The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1902-05-30

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the nineteenth century. SO she not only
refused to live at The Naples her
self, but also refused to allow others
Of her kith and kin who had not a
comfortable habitation to dwell there
As Miss Susan Pennyfeather was rich
and could dwell In Egypt OF the Phil
ippines n she so wiiled, 1t was all very
well for her to leave the roomy Old
house to the ghost Of her p~rogenitor.
II seemed very hard to the family OF
Peter Crosley, her cousin, who had no
place to lay their heads save as Mr..
Crosley sold a poem Or a song OF a
piece OF fiction by the error OF some
publisher and rented them a place. In
other and more frequent intervals the
family scattered to relatives and stored
their few bits Of furnishings.
But it has all got to stop declared
Arabelle. the oldest girl, one summer
day. 81 shall go and live at The Ma
pies and when Cousin Susan returns
from India and finds it out she can
eject me-"
but the ghost?" protested Peter, the
father. Cousin Susan says it is there
and walks about the house as in life
THAT is highly probable" returned
! Arabelle. impudently winking her left
eye. but the ghost must expect the
friendly visit of relatives. How original
1t all isl First cousin to a ghost.
Why. is it not delicious? Anyhow, I'm
going. II Cousin Susan had not wanted
me. to do something desperate, she
should have travelled me, taken me
with her. and thus added to the long
list Of international marriages"
I'VE certainly must do something,
said Mrs. Peter, "and that quickly. We
have no money"
Il shall move to The Naples and
invite you all for a long visit" said
Arabelle decidedly. rs there enough
in hand to buy me a railroad ticket,
or must l sacrifice that hideous idol
Cousin Susan Just sent me to show me
that there was a crying need of mis-
~sionaries to Whangpur or some such
province?"
Il wonder what Lionel rill say?" put
in s%ophronia, the second girl.
Arabelle swept her a hooking cour-
tesy.
las a young Englishman he will re-
joice in ancestral ghosts. AS a dis
carded second son trying to live on
nothing but work in America, he may
say, oh, what rot"
Peter Crosley looked up from a bun
die Of papers fretfully.
Il don't see why Mr.. Lionel Cars
name is brought in at all. Arabelle
has promised me to give him no en-
enlargement"
Arabelle's rosy mouth quivered.
me encourage Lionel? Far be the
thought from me. Why, papa, I have
told you a thousand times that he
doesn't need-or get-any encourage
ment from me. There, are you salts
ned? NOW, I shafl sell my idol and go
to The Naples I will prepare the
way and you will pack up and follow at
once. Don't mind parting with a few
airy nothings in order to get there.
Because, once there, we are housed, at
least"
She sailed forth, light OF heart, gay
Of speech and smile. No one ever
knew whether Arabelle Crosley felt all
she acted or not, but she was the life
preserver that held up the whole fam
lily in their dark hours.
The idol was rather a cumbersome
fellow and Arabelle looked strange
enough carrying the awkward bundle.
head first, 70 the elevated road.
Il hope he will sell we'll" che was
thinking. He's a very holy idol
Cousin Susan wrote. l know that. he
is unearthly ugly and that his green
eyes make me shudder. l wish I had
a half dollar to take a cab"
But she had not the half dollar and
struggled up the steps bravely. She
was a shrewd bargainer and was going
to the best curio store in the city. She
was sure she might get as much as
ten dollars for the thing, maybe more
She would go down TO The Naples,
scare out the ghost and take posses
sion. In her heart she did not believe
in the ghost. The adventure had zest
however.
But Arabelle proposed and could moi
dispose. AS she stepped from the step.
Of the train station onto the pavement
a hurrying nan jostled her and sh,
staggered with her burden. There was
a sharp crack against the nearest pos
and Cousin susan's idol lay in severa
fragments. A crowd at once gathered