Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-05-16

pudding he would reveal to them the
innocent cause of all their disquietude.
His hearers shook their heads; yet |
tried to smile and convince themselves |
that they had been pair of very fool
isl women.
When the dinner was removed full |
half -hour was spent i'll again searching
hooks and corners, and all possible |
hiding places of every description, yet !
ut the end of that time Mr.. Gray took |
o scat in his comfortable arm chair,
saying as he did So
!" Well, then, I don't know what to
think about it,"
Thus the day passed; night game
Ella, refusing to spend its long, still
hours III her own room, endeavored to
woo forgctfulness upon lounge in the
sleeping apartment Of her parents, but
sleep was scarcely more than mock
cry throughout that night to tho in
mates Of their apparently charmed cot.
tage. for all night they necessarily
heard the same monotcnous rap, rap,
rap
''This is Terrible" said Ella to her
step-mother, rs they sat down to their
early breakfast, "do, mother, let us so
away somewhere to-day. 1t is SO early
we can easily be ready to 60 when faith
or does, for I cannot bear the thought
of staying here moment after he will
he gone"
Where shall We 60 ." inquired Mrs.
Gray. -
80, we can go to Aunt Jennic's; you
know we have long since promised her
Nh old-fashioncd visit of days dura-
ton"
"But," said Mr.. Gray, "what will
you do after to-day?. Do you expect
to vacatc the house thus, day after day,
and leave this unwelcome visitor to
reign supreme over its quietness p
80, I don't KNOW" answered Ella,
~ did not think any further than to-
day. Perhaps while we are gone it may
leave and trouble us no more"
Mr.. Gray shook his head and said /;
"Whatever it may he, it is very per-
sistent, and do not believe it can be
exercised by its being left alone would
it not be better to face the matter brave
~ by remaining here and waiting pa
tiently till it goes as it came, when it
gets ready Z"
No, no. said Ella, nervously. 81
cannot stay here to-day; I really must
60 away from that incessant sound L
must have q respite, however brief it
may be-"
& think" said Mrs. Gray, eve had
better 60 we can easily be ready by
the time that you ought to start to go
Elias share of the household duties
for the morning being first performed
she timldly told her mother she would
wait until she also was ready to go up
stairs.
20, no." said Mrs. Gray, "don't
wait fer me; you know very we'll how
much longer you will be in dressing
than I will, therefore go up now and
begin to dress; You eau take everything
TINT you need into my room, and then
close the communicating door between,
both rooms"
Ella finally consented, though Mr..
and Mrs. Gray noticed that her face
was very pale, and that her hands
tremblel; yet Ella, though nervous
and excited, was not really coward,
else she had not gone at oil unless &C.
companied by her mother. Scarcely
two minutes elapsed when along. pierre
ing, terrorwrung shrek rang through
the dwelling, driving every other sound
from the ears of the hearers.
Quicker than speech they were at the
head of. the stairs. But what a sight
there confronted them! I am sure
that in the rapid mounting of the stairs,
each one had formed some idea of the
scene that would meet their gaze they
expected the prostrate, iBsensible Ella
and frightful apparition, perhaps.
But not thls-no, indeed, not this.
just outside the open door of her
room stood Ella. both hands pressed
against her side, the tears standing in
her eyes, but her whole frame convuls-
ed with laughter that entirely deprived
her of the power of speaking. As soon
as she found breath again, peal after
peal of laughter rang through the
house. Mr.. and Mrs. Gray stood amaz-
ed-confounded, and even angry.
is it 50 laughable a matter, Ella -
said her father, sternly, ITO brighter,
your mother and me nearly out of our
senses by your terrific screams Really
this is child's play, and cannot be view
ed by me otherwise than with disap.
probation!" -
80, papa, don't scold, don't; " said
Ella, with shortened breath, 'sbut in.
deed I have found the ghost; come
in here. There" she continued, 81
she pointed to o small rosewood boz
that stood open upon the bureau,
"thete was his hiding place; wasn't
he q diminutive ghost2" And the1
she laughed merrily.
" Do explain this mystery" said MIR
Gray.
81 will" answered Ella, droppin:
into chair. ''This little box stood il
that open drawer under the toilet glass
The drawer was partly open; when
came to the room I tried first to &c
my pin and earrings. I noticed as
approached the drawer that the noe,
, proceeded FROM its farthest corner O
course that increased my nervousness
!. and excitement; Iput my hand int,
the drawer and hurridly drew out tn
box, placed it on the bureau and hasti
" opened it, when"-and here ELL
, burst into an uncomfortable fit O
! laughter.
"Do go on!' said Mr.. Gray, impa
tientl..
swell, papa-when out jumped
! mouse OF course, seeing it, startle.
} me, and 1 did very natural thing TO
woman-I screamed but as soon u
| began to thing that this poor harm
; less little mouse had been the limo
) cent cause of all our terror, my scream
? changed to laughter-a laugh whicl
7 L could not conquer.
, "But how in the world, Ella, did tn
! poor little thing become prisoner?
: II suppose I must have left tn
: cover up when was last at the box
and when the mouse jumped in the Ii,
fell upon it, and the animal was q
snugly incarcerated as ever was can
tive in his dungeon"
YES" said Mr.. Gray, "and as
s jumped up and down in its efforts t
: be released, it caused the motion Of til
lid, which produced the rapping g
terrifying to us us ALL"
"Well, said Mrs. Gray, this is til
smallest, dwindling away of a elos
: story that ever heard of.''
els it now necessary to run ava
from the spirits?" said Mr.. Gray, witt
great gravity.
30, yes, we will let Aunt Jenn
: have visit from us, as we have decid
ed to do" answered Ella.
"To think, " said Mrs. Gray to her
sell, "nothing but q mouse, and I la,
, even gone so far as to wonder how lon
it would be before we could sell tin
house, and whether the ghost woul,