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Show 14 THE ACORN the Dorm, and eat with her fine company every day." "Fine company, indeed," retorted Addie scornfully. "Bald-headed professors, and prosy old maids. Even the ghostly solitude of this hall is preferable to such company, with their stiff silks and swallow-tail coats." "Well, it is too bad to spend Christmas Eve so dismally," assented Mildred; "let's go up town to look at the windows once more, and maybe we'll sleep better for the walk." In a few moments the girls were tripping along the snowy walk, each thinking of the home circle which she could not join. The Austen Academy for young ladies stood on the outskirts of a small city, and was approached by a long tree-lined avenue. The only other house between the various academy buildings and the town proper, was an old granary, built a quarter of a century before and deserted for many years. Now Mildred was a tease, and as the spirits of her cousin Addie fell, her own began the rise. Suddenly a plot against poor Addie popped into her head and she began in a serious voice, "Say Addie, did you ever hear the story about that old granary over yonder?" "No, I haven't, and if its anything scarey, you needn't tell it," answered Addie shortly. "Dorothea Adams," pursued Mildred, with mischief in her eye, "told me that a young man hanged himself in there on Christmas Eve, a long time ago, and since then he has haunted the place, and no one will go near it after dark, especially when it's near Christmas Eve. He comes out and calls to people and tries to get them to go in there. It is supposed that he wants to explain something why what's that?" she broke off suddenly as Addie gripped her arm convulsively and pointed towards the ruined building. The girls were opposite the ancient gate that opened into the street, and in the gathering gloom could see a shadowy figure emerge from the great black doorway, and come straight toward them uttering a choking shout. Now Mildred had not bargained for any such a confirmation of her silly story, and was as much frightened as Addie, whom she joined in an ear-piercing scream, and a wild race toward the town. Addie was nimbler on her feet than her cousin, and was soon far ahead. Mildred heard hasty footfalls behind her, and a terrified glance over her shoulder revealed the figure of a man in hot pursuit. Fear lent her strength for a short distance farther, then, overcome with terror and fatique, she sank down on a snow bank by the fence. Her pursuer rapidly came up to her and, between gasps for breath, asked, "Why, Mildred, what on earth are you running away from me for? What were you screaming about? Where has Addie gone?" Mildred stared at the young man before her in speechless amaze- THE ACORN 15 ment then burst into hysterical laughter. The next instant Addie came hurrying round the nearby corner, closely followed by a man with lighted lantern. She gazed with astonishment at the two before her, then threw her arms around the neck of the erstwhile ghost, with a cry of joy. "Oh! Ralph Davis, you nearly scared us to death. We were just coming to rescue Mildred, from a ghost," she exclaimed between two rapturous hugs. "Explain what you mean by a ghost, you ridiculous Sis," responded Ralph, returning her embrace with interest. The girls explained their conduct, and he told how, being himself shut out from home, he had taken pity on his sister and cousin in their for- lorn exile, and had come to spend the holiday with them. He had taken the path across the field from the depot, rather them follow the round-about streets to the Academy Dormitory, and had just rounded the corner of the old granary when he recognized the girls out on the street. He tried to call to them but a rising sneeze half choked him, and the next he knew, both girls were madly flying down the street. There was nothing left for him to do but to pursue them. "You're both excellent sprinters," Ralph ended and all again shouted with laughter. No not all. The man with the lantern, who had come on adventure bound, trudged off around the corner, muttering disdainfully, "and you are all three born fools." Old Year Day Our fathers' God from out of whose hand The centuries fall like grains of sand, We meet today, united, free, And loyal to our land and Thee, To thank Thee for the era done, And trust Thee for the opening one. New Year This year the wondrous year shall surely be To such as have the gift to hear, to see! We greet, between prophetic smile and tear, Annus Mirabilis new year, strange year! Thomas. |