The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-05-18

FioTa rarely tOlu a story until Sne nau
ruminated awhile over it herself It 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 Il 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
we're silent about it, but Gossip is herself
of 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 a certain redcence; they did not con-
eur 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.
Il mover heard a thing but once. said
he, IAN then it sounded more ike cat
to me than anything. | 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 tinid little Jenny's day. Flora herself
was ,imid 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 elinched. The moan gathered
strength aud volume; little broken words
and sentences, the piteous CALCULATIONS of
terror and distress, began to shape them
selves out Of it.
Flora sprang cut of bed, aud stumbled
toward her west window-the one on the
almshouse side, She leaned her head out,
listening moment Then she called her
mother with wild yehemence. But her
mother was already at the door with lamp.
When she entered, the means ceased.
Mother, shrieked Flora, lit 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 II was few min
utes frst, but presently the cries recon-
meuced.
I'm goin right over there, said Mrs
Dunn. ''Tm goin' to dress myself an go
over there I'm goin to have this affair
silted now
I'm going too, said Flora.
II was only half past nine when the two
stole Unto the alnshouse yard. The hight
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 a; the table, and an old
woman in a pink cotton dress, apparently
doing nothing, They all started, and stared
At the intruders.
Good -eyenin' - said Mrs Dunn, try
ing to speak oomposedly, ''We thought
we come in; we got kind of startled.
Oh, there It's 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 dignifed surprise. She was
a large woman, with mastery placidity
about her. = heard her few minutes
ago she went on; ian was goin' up
there to see to her if she hadn' stopped.
Mr. Gregg, heavy, staturnine old man,
with broad bris,hng face, sat staring
stupidity. The old woman in pink calico
surveyed them all with an impersonal grin.
Nancy : repeated Mrs. Dunn, looking
At Mrs Gregg. She had not faacied this
woman very much, and the two had not fra
teruized, although they were such near
neighbors Indeed, Mrs. Gregg was not
of soeiable nature, and associated very
little with anything but her own duties
"Yes; Nancy Wren, she said, with
gathering amazement. 'She cries out
this way most every night. She's ten
years old, but she's as afraid of the dark
as a baby She 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 queer rigmarole about
playin with Jane, and her bein dressed
in white an wreath | found out she
meant Jane Blake, that's buried in the
Blake lot | knew there wa n any child
rem round here, an thought L d 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.
''rn 90 right up there, - said Mrs. Gregg,
determinately, taking a lamp.
Mrs. Dunn and Flora followed. When
they entered the chamber to which she led
them they saw little Nancy sittin up in bed,
her face pale and convulsed, her blue eyes
streaming with tears, her little pink mouth
quivering.
''Nancy began Mrs. Gregg, in
weighty tone. But Mrs. Dunn sprang
forward and threw her arms around the
child.
''You got frightened, didn't you p
whispered she; and Nancy clung to her as
if for life.
A great wave of joyful tenderness rolled
up in the heart of the bereaved woman
1t was not, after ALL the lonely and fear
fully wandering little spirit of her dear
Jenny; she was peaceful and blessed, be-
yond all her girlish tumults ard terrors;
but it was this little living girl She saw
it all plainly now. Afterward it seemed
to her that any one but a woman with her