Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-11-11

who had lived ana enacted their parts
on lies stage here. They had walked
about, they had been moved BY emo
lions. they had been happy. they had
been miserable here. Doubtless fair
hands had struck the keys Of that
piano now wheezy With age And
now where were theyi Who were
they1 Were, their hearts ever. Of =
bright morning. Of . serene evening.
touched BY . chord Of memory in
unison with the thin once melodious
plano and did they long for what had
once been to them home3
Miss Cummings was 20 far interest.
Cd that she yielded to temptation to
explore the house further. She went
into the hall. stopped and looked about
her timidly. wondering. An open door
enabled her to sss dimly into the din.
Ing room. A. large oak table stood In
it, center surrounded BY massive high
hacked chairs. Family portraits hung
on the wallis: some Of them In costumes
that had bees In fashion more than .
century before. They looked at her
reproachfullys - much - to say
''What are you doing here? Go away
and leave 10. to stare at each other"
Miss Cummings passed through .
pantry and into kitchen. Pots and
pans. once bright. now rusty. hung on
the wall. On . table was part Of .
candle and beside Il q few matches.
both probably left there more recently
than the data 1t which the house had
been left vacant. Miss Cummings was
pleased at the discovery. for II she
could light the candle she might per.
sue her Investigations more favorably
since the twilight had nearly gone.
She struck Z number Of the matches
before finding one that would ignite.
with that she 1T the candle and. re-
turning to the hail. started up wind
ing staircase
Hind Miss: Cummings been timid
eiri she wAald never have enjoyed
that spookS experience. AZ It was she
WAS fascinated with the old four post
bsdsteads With curtains and valances,
the wardrobes. etageres and other fur.
niture now seldom used. In one room
was boot1ack. something the rising
generation has never seen.
She was standing 10 bedroom look.
ing It herself BY the candlelight In
Z pier glasa when she saw reflected
from the glow the figure Of 4 man
standing In the doorway looking at
her. He was in evening dress. on his
head. silk hat and on bic arm light
overcoat. He stood there looking at
the girl re1seted IN the mirror a. she
was lookinG.At her own reflection.
At that moment there was q vivid
dash Of ii1htning. 4 terrific clap sf
thunder; tie candle dropped from her
hand and sbe sank unconscious on the
Aoor. ,ae
When Mn Cummings came 10 her.
eelf al wv sun and al was dark.
TIE young -man IN evening dress had
evi0eptly Vin1sbed IN 4 clap Of thun-
dor. TheG.rane something more real
'-ths scratching Of match. and she
saw b it1klieht' H. vision Of 4 few
minutes beeose with. silver match
box IN onss hand and . match In the
Other. on aths door stood the candle.
and the man was holding the lighted
match 10 III wick
This commonplace scene served to
rsstore the girl to her senses. She
ut up ana instinctiveiy put her hand
to her back hair. Then. baving light.
"a the candIes the young man turned
to her and said:
'Oh. you're Ill night. are youi !
Sslt for you and found you lying limp.