THE WOMAN WHO REFUSES TO DIE

In the little town of Honey Island, north of Beaumont, there once lived a rich woman by the name of Hannah Brown. Her husband had died, leaving her a life insurance policy worth ten thousand dollars. With shrewd investments and some pure luck, Hannah parlayed her small nest egg into a fortune.

She built a three-story mansion with a many columned porch and large, airy rooms furnished in velvet brocade, and fine wood. She rode around in a fancy carriage drawn by high-stepping white horses with plumes on their heads.

Hannah also bought precious jewels of all kinds - diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires - and had them fashioned into necklaces, bracelets, and rings. She loved her jewelry better than anything else in the world.

Hannah's sister and niece moved into her mansion on the day of the funeral, and they had been having a high old time entertaining their friends and throwing wild parties.

On the night she spooked the grave robbers, Hannah also appeared at the head of the great staircase in the grand hall of her house. She pointed down at her sister and niece, who were cowering on the floor below. In a low, menacing voice, she said one word, "Out!"

The two terrified women backed away from the fiery, accusing eyes, and once they reached the double French doors, they turned and bolted away into the woods. They never returned even to pick up their own belongings.

The big house is still there in Honey Island. No one lives there, unless you count the widow Brown, who seems to enjoy walking around the house with diamonds and rubies sparkling on her neck, arms, and fingers. You might even catch a glimpse of her through one of the big picture windows. That's if you believe in such things.