Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-09-24

But mine at last popped straight out. and
struck the gazer a smart blow on the nose
at which he drew up with a sudden Jerk,
that set us roaring till the rafters rung
again.
was so innocent as to be delighted with
the spirited conduct of our little deputy
But my exaltation was short lived, for, to
my horror, Mr.. Hiram turned to me, blush.
ing to the ears, and before / had tune to
dodge, had given me hearty kiss upon
the cheek. | am naturally quick tempered,
and entering thoroughly into sport, start.
ed up, with The intention, do believe, of
bestowing box on the ear, in return for
the kiss, but he caught my hand, and stam-
mered
"It-it-it's the custom. l didn't mean
to offend"
So laughed like the rest, and two more
chestnuts were put on the shovel. An hour
passed in this amusement, and then came
the time for the stories.
My uncle told one about the war Of 1912,
my aunt one of witches, and one about
Saratoga, it being called for by Hepsy, who
knew it of old. And then we sang songs
The Mistletoe Bough," and THE Rose of
Aliandale, ""Widow Machree," and others
in the comic line. Then we wound up
home, in four parts, which set my uncle
to wIping his specs.
At ten the party broke; and then came
the business of the evening for some Of US.
Hepsy and !, who all belong TO the FAM
lily for the time, retired to the dark dreary
parlor. We were each to stand before the
mantle piece with sheet wrapped around
US, and a candle in our hand, into which
Hip hoA 4, IL. 4.
was now ten. As the pins marking twelve
dropped out, our future husbands were to
walk in, provided we had neither laughed
nor spoken one word.
| did it for q frolic, but the other two
girls believed implicitly. Standing and
looking at their earnest faces, could not
help laughing it was impossible to help it.
My candle shook in my hand, and q last |
gave way. So l was disqualified but as
knew my friends were trembling with fright
did not leave them, and continued to hold
my light. |, having no hopes from the ex
pertinent, found it most intolerably dull
work standing there in the cold; but they
seemed buOyed up in excitement. We all
three watched our candles eagerly, and
could not help wishing some charitable
draught would put them out, and end the
spell. l knew nothing would come of wait
ing, but not to have the laugh against me
for coward, l staid fortunately.
Two mortal hours dragged themselves
by. Then my pin dropped. but the hall
clock had not yet struck u. IIepsy's pin
fell, then the clock began. |. was the crit.
zeal time, and l think three paler faces
never listened TO twelve tedious strokes
| At the last clang Lizzie's pin fell, and the
door swung open. Standing there opposite
to Us, in the dark passage, were three tall
! figures, like ourselves in white, each hold
ing the sheet over its face with the band.
With CHASTITY cheeks and dilating eyes,
we reflected our lights, and moved occa-
sionally. After some moments of hesita-
ton, still maintaining silence, beckoned
the girls to approach with me. But they
shrurk back, and it took violent persuasive
pantOmime to induce them to accompany
me. At last they came. In advancing,
looked sharply. for wanted to manage not
! to take the wrong specter, and d:sappoint
! either Ut their lovers. | recognized Nathal
| and uepsy's friends; the third | absolutely
! could not guess. 1t certainly was not Hi
/ ram. | now trembled as much as any of
/ the others, and fell back a little. / did
not wish to rush upon my fate in the shape
! before me. The girls cane to full stop.
! Still the figures were like statues, and we
three stood directly before them with our
| candles.
took courage, and signi6ed BY motions
/ that We must pull the white cloths from the
| hidden faces simultaneously. We ad-
vanced, and each took W corner of the
sheets. Now l began to preceive a smoth-
cred sound. and a certain shaking of gar
ments, which convinced me that these
| ghosts laughed carnal laughs so giving the
sigma! bravely, we pulled or attempted to-
The sheets fell coats and boots appeared
we caught one glimpse of three faces, quick
with merriment, before our candles were
| dashed from our hands, and we were left
for an instant in darkness, amid shouts OF
| laughter from my uncle and aunt in the
background. | don't know what the 9TH
ers did, but my ghost held my hands mean
while, and seemed TO take great satisfaction
in the feel of flesh and blood, if | may
| guess by the way he pressed it. And after
the peep had of its face l did not object.
My aunt came forward with candles. and
the specters fed before her, slaming the
front door after them. as if they had been
carried off in whirlwind.
But who, you ask, was my spirital vIsi-
tori 1t was of much import to me, dear
reader, but 1t is little to you. To this day
l have not found out how he got there, but
| guess that cousin John took the trouble
to go up to the city for him, on purpose tc
have the joke complete. What will not
those energetic country lads do for frolic
They all tried TO make me believe it was
a real apparition-a fetch, and no reality
but know better. for there was a tangible
ring Oh the ghosts finger, which has ever
since that night been mine
Nor nave l ever since played Hallow
Fen.