THE TIMES, NEW BLOOM FIELD, 1A JUNE 11, 1878.
CATCHING A GHOST.
V DEAIt HOltTENSK, I con-
cratulate you on your good for-
tone," wild my Aunt Jerome, as she
UUsed me fondly and bid an ftfTectlonate
adieu.
"Tlmnkyou," I replied faintly, as I
utepped Into the old rumbling Btnge
eoixch and Blurted on my journey. As
we turned the lime I cnughtone glimpse
of my aunt's pale, care-worn face, and
turning away I wept bitterly.
." There, child, don't take It so lmril,"
Mild a klnd-faml old lady who sat oppo
site. " lie a going away to school," she
added.
I could not help smiling at her Inno
cent supposition, for I was fully twenty ;
but thanks to my aunt's bringing up, I
was not dressed in the prevailing fashion
of the day. Ah ! no ; my dress of coarse
homely material was by far too short,
and the brown hair, that long ago should
have been done up Into chignon or pull's,
was left to hang In bright, clustering
curls, so that at twenty I looked like a
girl of seventeen.
I was not going to school, but to
" Ivy Lodge," us Its heiress and mis
tress. I had lived with my Aunt
Jerome ever since I could remember.
Life was dull and sad at the old brown
farm-house, but I was poor and penni
less, and being naturally shy and reti
cent, I dared not face the world, and
lived much like a snail drawn up in his.
shell, seldom putting out his head to get
a peep of the outsldo world.
One day there came to our quiet home
a great sealed letter. Uncle Jonathan,
lifter vainly trying to make 11 out, called
in the village schoolmaster, who, upon
examining its contents, exclaimed in his
own droll way :
"Well, I declare, If old Bamaby ain't
gone and died, and left little Tennie a
fortune!"
Karnaby Merritt was my mother's
father. He hail disinherited her, driven
her from his home, for marrying a poor
man. He had never seen me, his only
grandchild, but, strange to say, at his
death left me his entire fortune.
There was a clause in his will which
read as follows :
" I give and bequeath my entire prop
erty, both real and personal,to my grand
daughter, Hortense Clare, on condition
that she reside on the estate known as
' Ivy Lodge' for one year. Should she
on any condition or for any reason leave
said house, she will forfeit all claims to
it, and it will then go to my nephew,
Keginald Merritt."
On those claims and conditions I
started on my journey, but not without
many tears and heartaches. I loved dear
Aunt Jerome and Uncle Jonathan dear
ly, and fancied that the very flowers in
tueirdiminutlvefrontgarden would miss
me.
" Ivy Lodge," in the bright, morning
bimligbt this was how I saw it. A
grand, spacious mansion, with Ivy
clambering over its porticos, casements
and ruined towers. I confess to a feeling
of real pride as I walked up the white,
glistening walks to think that I was
mistress of it all.
The very flowers seemed to welcome
me, ai they lifted their fair faces, and
tiny brown sparrows peeped from the
branches overhead, chirping a welcome.
" You are welcome to Ivy Lodge,"
said Betty, the housekeerer, as she stood
in the doorway, looking so neat in a
bright print dress and new cap ; while
the other servants peered curiously out
from behind doors, all anxious to catch
a glimpse of the " new missis."
Oh, the anguish of that moment 1 I
could hear the suppressed giggle of the
servants as I, the " new missis," stood
before them, with a very red face, a
mere child in appearance, dressed in
plain jean dress, cotton gloves and great
old-fashioned Leghorn bonnet.
" Will I call your maid V" said Betty,
noticing my embarrassment.
" I think so that is, if you please," I
murmured faintly, not knowing exactly
what to say.
I laid my bonnet aside, and after bath
ing my flushed face, proceeded to the
dining-room, where I met for the first
time Keginald Merritt; for be it under
stood he was an inmate of Ivy Lodge as
long as I wished to entertain him."
"Why, Cousin Hortense," he ex
claimed, coming forward to greet me;
" I am delighted to see you," and he
made an effort to kiss me.
But I drew proudly away. Although
I was a mere child in appearance, I was
btill a woman at heart, and, extending
my hand said coldly, " How do you do,
Mr. Merritt V"
" Well, I declare 1" he said, laughing
ly, " my little cousin is rather indifler-
nt. It was only cousinly ,"you know.
My I what a big girl you've grown to be,
Tennie," he resumed. " How old are
you now V Let me see eighteen
nineteen" ,
" Twenty," I answered, and the meal
was finished In silence.
I did not like my cousin Reginald.
