The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-12-04

yearly visit TO gravehill ChurchyarJ."
"My dear child, how can you say such
foolish things'"
Madcmoiselle believes In ghosts,
zen'" inquired Rigolot displaying his
white teeth on the other side Of the
table.
ain undoubted ghosts, Monsieur Rigo-
lot, and this one has frightened several
people TO death. I'm sure IL makes ones
flesh creep to think Of II. Don't you be-
lieve In ghosts'"
Rigolot's handsome face at once be-
came serious
Zere are more rings in heaven and
earth zan we dream Of as your Shaks-
pirre says, Msdemoisclle; can not deny
vat ] know nozing about; but ] care not
for ghosts-I mock myself of zem-for
vat can zey do to me9"
"The answer of sensible and brave
man, Monsieur Rigolot," exclaimed Mr..
Cumleigh, with approval, and the other
city men, their wives and mobile incum-
branccs, concurred. But Ruth ejacu-
lated, smilingly, as If skeptical;
"well, would you dare to go and
stand in Gravehill Churchyard alone at
midnight, Monsieur Rigolot9"
My friend made one Of his inimitable
French bows, and asked whether Miss
Ruth would favor him with her com
pany but she ans yercd that the test OF
POGO cuanteism in these cases consisted in
being quite solitary.
Accordingly 1t was understood that
the Frenchman should set out for Grave
hill unattended at halfpast eleven; and
I am bound to own that the prospect OF
this excursion did not interfere in the
least with Rigolot's good humor or appc-
tite. He ate, chatted, and jekcd as
usual, took rather less wine il anything
than was his wont, and at the appointed
time, Notwithstanding the discussions Of
Mr.. Cumleigh, who begged him not to
consider the whims Of spoiled child, he
donned his hat and overcoat and sailed
forth. 1t was especially noted that he
did not take stick or umbrella.
As soon as he was gone Ruth FASTENED
to her room, and in ten minutes reap
pearcd, having changed her dress and put
on thick shawl and bonnet. | was in
waiting to give her my arm, and together
we walked out, going at a fast pace to
reach the churchyard before midnight.
1t was about ten minutes to IL When
we arrived, and, looking through crew
ice in the low wall that surrounded th,
churchyard, we perceived the French
man sitting unconcernedly astride 4
tombstone. There was no r;6n, no moor
was beaming, and tall, very funeral
shadows were cast into the depths of thu
buttrcsscs; and on one side of the spire
which rose straight and high in the clea
air, Rigolots face stood full in the moon
light, and we could see that his indifier
ence was perfect. Humming tune, h,
drew cigar-case from his pocket, ant
struck fuse on the tombstone.
"Manly, but profane," Whispered Rutl
clinging to my arm.
1t was at that very moment when mid
night changed from the steeple; and
precisely to the hour, towering whit,
apparition glided from the gloom of tn,
church-porch and walked straight towarC
Rigolot. Not to alarm anybody, it ma,
be stated that this appsrition was moth
ing but gardeners boy, who was grea
ally of Ruth in these adventures, an,
who played his part by the customar,
means of sheet and pole with plies
Phorized mangel.wurzel at the top. Thi
gardeners boy then advanced; but tn
b, instant he began to be seen stalking
among the tombs, Rigolot raised brigh
joyous laugh,-without quaver in it,
jumped from his grave, and walked +
meet him. The ghost was not prepare
for this move, and receded; Rigolot fol
lowed. The ghost, thoroughly mysti
fed, broke ground; then, seeing tn
Frenchman continue to approach, turne
tail and ran. Hereupon Rigolot's merr
voice rang out in reiterated peals, and b
called out, with wonderful intrepredit
and archness:
"Come, don't be afraid OF me, my goo
ghost; am only 4 man. Accept Ct
garrep
Ruth was abashed as we made our wa
home. There was no doubt Rigolot ha'
got the best Of this first bout, and .ug
gested the propriety of dispensing hin
from the burglar ordeal. But the al
rangemeDts had already been made. Tha
gardeners boy, young city gentleman
named futile, who had been sworn int
the conspiracy, and myself had all re
hearsed for climbing into Rigolots bal
cony with Grape masks on our faces; an,
both Ruth and futile anticipated to-
much good fun from this performance
to be banked from it. Well, il was no
such good fun after all, especially 70
futile. | pass over the congratulation
which Rigolot received on his return
from the ghost expedition, and come a
once TO the small hour of 3 in the morn
ing, when the gardener, Tuttle, and
found ourselves climbing ladder unde
Rigolots balcony, and each with horse
pistol in his hands. Tuttle led the way
and, being provided with GLACIERS in
strument for cutting glass, coolly re
moved pane, passed his hand through
the aperture, opened the window, an,
walked in. lie had some difficulty il
suppressing his grins, but he did not grin
long.
have never heard for certain wha
actually ensued; but it seems that Rigo
lot was awoke by the noise faint as /
was, and seeing burglar-there was
night-light on the chimney-piece-leape,
out of bed, few to drawer and, extract
ing a revolver, thence let fly the who'll
! Elk barrels at futile without a word o
7. A. L