Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-12-03


Well, / think that will do them" said
the pleasant young lady, gravely; land
tomorrow, if he gets through the two
trials creditably, will tell himth at papa
has received telegram saying that his
fortune is in jeopardy. l shall see then
whether your friend cares for me or nv
money"
laughed, she laughed, and between
Us we agreed to submit Rigolot to as IN.
comfortable series of ordeals as have
ever heard devised. So that evening at
dinner, just as the soup was being re.
moved, and before any of the guests had
time to draw an artificial courage from
wine, Ruth Cumleigh remarked quietly
Papa, it's tonight the ghost pays his
yearly visit to Gravehill Churchyard."
my dear child, how can you say such
foolish things?"
Mademoiselle believes in ghosts,
zen?" inquired Rigolot, displaying his
white teeth on the other side of the
table.
In undoubted ghosts, Monsieur Rig
olot, and this one has frightened several
people to death. I'm sure it makes ones
flesh creep to think of it. Don't you be-
lieve in ghosts?"
Rigolot's handsome face at once became
serious.
"Zere are more zings in heaven and
earth zan we dream of, as your Shake
spirie says, Mademoiselle; l cannot denv
vat / know nozing about; but I care not
for ghosts-I mock myself of zem-for
vat can zey do to me?"
The answer of a sensible and brave
man, Mossheer Rigolot," exclaimed Mr..
Cumleigh with approval, and the other
city men, their wives and mobile incum-
ORANGES, concurred. But Ruth eiacu-
lated, smilingIy, as if skeptical:
Well, would you dare to go and stand
in Gravehill Churchyard alone at mid
night, Monsieur Rigolot?"
My friend made one of his inimitable
French bows and asked whether Miss
Ruth would favor him with her com
pany; but she answered that the test of
POGO cotrGateism in these cases consisted
in being quite solitary. Accordingly it
was understood that the Frenchman
should set out for Gravehill unattended
at half-past eleven; and [ am bound to
own that the prospect of this excursion
did not interfere in the least with Rigo-
lots good humor or appetite He ate,
chatted, and joked as usual, took rather
less wine if anything than 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 es-
pecially noticed that he did not take
stick or umbrella.
AS soon as he was gone Ruth fastened
to her room, and in ten minutes reap
peared, having changed her dress and
put on thick shawl and bonnet. was
IN waiting to give her my arm, and to-
gether we walked cut, going at fast
pace to reach the churchyard before mid
night.
1t was about five minutes to twelve
when we arrived, and looking through
creviCe in the low wall that surrounded
the churchyard, we perceived the French
man sitting unconcernedly astride
tombstone. There was no rain, the
moon was beaming, and, tall, very fune-
real, shadows were cast into the depths
of the buttresses; and on one side of the
spire, which rose straight and high in
the clear air, Rigolot's face stood full in
the moonlight, and we could see that his
Indifference was perfect. Humming
tune, he drew a cigar-case from his
pocket and struck fusee on the tomb
stone.
Manly, but profane," whispered Ruth,
to my arm.
1t was at that very moment when mid
night changed from the steeple; and,
precisely to the hour, a towering white
apparition glided from the gloom of the
and walked straight toward
Rigolot. Not to alarm anybody, it may
be stated that this apparition was moth
ing but gardeners boy, who was great
ally of Ruth's in these adventures, and
who played his part by the customary
means of a sheet and pole with a phos-
phorized mangelwurzel at the top. This
gardeners boy then advanced; but the
instant he began to be seen stalking
among the tombs Rigolot raised bright,
joyous laugh-without quaver in it
jumped from his grave and walked to
meet him. The ghost was not prepared
for this move, and receded; Rigolot fol-
lowed. The ghost, thoroughly mystified,
broke ground; then, seeing the French
to approach, turned tail
and ran Hereupon Rigolot's merry voice
rang out in reiterated peals, and he
called out, with wonderful intrepidity
and archness:
Come, don't be afraid of me, my good
ghost am only a man. Accept a Gee
CARER
Ruth was abashed as we made our way
home. There was no doubt RigoIot had
got the best of the first bout, and | sug-
gested the propriety of dispensing him
from the burglar ordeal. But the ar