Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-18

house was wrapped IN binding snow
storm. Ebenezer awoke from his first
sleep with every muscle aching and
dra wing with pain. Rheumatism held
him a captiye. For hours lie groaned
djsmalIy, conscious that the fire in his
air tight stove was nearly out at
time when he needed heat. There WAS
no ministcring hand TO apply hot Han
nels TO his swollen joints and muscles
or TO aIIay his torture with soothing
linimeBts.
IL was then that the ghost came
araIn-tliis time with cropping fingers
upon the sealed door 1t shocked gem
tIy and spoke TO him in faint, fright
ened whispers.
Go away" shouted EbeneZer wrath
fully. Go away. ma'am. 1T amt
proper that you should be loitring
around here: Go away. say"
There WAS n silence. and presently
EbeneZers thick. grizzled hair stood
almost Upright on his head. Ghostiy
footsteps sounded in the rooms over
his head and softly. tap. tap. tap. down
the narrow staircase that opened into
his bedroom.
The lamp beside his bed gave forth
a cheering light. and Ebenezer Pollock.
thoroughly frightened for the first
time in his life. watched with fasci-
mated eyes the slowly opening door AT
the foot of his couch.
Tall and slender and pale. she stood
before him at last. her tender blue
eyes filed with plying tears. Per-
haps she was forty years old. but the
hair framing her delicate face made
her appear much younger.
Il could not bear to hear you moan
ing with pain all alone. Ny husband
used TO have rheumatism before be
died. and | know just what to do"
she said in a low tone.
"Ma'am" gasped EbeneZer. "Ma'am."
lie watched her slender figure as it
fitted to and fro about his rooms.
She mended the fire, and soon its
cheering warmth brought relief to his
aching limbs: She heated water and
flannel cloths and applied soothing lin
iments with very human fingers.
When the lines of suffering had re-
Taxed and Ebenezer's face still sought
hers questioringIy she sat down in
low chair and spoke somewhat sadly.
Pm Mrs. Stone-Cornelia Elmsbury
that was. I've been living here four
years"
Therein this house? HowT' de-
manded Ebenezer doubtfully.
"In the big back attic" said Cornelia,
with a little smile. 1T looks out on
the tall chestnut woods, you know.
and the short chimney comes out
there. Grandfather left the cellar full
of coal and wood. I've got it real
comfortable up there, and on stormy
nights I'd come down in the dark and
play on my piano till you drove me
away. l used to walk over to Bolton
on dark evenings and get all my gro
ceries and things. 1t was hard work.
but it was heaven to me TO get home
again after all went through She
broke into sobS.
what made you hide? What did
you do it for?" asked Ebenezer excit-
edly
my husband was poor. He died and
left a little insurance mOney-just |
enough TO buy my food and not enough !
TO pay rent. My eyesight is so poor |
cannot work. and so ] thought would
come back here. / heard the place was
shut up, and IT was my own by rights. !
| knew I'd be driven out if any one
knew ] was here
"You poor little thingr' buried Ebe-
nezer pityingly. 'Stay here just as
long as you liker There was a long
silence after that, while the little wild
ow cried happily before the fire. Ebe-
nezer was thinking rapidly. IF you
ever go away, ma'am,' he said. with
great blush. III go after you and
bring you back here and He paused.
1t happened that one day the ghost
deserted the Elmsbury house, and Ebe-
nezer kept his word and went after
her-and brought her back bride to
her old home.