Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-06-23
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
THE BOY WITH STRONG NERVES.


never been to boarding school before, and
Of course, did not see anything strange in
the fact that the other boys left him to
himself; nor would he have found out it
was unusual, if Tom Finch had not told
him so, the evening after his arrival. Tom
get away from his classes he came to give
Jack welcome, and help him arrange his
room. -.------
"What this P" 10 - i-
This was the exclamation uttered by
Tom, as he crossed the threshold of Jacks
chamber and looked around with conster-
nation on his face. .l. ~
What's the matter, Tom9" asked Jack,
in surprise.
to say this is the room they have given
you" -..- .. ...,-
eyes" .rl
"Whe-e ee-e-e-e e ewP -a-s.t
"What in the worlds the matter
What are you whistling about"
(" O-nothing Its nothing only
was thinking they'd give you an
other one, somewhere else" s.-..--. Z
Tom stammered and hesitated while
saying this, but Jack did not remark it.
"WelI, it's not bad room," said hey
I" I'm glad l have 50 good one"
Tom had to leave pretty early, and
promised, as he left the loom, to be back
the following evening. as on
On the next evening, as they sat at
supper, Tom suddenly changed the con-
Versation with o.
q 8, Jack, forgot to ask you how you
slept-1ast night t ri 81 rt
"HemI Didn't youhear any-any dis
turbance?" I4T.'! ifou oi
"No.n r-g.--..t- .f..
No noises 2"
"My dear Tom, was SO far away in
the land of Nod, that no sounds from this
world could reach me-"
"And you like the room still ?"
"The room? Like it? OF course do.
It's first-rate room. But explain what all
whenever you speak about that room
What's the matter with it? Has any one
died there Of the srnan-poxP Eaf'
"No." -rIit aae.t.f( MOI
!" swell, what's the matter with itf'
90, never mind" rs
/" But want to know"
"Pn tell you some time"
"Why not nowpg
"nThere's no necessity. I'd rather not.
IN tell YOU in a week or so if you wish
but you won't need me to tell you. You
will find out soon enough yourself"
Several hours passed, and Tom was In
Jacks room, telling ridiculous story
about one of the boys, when suddenly he
stopped short, and stared at Jack, with
his face ghastly white"
"Why, TOm," cried Jack, "what in the
world is the matter with you ? You
"Didn't you hear it 2" gasped Tom, in a
scarcely audible voice" EU q
q" Hear itf" r. rt+...rf-
p ".Yes-the-the-there it is again. o.,
can't stand it ~ Af@ p
!" Are You crazyYp cried Jack, starting
up, and going over to his cousin.
You're as pals as death. What's the
"a II is there n Heshuddered.
"Now, I'll be blowed if lean make 1ou
out at all What do you mean = cried cried
As he spoke, there came dull, low
sound, like football overhead, rather in
distinct, but regular, like some one walk
ing with a muff1ed tread. Over Jacks
room was large unfinished garret, ex-
tending the whole length of the building,
and Jack at once thought that some OF
the boys were up there.
Toms condition now was really alarm
ing. "There, there-that is it-that is II y
he cried and, while he spoke, low sigh
came to Jacks ears. 90 la. .-t
"Whatl thatY" cried Jack. "Do you
mean to say that you're afraid Of that
You are crazy. It is only some one
walking in the garret in his slippers, OF
in his stocking feet. hear the wind,
too, blowing about the place. Are you
such a fool, Tom, as to be afraid o.
that?" -ft8 .s1
40, you don't know-you dom
know" said Tom.
swell, I will know, precious soon,
said Jack; and, seizing the lamp, h'
strobe toward the door. "Come along
Tom" -
But Tom didn't move
"Will you come and see for yourself
said Jack - -iA-f.l
al wouldn't go up there for the world
nor would any of the boys, Jack; there
horror up there. None of the boys dar'
stay in this room. I wouldn't. You stay
here because you don't know but you'll
leave it soon enough. There is something
up there we have often heard it /; and i
is in this room that it sounds the worst
It's mysterious walk of something. Yol
hear football, and sigh, as of one il
pain. On wild, stormy nights it is horri
BILE. DR.. Pendergrast cannot make it ou
at all. None of them teachers can
They've tried to reason us out of fear, bu
they are afraid themselves. The last DO,
that was put in this room rushed out O
it at midnight almost frightened to deatt
You were put in here because you were
new boy. DR.. Pendergrast wouldn't slee
here himself, know"
All this Tom poured forth in slightl
incoherent manner, and concluded by en-
treating Jack to leave the room at once
and pass the night with him. Jack hear
him through, with q look of wonder.
"Well, I declare !" he exclaimed
"What a set 'Pon my word, I~neve
would have believed all this Of you If 20
hadn't told me with your own lips. Yo
talk like school girl of six. And yo
seem to take me for baby. A ghost
Ha I ha hai What rot and rubbish
And then to find whole school goini
mad after it o, Toni Toni Toni
wouldn't have thought this ofyou. Come
man Shake yourself, and be maj
Come up with me, now"
Tom shook his head.
"Well," said Jack, III have to go alon
and you must feel ashamed of yoursel
Come"
"Nol" said Tom, with downcast lool
go, Toni Have you no prideP Wi
you let me stand here, and dare you to 70
low me?" ...lr -...--...
"Jack, it's madness" t 'fa
"Poohp' said Jack; and without a
other word, he left the room and wake
along the hall to where the stairway "a
up the garret. Tom looked after hir