Connecticut western news., 1873-06-27

This calm assurance restored the.contidence of the party. In the meantime the rapping became a terrific pounding that awoke the distant echoes of Barrackmatiff Hill. A voice, too, of stentorian volume and genu- inc live human tone was added to the blows which threatened to break the door in with their violence. ''Ben," it shouted. ''Ben Ball, open the door. want to come in and I will come in"
 Ben Ball-It's that goose, Hen Ayres.
 Yorick-Gad! I think Hen has turned to d rooster tonight. He's neither goose, gan,ler, nor hen, but full-grown fighting cock.
 Ben Ball-Don't let him in.
 Englishman-No. If you do, no spook will come tonight. They don't like disres- pectful behavior.
 Mr. Henry Ayres, however. was not so easily turned from his purpose. He shout ed, Ben Ball, I'm not a ghost-let me in
 Reporter-Dont notice him; he'll go away after awhile.
  newed at intervals of every ten minutes, Henry withdrew, cursing Ben Ball and the spook hunters with imprecations loud if not deep. After his dep lrture refresh ments were .ken, the fire Was replenished, and chat resumed for Il little while, but na- ture ass .rted herself, and soon the whole party fell asleep once more, except the re- porter and the Englishman. Silently they watched for the ghost. The reporter thought at last that the Engiishman also slept. He lay silent and motlonless on the floor. The silence was broken only by the breathings of the sleepers, the sound of the horse cropping the grass in the yard, and the smouldering of the dying embers. Even that ceased after awhile. The reporter walked into the hall, explored the ghost chamber and staircase, peeped into the closets; but no ghost, no sound but that of
 his own footsteps. He returned to the room where the sleepers snored and propped
 himself in a position to watch the stair
 case. The Englishman whispered, She
 won't come tonight" He sighed as though
 deeply disappointed. Seemingly in con
 firmation of his oracular remark cock
 crew shrilly, another answered, another and another echoed the note of morning which sends disembodied spirits who art
 permitted to walk the earth at night bacl to their pureatorial fires. The reporte ] knew the game Twas ended, the play Wal out. the curtain had fallen. The moor r had gone down. In the damp grass thu l glow worm was beginning to pale his in effcctual fires and show the matin to b : near. Some rosy streaks began to lace th - severing clouds in the east The reporte
 awoke the sleepers, and proposed to return to town. Yorick asked whether the ghos had appeared while he slept. ''No," sail the Englishman, ''of course she didn't 6 We'll have to come again some dark night and not so many of Us, and let nobod know a word of it. Do you think spook
 be fools? Their feelings are very te ndel
 That one in Hengland never spoke till sh . was spoken to. They are just as sensible an
 polite as live folks. I'm not afraid of them
 and if you be coming up here again" (thi ;, was spoken to the reporter), 'rll come a alone with you and we'll give the spook u fair chance 10 come and say what sh , wants" Agreed" said the reporte . "Whew Egad! that's compliment to tl
 rest of us, said Yorick. The Englishma 5 never moved muscle of his stolid face, | a :, only said, ''You oughtn't to have gone 1 sleep"
 F. After good nap the next morning, Il n reporter took the first train from Salisbur. a determined to explore the mystery anoth' ,t time. It was agreed by all interested th 70 the thing had not been settled by that night , watch. Old Mrs. Hicks said she "kne 'twouldturn out jest SO. They're live spook D. and they are not coming when you are pr
 pared for them, and say you are determine to find them out" She and the Englishms ~ had both decided that the test was not ga = isfactory. sis..-. =.