Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-08-24

racket, as she always did.
s. Deed and she wasn't going to stay
down there! What with the beast of
dog and JenDy'S snoring, she couldn't
sleep wink
We trased her, and had as much fun
to al appearances as we would have
had under the most favorable circum
stances.
Only twelve o'clock.
90 shall be gray rs a rat, if this mo-
notony continues much longer" tele
graphed Madge.
As for me, ! had a perverse desire to
go to sleep.
! Madge commenced reading aloud.
| yawned so CONTINUOUSLY. that, frown-
;. ing savagrIy upon me, she tossed the
book across the room.
As minute after minute passed with
no sign of life within the wardrobe.
Ann'S face settled into incredulity, and
| fully expected she would investigate
matters for herself. One o'clock
Out stepped our nam with gallant
how.
"ESs-use me, ladies; but your ward
robe is uncomfortable and, as you
seem determined rs sit up all night,
cou,in'i afford TO walt longer
+ Ann walk.sl to the door, locked il,
aud l.,cke',.d the key
There was an instantaneous display
of lire 2rI0s.
(" You SEE we are prepared for you,7
said
He turned pale, and, being himself
unaIined, Was for il moment complete
~ nonplussed.
! Don't think he had very much faith
in our ability IT, usr Onr weapons, for
he did not hesitate to rush at Ann
with u chair, evidently intending to
maize our number one less. BY this
time my nerves were perfectly steady,
and gave HIM gentle " reminder y
! in the. arm, so that he was liz meas
ure keHIa.sS.
don't like TO Think of the hours
thai followed. rhe fellow was cow
ard, aud yet he kept ms OH fhe alert
al! the time. We insisted persuasive
~ upon his combining himself to one
corner of the room, but we could not
prer,iI: him from hiring 1T ais every
available thing within his reach. a
coiogneb bottle was aimed at my head
with precision a scream FROM Madge
warned me, and throwing up my hand
10 ward 1t OF, received an .ngly cut
OH the wrist Nothing more happen
ed.
By and by his curiosity overcanie
him, and he gruffly questioned U.s.,
asking how we knew he was in the
aous., how long we had known it,,
ciosing his cIosas-exaaiiilation by point
ing At Ann, and graciosslY iilqlsiring
g how thatuld tool came 10 bluader UP
there. You're deep ones" was his
comment Holding up IA bottle of
chioro!0rm, ne said, admir- II & IS.
:. Theirs The thing that would have
quieted YOU down, if you'd given mt
half "a chance Half after two!
Madgc looked at me, and simply
saying, you need Ann more than
you do nl-.r unfastened the door aud
disappeared.
Mlieve the house was haunted.
At any rate, dozens of times | heard
mysterious footsteps, upstairs, down
stairs, everywhere. Verify, a whole
legion of spirits mist have been
ahrGid
ronld not keep stiH. Ny nervous
promenade up and down the room at
trmted the mans attention. He laugh
ell, taunting;,, and complacently in
formed ae that il was 8 his opinion
I'd give ont pretty soon"
Ana watel,ed me anxiously, know
ing that ms slender stock sf strength
WAS alrB.,sf exhausted
Away of caught the rumble efthe
stage.
Ann read the news in my face, and
grew jubilant.
Nearer and nearer it came. Soon l
could hear voices in the yard. A short
delay, and the door opened noiseless-
~, admitting half dozeai men!
! have f int remembrance of being
led from the reoln-of hearing Madge
.,n.l d.,x,<lad tb.. Skia,