Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-07-28


bashtul when I aint 'quainted."
The next thing was to provide
seats. The attic furnished but two,
so there were three chairs TO be snug
gled upstairs without attracting obser.
walton from Aunt Prue or Hesler, and
Dick secured an old lamp with which
to illuminate the scene.
1t was the most fortunate thing ir
the world, The children thought, that
Miss Roxbury dropped in directly
after tea TO spend the evening with
Aunt Prue, because that left them at
liberty to carry out their plan with lit
tie danger Of interruption.
"Ot course it isn't WI ong or any
thing if anybody did see us, but then
they might think it queer, and laugh,
and all that" explained Dick, by way
Of satisfying the general conscience.
They waited until the two ladies
were comfortably busy with chatting
and crocheting, and then they stole
softly past the sittingroom door, and
began to mount the stairs. Did any
body ever tip-toe carefully upstairs
without having every step crack and
creak in most marvellous way? These
stairs behaved after the usual fashion,
and the children grew so excited and
mirthtul over their efforts that their
progress was constant succession of
tltsering and hushing, and they arriv-
ed in the attic in condition so nearly
uproarious that it was a long time te-
fore they could settle into anything
like gravity again.
They seated themselves around the
table, and placed their hands upon it;
but Max looked at Nudge and Nudge
giggledinstantly. Then Panseyshook
her head reprovingly at the boys, and
Teddy Immediately drew his face in:o
such an3e preston of woeful s.lemni-
ty that Pansy laughed outright.
eve do look so funny with on"
hands all stretched out, as if we were
trying to play tune and didn't know
how" she said apologetically.
''Sh ! we cant do anything at all,
five don't keep sull," demonstrated
Dick.
They tried hard to be quiet, and by
and by Dicks earnestness began 10
affect the others, and the feeling of
hie"riment died away. The room
grew very still, and what a long, lone
ly room it was at night not Bit like
the sunny spot they knew by daylight.
The table trembled little.
You did that" said Dick, glancit g
spicously at Max.
"No, didn't,' answered Max posi-
lively.
After all, that new leg was very in.
secure, and the table shook so easily
that some one might have done it un-
consciously. In moment it moved
again, and the children looked ques-
tioningly at elch other. That certain
ly was drea"y, depressing sort Of
loom, and how mournfully the wind
blew! Midge glanced apprehensively
toward the door leading tossuhfinished
parts of the attic, and began to wish
Aunt Prue would call them down
stairs.
Suddenly, in the pauses of the wind
came sound as of heavy breathing.
eff any Of yon are trying to fright
en- us.I wish you'd just stop" said
Pansy, in tone halt startled halfpet-
ulant
But the boys shook their heads.
The sound grew more and more dis
tinct, and evidently came from some
where in the room. The circle of
hands dropped from the table, and the
party stared at each other with wide
open eyes.
81 think I'd like 10 90 downstairs
for drink of water" faltered Midge.
"Pshaw !" exclaimed Dick, turning
round so hastily that he struck his
foot against the table, and in an in
slant the weak leg gave way. A min
gled growl and groan sounded from
beneath it as it tipped forward, and,
as the children sprang up in alarm,
Teddy's arm struck the lamp, upset,
and extinguished it. They were not
lett in utter darkness, for pale moon
shone dimly through the skylight, and
by its faint CLEAN they saw a strange
white figure moving slowly to aud
fro.
ooh what is that ?" whispered
Pansy, with shiver
No one answered. Dick had fear
full suspicion that his experiment had
been entirely too successful. They
huddled closely together, not daring
to move or attempt an escape with
that dreadful something between them
and the door. The minutes seemed
like ages. AT last the awful figure
moved toward them. Midge scream
ed and attempted to spring into
chair, but in her haste and fright she
missed it, and fell heavily to the floor
Then the Others joined in wild
sbriek that rang through every part of
the house.
Doors opened and voices called be-
low, and it was but amomeut or two
before Hester. appeared, bearing a
lamp, and followed by Aunt Prue and
Miss Roxbury. The clear light re-
vealed the trembling, frightened group
in one corner, the broken table, and
old Rover stalking solemniy through