Year: 1863

for she was a noble woman and always
saw to such things herself. Having put
the leys under her pillow, and dismissed
her maid, she sat by her toilet arranging
her hair; for being in spite Of her grief
for my uncle, father buxom widow, she
was somewhat particular about her per-
son.


She sat for a 1ittie while looking at her
face in the glass, first on one side, then
Oh the other, as ladies are apt to do when
they would ascertain whether they had
been in good looks; for aroistering coun-
try squire of the the neighborhood with
whom she had firted when a girl, had
called there to welcome her to the coun-
try.


Ali Of sudden she Thought she heard
something move behind her. She look
ed hastily around but there was nothing
to be seen. Nothing but the grimly-
painted portrait of her poor dear man
hanging against the wall.


She gave a hearty sigh to his memory,
as she was accustomed to do whenever
she spoke of him in company, and then
went on adjusting her flight dress, and
thinking of the squire. Her sigh Vas
re, echoed, or answered by long drawn
breath, She looked around again, but
no one was to be seen. She ascribed
these sounds to the wind oozing through
the rat holes in the old mansion, and
proceeded leisurely to put her head in
papers, when all at once, she thought
she perceived one Of the eyes of the por-
trait move.


Her back was towards the portrait
but her eyes were fixed on its reflection
in the glass. Well, as I was saying, she
perceived one Of the eyes move. So
strange a circumstance, as you may well
suppose, gave her a sudden shock. To
assure herself of this fact she put one
hand on her forehead as if rubbing it.
peeped through her fingers, and moved
the candle with the other hand. The
light Of the taper glared on the eye, and
was reflected from it. She was sure it
moved. Nay more, it seemed to give
her a wink as she had sometimes known
her husband to do when living. 1t
struck momentary chill to her heart {;
for she was lone woman, and felt herself
fearfully situated


The chill was but transient. My aunt
was almost as resolute parsonage as
your uncle, sir, (turning to the old story
teller and became instantly calm and
collected. She went on adjusting her
dress, She even hummed an air, and
did not even make a single false note.
She casually overturned dressing box
took a candle and picked up the articles
one by one from the floor; pursued a
rolling pin-cushion that was making the
best of its way under the bedj then
opened the door, looked for an instant
into the corridor, as if in doubt whether
TO go and then walked quietly out
She hastened down stairs, ordered the
servants to arm themselves with the
weapons first at hand, placed herself at
their head and returned almost immedi-
ately.


Her hastily levied army presented a
formidable force. The steward had a
rusty blunderbuss, the coachman a load
ed whip, the footman pair of horse pis-
tolls, the cook a huge chopping knife,
and the butler bottle in each hand.
My aunt led the van with red hot pO-
ker, and in my opinion she was the most
formidable Of the party, The waiting
maid who dreaded to stay alone in the
servants hall, brought up the rear, smell
ling bottle of voletile salts, and express
sing her terror of the ghostesses. 'GhOst!'
said my aunt resolutely; III SINCE their
whiskers for them


They entered the chamber. All was
still and undisturbed as when she had
left it. They approached the portrait OF
my uncle.


Pull down that picturel cried my
aunt. A heavy groan, and sound like
the chattering of teeth issued from the
portrait. The servants shrunk back, the
maid uttered faint shrek and clung to
the foOtman for support,


Instantly added nay aunt, with q
stamping of the foot.


The picture was pulled down, and from
a recess behind it, in which formerly hat
stood a clock, they hauled forth round
shouldered. black bearded varlet with {
knife as long as my arm, but trembling
all over like an aspen leaf.


Well, and who was he?


A Knight of the Post, who had beer