There was treachery in his dark, hand
some face. 1 feared him. If I should
die the property Would go to him. Might
he not kill me t There was enough of
the demon In him to do it, I Well knew.
Or, worse than death, lie might compel
me to marry him.
Six long, dreary months passed, and I
awoketo the truth, shut my eyes to it as
I would, that Reginald was making love
to me.
Peated one, cold,wlntry evening in the
library .gazing into the bright fl rethink
ing of dear Aunt Jerome, whoso letters
came regularly to me, like bursts of sun
shine, when Reginald came to my side,
saying :
' How nicely we could live here all by
ourselves, Tennie not as cousins, but
na man and wife."
I silenced him with one scornful
glance. I'd grown to be quite a woman.
I could not be otherwise, after living in
this old, ghostly, gloomy house. Ghost
ly, Indeed, it wa9. Strange sounds were
heard in its vacant rooms, and weird
faces peeped In at the casement, while
Betty told me, In a confidential whisper,
as we stood in the picture gallery gazing
at a rare old painting of a sweet Madon
na face, that It was " Miss Eunice, who
had been found dead in her bed poison
ed, some people said."
" Ever since the house had been
haunted," said Betty, "and I've often
heard my poor, dear master say," she
continued, wiping her eyes on the corner
of her apron, "that the woman who
would live in the house one year he
would leave to her his property. That
Is why the will reads : " On condition
that she live In said house for one
year.""
What was I to do ? The very thought
of a spectre In the house was intolerable,
yet the servants declared they had seen
it gliding through the halls. When I
spoke ot It to Reginald, he would laugh
and say, " Old women's nonsense."
Once he came to me with a grave face,
saying, "It is strange, Hortense, very
strange; I've seen the spectre."
I was sitting at the window one eve
ning looking out at the ghostly shadows.
I had grown restless and nervous of late.
I would start at the slightest sound. The
old oak tree that stood outside my win
dow seemed to be beckoning its gaunt,
bare branches at me. It was a fearful life.
" I cannot stand it," I said aloud. " I
will go back to the old farmhouse and
dear Aunt Jerome, and leave this lone
ly, ghostly house to Reginald Merritt."
I heard a low, mocking laugh, and
turning saw Betty the housekeeper.
" Shall I bring in the candles, Miss
Hortense V" she said.
I looked at her. Could it have been
her that laughed No ; she looked
quite sober, quite composed. Who then
was it V " Did you hear it, Betty V that
awful, mocking laugh V" I asked,clutch
ing her frantically by the arm.
" There, child, you are nervous," she
said, soothingly ; " you had better go to
bed. You will feel better In the morn
ing." I followed her advice, but was aroused
from my sleep by a loud piercing shriek.
I sprang from my bed, but could see
nothing. All was darkness. Suddenly
I heard the rustle of garments ; the door
door swung open and a tall form enter
ed. Great Father I was it some terrible
nightmare V I saw before me the spec
tre. It was a woman. She gazed mourn
fully at me, and, turning, left the room
with swift, gliding footsteps. I folio wed.
Down the broad, oaken stairs past the
dim old picture gallery ,past the ghostly,
vacant parlors, and stood face to face
with it in the servants' hall. I reached
out my hand and grasped the spectre.
It was flesh and blood, for It winced un
der my cruel grasp. Doors were thrown
open, white, scared-faced servants gath
ered in the hall. Last of all came
Reginald Merritt, bearing a night lamp.
I turned to view the spectre, and saw
neither ghoul nor demon, but Betty,
my housekeeper. " What means this
trickery V" I said, turning fiercely to
Reginald Merritt. " What plot is this to
rob me of my rights ? Leave my house
this minute, sir; the same roof shall
never shelter us."
I had guessed the truth. Betty, who
was quite a ventriloquist, had been em
ployed by Reginald Merritt to utter those
piercing shrieks and mocking laughs.
As a last efl'ort to drive me from the
house she had enacted the part of spec
tre. It is needless to write that I dis
pensed with the services of Betty. The
ghostly shadows soon fled. Peace and
sunshine reign, and to-day lam free,
undisputed mistress of" Ivy Lodge."
A Learned Canary.
a iaay in Saratoga was attracted re
cently to a beautiful canary bird by its
close resemblance to one she had lost last
spring. She was informed that the
songster bad been found one chilly
morning perched upon a window-sill.
The lady said that her bird had been
taught to perform the pretty little feat,
when given its liberty In a room, of
picking up a pin and sticking it into the
carpet. The cage was opened, and, as
the canary flew forth, the lady threw a
pin upon the floor, 'l'he bird immedi
ately flew down to it, caught it in its
bill, dexterously stuck it in a perpendic
ular position In the carpet, and then it
hopped off a Btep or two and warbled
forth some of the sweetest notes, as If in
exultation of the feat it had accomplish
ed. It was the long-lost songster.
