steps homeward, stopping at the post office and at Bird's book store,
where she bought a bottle of ink from Miss Blanche. On arriving at the
cottage she hung up her hat and joined Olive in the parlor, took little
George on her lap, and, after singing him to sleep, lay down on the sofa
and took a nap.

After supper Esther took her accustomed seat on the door-step, remaining
there until the moon had risen. It was a beautiful moonlight night,
almost as bright as day. While seated there gazing at the moon, she said
to herself, "Well there is one thing certain anyhow, I am going to have
good luck all this month, for on Sunday night I saw the new moon over my
shoulder."

At half-past eight o'clock, Esther complained of feeling feverish and
was advised by Olive and Jane to go to bed, which she did.

About ten o'clock Jane retired for the night. After she had been in bed
some fifteen minutes, Esther jumped with a sudden bound into the centre
of the room, taking all the bed clothes with her.

"My God!" she exclaimed, "what can be the matter with me! Wake up Jane,
wake up! I'm dying, I'm dying!" "Dying!" responded Jane; "why dying
people don't speak in that loud tone. Wait until I light the lamp, don't
die in the dark Esther."

Jane thought her sister only had the night mare, but when she lit the
lamp, she was considerably alarmed by her sister's appearance. There
stood Esther in the centre of the room, her short hair almost standing
on end, her face as red as blood, and her eyes really looked as if they
were about to start from their sockets, her hands were grasping the back