apply it t.
real life. hope he will be pleased
with my application tonight"
"You are saucy girl, Rose" sait
her mother, still cycling the appari.
tions with some apprehension. 81
wonder, now, what he will say to you
If 1t was me, should go into fit the
moment you opened the door"
"My uncle is made of sterner stuff
Still, I hope we shall give him start
One don't want to take all this trouble
in dressing for nothing"
Shall you go down to him, or lei
him meet you on the stairs?" asked
Catharine.
"Oh, we will go down; we shall bt
seen to much more advantage in q
room"
Besides, he has threatened to pinch
your nose with the tongs, and he can.
not do 1t II he is on the staircase when
he sees you," added Rose.
THAT is consideration, replied
MIR. Cowley. Nov, will you ladies' be.
take yourselves to bed? II is nearly
half-past twelve-the very hour wher
two orthodox ghosts would be mos
likely to set out upon their travels
Goodnight, aunt; we will send hin
up to you In very short space oI
time"
The ladies retreated. Mrs. Cowley
in order that she might not be sus'
pected of any completely in the plot
II by any means 1t should be discov
cred. undressed and retired to bed al
usual. But Rose and Catharine sal
down beside their chamber door ans
waited the result of their operations
with great imnatience.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Cowley, sitting ovel
his cigar below, little dreamed how
his nearest and dearest were consplr'
ing ruthlessly against his peace o,
mind. The ghostly cradle was sllenI