THE BEACON LIGHT.
IT WAS Sunday evening In a little vil
lage lying towards the far West of
Englaud, where, on fine, calm days, the
gentle murmur of the sea's waves might
be heard as softly rippling up they broke
in subdued splashes upon the shore; but
to-ulght the wild wind was abroad, rock
ing the tall trees to and fro, and lashing
Into fury the boundless ocean, which
reared lis mighty strength against the
dark rocks, while the huge breakers,
white with foam, dispersed themselves
In quick succession with a loud roar
upon the beach.
Above the whistling of the wind and
the noise of the waves there rang forth
the clear, sweet tones of church bells
calling the poor and rich, the young and
the old of that hamlet to the house of
God; and as friends and neighbors met
at the door of the hallowed edlflce,many
were the remarks pnssed upon the
roughness of the night and the dangers
to which those whose lot it was to be
tossing upon the ocean's wave that eve
ning would be exposed. There were
many among the congregation who, as
the sweet tones of the organ rose and
fell, breathed a prayer for all who might
be in peril throughout the long dark
hours of the night, and hard Indeed
must have been the heart which did not
join earnestly In the hymn " for those at
Bea," with which the service was often
closed in this humble village church.
The congregation had dispersed, the
sacrifice of prayer and praise had been of
ered, whether carelessly or fervently, only
One could tell, " whoalone judgeth the
hearts of men," and It was with rather a
weary step that the vicar of the parish
crossed the burial-ground, so quaintly
named by the Germans, " God's Acre."
Suddenly there fell upon the clergy
man's ear a distant sound which ar
rested his steps; he listened attentively,
thinking to hear it repeated, but naught
could he discern ,save the moan Ing of the
night wind as it hurried by and the
splash and roar of the waves as they
came thundering in upon the shingle.
Fancying he must have been mistaken,
the vicar moved on, then paused as if
irresolute. What was the cause of his
hesitation, what the thought which had
suddenly crossed h!& mind V Even this,
Was the beacon alight t "You may
save brave men, perhaps, from a watery
grave this night," urged a still, small
voice within.
But selfishness whispered that It was
not the vicar's duty to set the beacon
alight, and why should he, therefore,
delay hastening home to a cheerful fire
side t A moment's hesitation, only one
moment's, and then, not long after
wards, a bright light could be seen, far
out at sea, shining forth to save, per
chance, human beings from a sad death,
who else on the morrow's morn would
have opened their eyes upon another
world.
Some months rolled away, and the
vicar often pondered over the distant
boom which he fancied had met his ear
on the Sunday evening now so many
weeks ago, when one morning he re
ceived an official letter, requesting infor
mation as to who had set light to the
beacon in the village, upon that event
ful and Btormy night.
The letter was answered, giving the in
formation desired, and giving the exact
circumstances of the case. Not long
afterwards the clergyman received a
handsome gift, sent to him by no less a
person than the present Emperor of
Germany. It was accompanied by a
document, thanking the vicar for his act
of humanity upon that Sunday evening
and affording a full explanation of
the - Bound which had attracted his
notice. By the lighting of the beacon
the vicar bad been the means of saving
from utter destructions man-of-war ,and
it was the booming of guns in distress
which had fallen upon his ear.
During the time of whlch'I write, a
fierce conflict was raging between the
armies of two foreign countries, and the
loss of one of their chief vessels would
have been of serious importance to the
vast Empire which proved so victorious
in the war ; but it was not of the brave
ship that the clergyman thought as he
gazed on the Emperor's kindly gift, but
rather of the human beings who had
been in such imminent peril that night,
and who had been saved from a watery
grave.
One thought more before I close this
little story, which may teach us many a
lesson ; we never know the great conse
quences which may hang upon what ap
pears to us as only a paltry act of love
or kindness. In all things, if we would
listen to the voice of duty and of con
science, we should daily be the humble
means of showing forth a far greater
light than ever shone from any earthly
beacon, for it will be a light gathered
from the Cross, which was lifted up cen
turies ago on Cavalry's height, whereon
hung One to whom In all ages souls
tossed upon the waves of this trouble
some world have looked, and In looking
have been preserved from eternal death.
AT HAND.
