The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-05-18
Mrs. Dunn. Mrs. Dunn did not like Mrs

Mrs. Dunn. Mrs Dunn did not like Mrs.
Gregg.
Flora rarely told a story until she had
ruminated awhile over it herself 1t was
afternoon, and the two were in the front
room at their sewing, before she told her
mother about ''Jane
''Of course she must have been dream
ing Flora said.
''She must have been" rejoined her
mother.
But the two looked at each other, and
their eyes said more than their tongues.
The days went on, and Flora still hur-
ried up to her chamber at the stroke of
nine. If she were moment late, some
times if she were not, that pitiful low wall
sounded through the house.
The strange story spread gradually
through the village Mrs Dunn and Flora
were silent about it, but Gossip is herself
of "a ghostly nature, and minds not keys
nor bars
There was quite an excitement over it.
People affected with morbid curiosity and
sympathy came to the house. One after
noon the minister came and offered prayer.
Mrs. Dunn and Flora received them all
with certain reticence; they did not con-
cur in their wishes to remain and hear the
mysterious noises for themselves People
called them dreadful close They got
more satisfaction out of Mr.. Dunn, who
was perfectly ready to impart all the infor-
nation in his power and his own theories
in the matter
81 never heard thing but once, said
he, 'an' then it sounded more like cat
to me than anything I guess mother and
| Flora air kinder nervous"
The spring was waxing late when Flora
went up stairs one night with the oil low
in her lamp. She had neglected filling it
that day. She did not notice it until she
was undressed; then she thought to herself
that she must blow it out. She always
kept lamp burning all night, as she had
in timid little Jenny's day. Flora herself
was timid now.
So she blew the light out. She had
barely laid her head upon the pillow when
the low moaning wall sounded through the
room. Flora sat up in bed and listened,
her hands clinched. The moan gathered
strength and volume; little broken words
and sentences, the piteous CALCULATIONS of
terror and distress, began to shape them
selves out of it.
Flora sprapg out of bed, and stumbled
toward her west window-the one on the
almshouse side She leaned her head out,
listening a moment. Then she called her
mother with wild vehemence. But her
mother was already at the door with lamp.
When she entered, the means ceased.
"Mother," shrieked Flora, ''it ain t
Jenny. It's somebody over there-at the
poor -honse. Put the lamp out in the entry,
and come back here and listen.''
Mrs. Dunn set out the lamp and came
back, closing the door. 1t was few min
utes first, but presently the cries recon-
menced.
'Tm goin' right over there, said Mrs.
Dunn. "Im goin to dress myself an go
over there. I'm goin to have this affair
sifted now.
"Tm going too, said Flora.
1t was only half past nine when the two
stole Unto the almshouse yard. The light
was not out in the room on the ground
floor, which the overseer's family used
for sitting room. When they entered,
the overseer was there asleep in his chair,
his wife sewing at the table, and an old
woman in pink cotton dress, apparently
doing nothing. They all started, and stared
at the intruders.
stGood -evenin' - said Mrs. Dunn, try
ing to speak composedly. "We thought
we come in; we got kind of startled.
Oh, there tbs now What is it, Mis-
Gregg?'
In fact, at that moment, the wall,
louder and more distinct, was heard.
"Why, it's Nancy replied Mrs
Gregg, with digni6ed surprise. She was
large woman, with mastery placldlty
about her. g heard her few minutes
ago" she went on; can | was goin up
there to see to her if she hadn' stopped. "
Mr.. Gregg, heavy, staturnine old man,
with broad bristling face, sat staring
stupidity. The old woman in pink calico
surveyed them all with an impersonal grin.
"Nancy p repeated Mrs. Dunn, looking
at Mrs. Gregg. She had not fancied this
woman very much, and the two had not fra
ternized, although they were such neal
neighbors Indeed, Mrs. Gregg was not
Of a sociable nature, and associated very
little with anything but her own duties.
eyes; Nancy Wren," she said, with
gathering amazement. "She cries out
this way most every night. She's ten
years DID, but she's as afraid of the dark
as baby. She's a queer child, | guess
mebbe she's nervous. | don't know but
she's got notions into her head, stayin'
over in the graveyard so much. She runs
away over there every chance she can get,
an she goes over a queer rigmarole about
playin' with Jane, and her bein' dressed
in white an wreath. I found out she
meant Jane Blake, that's buried in tht
Blake lot. II knew there wa n any child
rem round here, an thought L look into
it. You know it says, Our Father, an
Our Mother, on the old folks stones
An there she was callin' them father an
mother You'd thought they was right
there. I've got most out o patience with
the child | don't know nothin' about
such kind of folks The wall continued
"rll 60 right up there, said Mrs. Gregg
determinately, taking lamp.
Mrs. Dunn and Flora followed. Wher
they entered the chamber to which she led
them they saw little Nancy sittin up in bed
her face pale and convulsed, her blue eye
streaming with tears, her little pink mouti
quivering.
'Nancy" began Mrs. Gregg, in
weighty tone. But Mrs. Dunn sprans
forward and threw her arms around th'
child.
'You got frightened, didn't you 2
whispered she; and Nancy clung to her al
if for life.
A great wave Of joyful tenderness rolle'
up in the heart of the bereaved woman
r. was not. after all. the lonely and fear