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


companied by her mother. Scarcely
two minutes elapsed when long. pierre
ing, terror-wrmg 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 sight
there confronted them | 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 me PROSTATE, lnsenslble Ella
and frightful apparltlon, perhaps.
But not thls-uo, indeed, not this.
Just outside the open door of her
room stood Ella. both hands pressed
against her side, the tears standing in
her ewes. 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.
SIS it so laughable matter, Ella y
sad her father, sternly, Ito brighten
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 scoll, don't; said
Ella. with shortened breath, "but IN
deed | have found the ghost; come
in here. There she continued, as
she pointed to a small rosewood box
that stood open upon the bureau,
there was his hiding place; wasn't
he diminutive ghost " And then
she laughed merrily.
Do explain this mystery, said Mr..
Gray.
q will answered Ella, dropping
into a chair. This little box stood III
that open drawerunder the toilet glass.
The drawer was partly open; when l
came to the room / tried first to get
my pin and earrings. | noticed as
approached the drawer that the noise
proceeded from its farthest corner of
course that increased my nervousness
and excitement; | put nay hand into
the drawer aud hurridly drew out the
box, placed it on the bureau and hasti-
lv opened it, when and here Ella
burst into an uncomfortable fit of
laughter.
"Do go ont" said Mr.. Gray, impa-
tientlv.
Well, papa-when out jumped a
mouse Or course, seeing it, startled
me, and | did very natural thing Tor
a woman-I screamed but as soon as
| began TO thing that this poor harm
less little mouse had been the inno-
cent cause of all our terror, my screams
changed to laughter-a laugh which
| could not conquer.
"But how in the world, Ella, did the
poor little thing become prisoner )"
Il suppose [ must have left the
cover up when | was last at the box.
and when the mouse jumped in the lid
fell upon it, and the animal was as
snuglv iucarcorated as ever was a cap
tive in his dungeon.
Yes" SAID Mr. Gray, land as it
| Jumped up and down in its efforts to
be released, it caused the motion of the
lid, which produced the rapping SO
terrifying to us us all. "
Well, said Mrs. Gray, this is the
smallest dwindling away of a ghost
story that / ever heard of. -
as it now necessary to run away
from the spirits:' said Mr., Gray, with
great gravity.
60, yes, we will let Aunt Jenny
have visit from us, as we have decid-
ed to do" answered Ella.
"To think, said Mrs. Gray to her
self, nothing but a mouse, and / had
even gone 50 far us to wonder how long
it would be before we could sell the
house, and whether the ghost would
follow us to a new bone! But never
mind that; now Aunt Jenny will re-
ceiye that long promised visit, in con-
sequence of Mr.. Mouse's exploring pre-.
elections"