Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-05-23
The Ghostat, sunset CottaSe--A True
story.
By MRS. j. c. DENTON.

By MRS. j. c. DENTON.
"What can it be2"
At least bali a score of times within
the last hour, had this short yet impor-
tant query passed between Ella and her
stepmother, without one being able to
give the other a satisfactory reply.
At first they had paid it no attention,
but after while its unremitting perse-
verance won, first their listening pow
ers. then their remarks, and at last
their determined efforts to discover It's
lurking place.
But III vain had they searched sup
stairs and down stairs, and in my lady's
chamber" in vain had Ella wandered
around the house, looking with strain
ING ewes at every shutter, easement,
and even climbing vine; IN VAIN had
they together descended to the cellar
and searched carefully with lighted
lamp into all its hidden corners. In
vain. in vain, in vain-still the unac-
countable and annoying rap, rap, rap,
and rapi- tee-tap tap, rang their weird
sounds through the tiny birds nest of
house.
Sunset Cottage was a strange place
or a ghost TO hide Ill, to be sure. No
oug DIM corridors, no closed unused
rooms, no secret stalrways, no dark
musty clOSets--in fact no place such as
restless spirits are reputed to love. 1t
was only a little, low, brown frame cot,
tage: tiny bay window III front, a
baby porch on the southern side; a
pretty little sItting-room, dainty
small dining-room, and neat pantry
and cosy kitchen. Up stairs were Elias
pretty sleeping room, the youthful
stepmother's larger apartment, and the
nicely kept "spare room These
were all, and who could tell from
whence came those mysterious soundsf
To be sure they were more plainly heard
when standing in Elias room, but then
Ella had searched every corner therein,
behind the door, throughout the ward
robe, under the bed, and even IN the
bur au drawers There was not a loose
easement, nor an unsteady door about
the well.ordered dwelling. Ella had
been to every window, and failed after
the most vigorous shaking to produce
even the faIntest rattle therefrom; be
sides that there were scarcely wind
enough stirring on that mild June day
to disturb the lCOsest and most unsta-
bic board.
SO Mrs. GRAY and Ella seated them
selves again in the sitting room, and
settled their minds into the belief that
''spints were certainly visiting their
home. Ella tried to laugh and declare
that the only spirits she sd10 were the
spirits of nitre but in the midst of her
speech sounded that ominous, not to be
sllenced, rap, rap, and her face was
grave again instantly.
The morning wore away, yet still the
rapping continued with only short in
tervals of rest. Neither Mrs. Gray nor
Ella could sew, and both sat with idle
hands, thinking and listening 1t was a
singular day for a ghostly visitation, so
calm and mild, and beautiful; scarcely
breeze stirred through the maple
boughs, or rUstled the rose leaves that
hloomed in their beauty around the
simple porch: the unchanglng hum of
the bees as they fingered about the
sweet blossoms IN the garden, the oc.
caslOnal song Of a bird, perched for a
moment on the white pickets of the
-NA4NNf tlAt ilAhAiStbAioAo pun VI tAlC N1Ns
as She nestled in quiet contentment be.
side the open door, were the only
sounds to be heard, save that unceas-
ing rap, rop, rap.
\ strange awe had stolen over both
listeners they felt convinced that some
supernatural visitant was hiding in
tleir tiny home, and to Ella the
thought woUi3 come, that mayhap the
dlsembodied spirit Of some dear depart
ed one was waiting to tell heI stories OF
its unseen home
But at length the dinner hour ap-
preached Mr. Gray was punctual as
the clock. and he must not be kept
waiting moment. The two ladies then
set about their required duties, with
s1bdueG voices and serious countg-
lances. BY mutual agreement it wa.
decided that Mr. Gray should not be
informed Of their mornings expert
elce.
1t would ot course be better that be