Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-05-23

the hour OF one, when LOOKING through
the window Mrs. Gray espied her hus-
bands figure stepping bnskly along
the garden walk.
s'Here he comes, Ella; but, l declare
we must stop this whispering, or he
will think there is something wrong at
once"
AS Mr.. GRAY entered the sitting
room, the rapping suddenly ceased.
Ella and Mrs. Gray exchanged looks
significantly, while each said with her
ewes, What a very sagacious rapper!"
But Mr.. Gray was heated by his long
walk and glad to reach his cool sitting
room, where he could view the tempt
ing, smoking dinner awaiting HIM IN
adjoining apartment; therefore he
had no time to spend in taking obser-
yations of those two pair of eyes before
him. though they were the dearest eyes
in the whole world to him.
Scarcely had he cut the first slice
from the tender shoulder oflamb, when
he stopped ana listened to-rap, rap,
rap, sounding clear and distinctly
through the house. He turned and
looked through the open diningroom
door, and seeing no one there then
gazed at the wide spread front door
as though expecting to find visitor
there.
But no visitor did he see, but instead,
his eyes rested on Elias sewing chair,
still and vacant as she had left it.
"What was that ?" he enquired,
looking at the undertaking faces of has
wife and daughter. Rap, rap, rap
rap-i-te-rap, the sound ratified on be
fore they could reply.
why Anne, Ella, what is that
noise there must be somebody knock
ing at the kitchen door.
"There is no one there" said Ella,
reaching forward her head that she
might command view of the open
back door.
"The dinner is cooling" suggested
Mrs Gray, adding "had you not bet
ter he'll us to some of the roast while 1t
is warm?'
Mr.. Gray again lifted the carving
knife, but still the sound continued,
and of course he again freely expressed
his surprise thereat; nor was his won
der at all diminished when his wife and
daughter informed him of the knocking
that had been repeated throughout the
morning.
However, as he did not possess n
very large development OF the organ
of marvelousness, he was strongly IN
clined to the opinion that they hadonly
been frightened by their foolish fan
cies, nor did he scruple to tell them
this opinion, and he also assured them
that as soon as he had dispatched his
pudding he would reveal to them the
innocent cause of all their disquletude.
His hearers shook their heads; yet
tried to smile and convince themselves
that they had been pair of very fool
ish women.
When the dinner was removed tull
half-hour was spent IN again searching
hooks and corners, and all possible
hiding places of every description, yet
at the end of that time Mr.. Gray took
seat in his comfortable armchair,
saying as he did So
We'll, then, | don't know what to
think about it.
Thus the day passed night came ;
Ella, refusing to spend It's long, still
hours in her own room, endeavored TO
WOO forgetfulness upon a lounge in the
sleeping apartment of her parents, but
sleep was scarcely more than mock
cry throughout that night to the IN
mates of their apparently charmed cot.
tage, for all night they necessarily
heard the same monotonous rap, rap,
rap
& This is terrible" said Ella to her
step-mother, rs they sat down to their
early breakfast, =" do, mother, let MS go
away somewhere to-day. 1t is SO early
We can easily be ready to go when faith
er does, for | cannot bear the thought
of staying here moment after he will
be gone.
"Where shall we go 2" inquired Mrs
Gray.
80, we can go to Aunt Jennie's you
know we have long since promised her
an old-tashioned visit of days dura-
ton.
But" said Mr.. Gray, ''what will
you do after to-day Do You expect
to vacate the house thus, day after day,
and leave this unwelcome visitor to
reign supreme over its quietness 2"
90, don't know" answered Ella,
q did not think any further than to-
day. Perhaps while we are gone it may
leave and trouble rs no more. "
Mr. Gray shook his head and said
Whatever it may be, 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
/ ly by remaining here and waiting pa
/ tiently till it goes as it came, when it
gets ready ~
Z" No, no, said Ella, nervously. II
cannot stay here to-day | really must
4 go away from that incessant sound !
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