The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-05-16

Then sympathy began TO yeer In her
direction People said there was
something rotten in Denmark" and
20 nose Il out would have been their
dearest delight. Soon they were pet
ting Miss Tompkins as In the days be-
fore Mr. Passmore re- ppearod In her
life, and were really gricyed that she
did not brighten. The change In the
public extended even TO Mr. Pass
more, and he again called on Miss
Tompkins, the act creating quite q
ripple. No other love affair had ever
caused such interest In Petersburg.
Even the school children talked about
It. And they talked long, for weeks
went by, and months, the two parties
concerned changing not on any respect.
When winter was well advanced,
It was whispered about that the old
Tompkins place was haunted. Some
told Of unaccountable noises in the
basement when Miss Tomplsins was
known TO be at school; and others Of
hearing a sepulehral cough in the back
Of the house, a cough that sounded
exactly like that Of old Mrs. Tompkins.
Perhaps these reports made Miss
Tompkins more nervous than she had
been. She tried to laugh at them, even
| going to far as to tell her neighbors
that if they should see a thin coil Of
smoke from her chimney during her
absence, they might know the ghost
was warming himself at her banked
fire. The thin coil Of smoke had al
ready been noticed, making cold chills
creep UP the spine OF the superstitious,
who looked upon Miss Tompkins as
| the bravest woman i'm the town.
But by-and-by when several more
winters had passed and the coil Of
smoke continued to be seen. it ceased
TO be talked OF except among a few.
Mr.. Passmore continued his visits at
intervals, and people were forced to be
reconciled to the course Of events.
Then came q winter so cold that the
Oldest inhabitants said they had never
seen its like. And the cold was re-
sponsible for the renewal Of the talk
concerning a ghost at the TompSins
house. A light began to be burned all
night in a back room which some said
was Miss Tompkins' bedroom. 1t was
known that she had become almost
stingy of late years. and nothing but
fear Of the ghost could make her burn
light all night and every night. More
over, the lady was growing bent, and
paler and thinner and very sad.
Next door to Miss Tdmpkins lived q
preacher, and away in one night when
things We're in stiff freeze, the preach
ers door bell tangled most urgently
and repeatedly.
whats wanted" he called from the
rear of the hall, as he stood shiyering
in his night dress.
ut is I. Miss Tompkins," came from
outside. please Mr.. Myers, go fol
Doctor Parker as fast as you can, and
bring him to me-"
"That 1 will. III send my wife to
wait on you till he gets there" was the
hearty answer.
But Miss, Tompkins was half way
across the yard before he finished
speaking, and evidently it was not she
who required the Doctors aid. Some
what later four people stood by a bee
in back room Of the Tompllins house
On the bed was an emaciated, suffer
ing, most wretched looking cOnsump
tive-Ed Tompkins. His sister was
too excited to know or to care that hel
face was wet where unheeded tears
had dripped.
"I'n help you, old fellow" said the
doctor, bending over the thin body, eX
aiming it critically with eyes anC
J hands, only to gain time to recover
, himself, somewhat. How long has HI
, been here?" he asked, straightenin;
himself, and looking at Miss Tompkins
/ give years." she answered tremu
7 lousy.
The preacher and his wife started
perceptibly and stared in silence a
= the little lady, while the doctor cleare,
} his throat and looked away. All tire
began to understand many things. TIL
doctor busted himself with his patient
: though he knew there was no SHADOW
, Of use in his ministrations.
e AS for Ed Tompkins, he had know
t that Death was at his side when hi
= sister left him to call aid, and now h
n seemed tn hn cOneciOue of hon, nrpSpnc
+ alone; this kind sister, who all hi
:, life had given him blessing for bllgh
e blessing for bligAt. He did not eve
}. glance at the unaccustomed faces lool
n ing so pityingly at him. Seeing hoy
y he watched her, Miss Tompkin
e asked:
'What is it. Ed"