BUSY housekeepers, who feel they
have " no time" for personal im
provement, might really do a great deal
in this line If they would but keep the
means always " at hand." A book on
the stand, and an easy rocker by the
side of It, would often lure her to read a
page or two in the little pauses which
are constantly occurring in the busiest
day. A page carefully read and well
thought over, as you go about your
duties again, will prove a most valuable
means of Improvement, far beyond the
benefit you would receive from the
desultory reading of a whole volume at
one sitting. It Is not what we eat that
makes Us strong, but what we digest ;
and the same is true of our mental food.
Do not put the good book you so long to
read away on the shelf of the book-case
in a distant room, but keep It near you,
just at bund, and before you know It you
will find yourself at the last page and
ready for another. So of your good
magazine or paper. Have them handy
and take the good of them, even If they
get a little soiled and crumpled. It Is In
a good service.
When the bright evening comes, look
out that you secure a cosey nook in
which to place your own tocker, and let
It always be known and respected as
"mother's place." Here bring, not
your work-basket, but your reading, and
your knitting, if you like, and Bpendthe
evening in a way that will both profit
and rest you. It will be a savlncr of
time and nerve power and muscle, and
every mother has need to husband these
resources to their utmost. Life la never
too long for the work she has to do, and
the best gift she can give to her house
hold Is a happy, healthful, Intelligent
mother. The children from such homes
are " living epistles, known and read of
all men."
Bettor than the Presidency,
During the past year, many discover
ies were made of high grade ore in Chalk
creek, and enough was taken out to con
tinue the operation of the smelter until
late in the season, and still leaving much
upon the dumps to make an early Btart
upon this spring. There are many
mines of exceeding great value in this
district, and possibly the most notable is
the Tilden,on the summit of Boulder
Mountain, it showing a vein from 5 to 9
feet in width, and three classes of ore:
first, galena, from . 2 to 18 inches in
thickness, assaying from one to four
hundred ounces to the ton ; second, de
composed sulphurets,from 0 to 12 inches
thick, assaying two to three hundred
ounces ; and third, a porphyritlo rock
carrying native silver, running from
one to two hundred ounces. This mine
was not discovered until late last spring,
and has only been opened to any extent
within the past six months. It is owned
by five miners, who prior to its discov
ery were poorer than Job's turkey.
Some months ago they were offered
$100,000 cash for the mine, and negotia
tions required but the signatures to con
summate the sale, when they concluded
to retain possession themselves, satisfied
that there was much more than a hun
dred thousand in the property. The
Rocky Tourht.
Who Can Blame Him?
A sensation was produced in the Beech
Street Mission Church, at Paterson,New
Jersey, Sunday afternoon by a large dog
which ran into the church, and after
running around for a while, sought out
the prettiest girl In the congregation and
then sprang on her lap and affectionate
ly kissed her. The girl had never seen
the dog before, and her astonishment
and fright may be imagined. The dog
was put out of the church several times.
tW A Baltimore pickpocket defeated an
attempt to take his photograph for the
rogues' gallery by making wrj faces,
Thereupon the the police labeled him
" thief aud marched him up sad down a
crowded street until he promised to sit
quietly before the camera.
EST A female child was recently born
In Salem township, Westmoreland county,
which is remarkable from the fact that its
eyes are located a considerable distance be
low their natural places, while the ears
resemble those of a cat, aud instead of
hands the claws of the same auimal appear,
t3T" In a mass of evideuce before the
Supreme Court of Indiana is the statement
of a woman of that county, who testifies
to having had six husbands. Her momory
is defective in that she avers she cannot
remember the name of her second husband
tW Self-denial is a grand virtue ; we aV
ways delight to see it in other persons.
VEGETINE
IS RECOMMENDED BV ALL
rilYSICIANS.
Vllllrr fllrdlini. Unpnnar'n . Tinif lalnnrf H V-
Mr. II. K. Bteven-t
Dear Sir, 1 take the p1eanr of writing yon a
small certificate concerning Veeetlne prepared by
you. I have been a sufferer with the Dypepsla
lor oyer 40 yean, and have had the Chronic
lllari'hd't for over 8 mouth, mil have trleil ninat
everything: wan ftlven up to die. and did not ex-
peciio live iro n uay to uay, and no physician
could not touch mycaso. I saw your Veeetlne
rncoiii mended to cure Dyspepsia. 1 commenced
using It, and I continued doing mi. and am now a
wen woman ami re-uureu 10 pertect health. All
who are afflicted with thin terrible iiia t
would kindly recommend to try It for the benefit
of their health, and It Is excellent as a blood
purifier. lly T. B. Foiihbs. M. 1).. tor
Bins. ym. II. FORBES.
