The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-06-19

couldn't stand IT, Nhlch room shall
fix, Miss2"
''The one where you carried our wrap
pings will do as we'll as any," answered
Lizzie, quietly, " You can leave the
light burning, and we will go when we
are ready. The fire is too pleasant to
leave yet awhile"
1t was midnight before they could tear
themselves away from its glorious COM
tort.
"Now look ut for aunt Debby's ghost"
said Kate, with a light laugh, as they
gained the landing on the way to their
chamber.
''Stop, Kate, replied Lizzie, pausing,
and speaking gravely. Don't let us men
tion that nonsense, even in fun. 1t strikes
me that we two girls, alone in a strange
house in q lonesome neighborhood, have
enough real perils without conjuring up
imaginary ones. We -"
A wild, mocking laugh cut short her
speech, ringing through the lonely pas
sages, and fairly freezing the blood of the
startled listeners.
"Great Heaven! what is that?" asked
Lizzie, in a terrified whisper, clinging to
her scarcely less frightened companion.
For one awful moment they stood mo-
tionless, holding fast to each other; then
| Kate rallied her courage.
"Only one of your owls. l guess, Liz
zie. AS you say, it won't do for us to get
nervous. We've undertaken this thing,
and we will go through with it. See
yonder is the light in our room. Now for
| one brave dash along the hall. Come
Quick !"
A breathless rush of light feet over the
echoing floor, and they had gained their
shelter; but just as the door closed upon
their retreating figures, that unearthly
laugh again resounded through the house
and this time it had a tone Of triumph.
The girls looked silently into each others
eyes. 80, Kate what is it? 1t is no
owl " gasped Lizzie at last She was
standing with her back against the door,
and trembling like leaf
" Goodness only knows - answered
Kate, with lips of ashy whiteness. "But
one thing is certain-we're IN an awful
| fix. If those darkies only slept in the
house, it wouldn't be so bad But all
alone! Lizzie, you must make them move
| in tomorrow"
Tomorrow! Yes, if we survive to see
its light"
Gradually they grew calmer, and rea-
| son began to assuage their fears, at least
those of Lizzie
''We never harmed any one who lived
here" she said. ''And why should they
disturb us2 Let us try to forget it,
IF it were only ghost" began skep-
teal Kate; but she forbore to suggest her
more tangible fears-those of robbers
and assassins.
| For q while there was no father disturb
ance, and they were beginning to feel
more at ease, when rapid succession of
groans, footsteps, and poundings broke up
on the silence Of the nj ght The sounds evi-
dently proceeded from the garrett portion
OF the house as yet unexplored; but both
girls, now that they had time to recover
from the first shock, felt that the mystery
must be explained. 1t would not do to
be overcome by fear at the very outset of
their housekeeping. Both were self-re-
liant women, made so by hard experience !;
and, though Lizzie possessed less natural
courage than her friend, yet, when the
latter, taking from her baggage a small
but elegant pistol, said gravely, while she
| carefully examined the weapon, ''Well,
Lizzie, this will have to be Investigated,
and we have only ourselves to depend
on,' she was ready to take the candle and
follow.
Back through the long hall, and up the
winding attic stair they went. Then, just
at the top, though there was no draught.
out went the light, leaving them in fear
ful darkness. For this, however, they
We're prepared, and the quick stroke of q
match from the box in Lizzie's hand
awoke a sudden glow; but ere they could
get the candle lighted, there was hasty
scuffiing Of feet along the floor, and its
CLEAN revealved white form vanishing
in the distance at the end of the long
room.
"Ah!" said Kate, setting her lips hard
and taking the candle from Lizzie's
trembling hand. That glimpse of the in
truder put her upon her mettle, and she
advanced boldly to the door through
which the figure had disappeared.
AS it proved, this opened into a large
closet; and now the girls were sure that
they had the offender trapped. But,
though they searched carefully, turning
over and over the piles of rubbish, tang
ling their hair in the punches of thyme
and horehound hanging from the rafters
and raising general commotion among
the spiders, whose dusty webs festooned
every corner, nothing could be found At
length they owned themselves baff1ed, and
returning to their room, threw their tired
forms upon the bed, without undressing,
where, toward morning, they fell into a
heavy slumber.
The Autumn sun rose gloriously after
the storm, and, under its cheerful beams,
every corner of their scene of midnight
terror was thoroughly explored, but with
no satisfactory result. Plenty of old
fashioned garments, quaint furniture and
curious nlck-nacks were discovered, but
no trace of the supernatural. Yet no per-
suasion could induce aunt Debby to move
her bed into the house.
"Couldn't do it, nohow, ladies'" was
the unwavering reply; and, plying the
abject terror she evinced, the girls at last
| gave it up.
That night was a repetition of the pre-
viovs one, the next OF that, and so on for
a week. Sometimes the disturbance was
confined to wild sounds of laughter; at
others, sheeted form fitted through the
passages; but never, with all their vigi.
lance, could they follow it beyond the
garret closet, where it finally disappeared
"Dat's de closet whar ole mars God
win done hang herself" said aunt Debby,
dropping her deep gutteral voice to a
frightened whisper
| What was to be done? The girls were
growing haggard with excitement and
loss OF sleep, and sadly admitted that the
present state of things could not continue
| Should they relinquish their darling
scheme, and &C back to life of labor and
boarding housesp Never! There was
whole volume of ghost-defying resolution
In their tones. Apply to the agent? Yes,
! and be laughed at as couple of silly,
superstitious girls Hire man to sleep
in the house? Then good-by to their
boasted womanly independence. Each
plan was vetoed as soon as suggested.
81 tell you, Lizzie" said Kate, one
morning. when they were wearily discus
sing the situation, "therc's nothing like
the advice of an old friend. Write to
Mr.. Carroll"
This was not the first time that the idea
had occurred to them; but, hitherto, each
had felt disinclination to mention it.
would you?" said Lizzie. Then
you write''
| tNO Won >, and oftor ooy,o do1,v NTH