V EMETINE. When the Mood heeomea llfnlm.
and stagnant, either Irom change ot weather or
of climate, want of exercise. Irregular diet, or
ii "in any uiner cause, ine veceune will renew
the nlnnk. can von the nutrld Iiiiiiiors.cleansn Hie
stomach, regulate the bowels, aud Impart a tone
ot vigor to the whole body.
VEQETINE.
FOB CANCEK8 AND
CATs'CEIlOUS HUMOItB.
The Doctor's Certificate.
HEAD IT.
Ashley, Washington Co., 111., Jan. 14, 187S.
iii mi: j inn m in ceruuv
that I had been sintering from Rose Cancer on my
rllrllf hMaul .l.l..l. ......... ........ . .
t -f ."J', ""''i riw ioij rninoiy, ami an my
urmia im,i i tou ihw nfi iu me, wuen i nearu 01
6.,... y.jyr., i miuiiiHiciiuru HIT Hliwr ana
anceroiis Humors. I commenced to lake It, and
""" iwuuu inyneii gruwing ueiier: my Health and
spirits both felt the benign Influence which It ex
erted, and In a few months from the tune I com
menced the use of the Vegetlne, the Cancer came
out almost bodily. CARRIE DeKOKREST.
I certify that I am personally acquainted with
Mrs. Defcorrest, aud consider her one of our very
best women. Dit. 8. II. FLOWERS.
ALL DISEASES OP THE BLOOD. If Vege.
tine will relieve pain, cleanse, purlily, and cure
llMl fllBUafiaa MDtur.lkan.llnnl ... I i. I. -
trying different physicians, many remedies, suf.
fprtliir fur vaara la It- n.f nnnnl.,-l ......... I.
r . iv uu, wiiviiwito uimui, ii ytin
are a sufferer, you can be curedr why Is this
.............. iiiiiKniiKii Kirni. i-uienr jeworas
In the blood, In the circulating fluid. It cantru'y
be called the (Jreat Blood Purifier. The grett
source of disease originates in the blood ; and ni
medicine that does not act directly upon it, to
ItlirtfV And Tl.niivnta haa anu loot nl..l...
public attention.
VEGETINE.
I regard It as a Valuable
FAMILY MEDICINE.
. January 1, 18'8.
Mr. II. R. Stevens Dear Sir I take pleasure in
saying, that I have used Vegeltne in my family
with good results, and I have known of several
cases of remarkable cure effected by It. I regard
it as a valuable family medicine. Truly yours,
REV. WM. M DONALD.
The Rev. Win. McDonald is well known through
the U. 8. as a minister lu the M. E. Church. '
THOUSANDS SPEAK. - Vegetlne Is acknowl
edged and recommended by physicians and
apothecaries to be the best purifier and cleanser
of the blood yet discovered, and thousands speak
in its praise who have been restoerd to health.
VEGETINE.
THE M. D'S HAVE IT.
Mr. II. R. Btevcns Dear Sir I have sold Vege
tlne for a long time, aud llnd it gives most excel
lent satisfaction. 8. D. DE PRIEST, M. D.,
Druggist, Ha.leton, Ind. June
Prepared
H. R. STEVENS, Boston, Mass.
Vegetlne Is SolJ by all Druggists.
JOSSER & ALLEN
CENTRAL STORE
NKWrORT, PENN'A.
How oHerthe public
A RARE AND ELEGANT ASSORTMENT Of'
DRESS GOODS
Consisting st all shades suitable for the season.
BLACK ALPACCAS
AND
Mourning Goods
A SPECIALITY.
BLEACHED AND UNBLEACHED
MUSLINS,
AT VARIOUS PRICES.
AN ENDLESS SELECTION OF FRINT8I
We sell aud do keep a good quality of
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS,
And everything uuder the head of
GROCERIES !
Machine needles and oil for all makes of
Machines.
To be convinced that our goods are
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST,
IS TO CALL AND EXAMINE STOCK.
- No trouble to show goods.
. Don't forget the
CENTRAL STORE,
Newport, Perry County, Pa.
J. M. GiaviH. j. ii. Gmvni.
J.M. GIRVIN&SON.,
FLOUR, GRAIN, SEED & PRODUCE
Commission Merchants,
No. 64 Sooth Cay, St,
BALTIMORE, MD.
We will pay strict attention to the sale of all
kinds of Country Produce aud remit the amounts
promptly. . . ... 45 1yr.
J. M. GIRVIN A SOS.
V Ui V 1 D . Uon,t Jou .wnt nie cheap
0 II IjIUIi II you do, don't fait to ex
amine the splendid assortment for sale bv K
MORTIMER. ou can suit yourself In style and