Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-11-20

I
ing in storytelling and games. !
table was tobe set with plate 70
every girl present. Our future hus
bands were expected, if they behav
cd rs all well-bred spirits were SAT-
to, on that night, to enter as tn
clock struck twelve, and seat them
selves, each one at the plate of tina
particular fair who was to represen
all of hope, joy, truth, faith, ant
all the other virtues for his especia
ediiication the rest of his natura
life. If any were to die unmarried
that seat would be left q miserabl,
blank.
l remember we spent some time
discussing whether we should pu,
our names on the plates represent
ing us. Some thought that the spir
its couldn't amount to much if they
couldn't find their right places with
out such distinct pointing out. II
WAS decided. after much talking, to
use the names, us one of the girls
said, ''to prevent all mistakes and
future hcartaches."
The eventual evening came, and a
merry party we were. We tried all
the projects we could think of, even
to bobbing for apples in basin OF
water. AS it grew later we grew
quieter. 1t was dismal might ;
the wind howkd and moaned as
though all the spirits of the air were
abroad. The old trees around the
house tossed their branches in the
wild air, and moaned with loud COM
planning. Our table was most tempt
ingly set forth with many u dainty.
We looked at it with longing eyes,
and it had certainly been arranged
more to the substantial tastes of
us mortals than the airy sort of fare
that we are taught to believe spec.
tcrs prefer. should think The poor,
cold, half,starved things would be
glad of any excuse to get good
solid meal.
The house sat rather high, with IA
long terraced walk to the front gate.
It was an old fashioned brick, with
a wide hall running through the en-
tire centre and large rooms on each
side. On one side was the family
sitting room, with the dining room
directly back. Here we held our
court.
AS the time wore on, our talk
grew strongly tinctured with the
All the ghost stories
we had ever heard or read were air
ed, to the shivering delight of the
greater number, although some of
the drawer ones did ooh-pooh them,
and say; ''Stuff and nonsense" We
knew they only did it to appear
brave. And oh, goodness! how
he courage was slowly but surely
)ozing out at our inger,ends
The household were all wrapped
n the slumbers of the just. AS the
hight wore on, everything grew SO
still, all sounds Of life seemed to
nave ceased. Nothing to be heard
out the sobbing and signing Of the
Wind through the trees around the
louse, rnd occasionally a louder
,hriek that sent the shivers of fear
ovor us. But we only hud-
lied the closer together, feeling
here was comfort in numbers and
learness. We began to grow eX.
,edingly nervous and very quiet, for
he "witching hour vas almost
,Cmo.
Directly the old clock iu the hall
,ealed out, the twelve strokes fall
ng with clear ring that clo Oil the
till air. think we all held our
,reaths till the last faint echo died,
yhen one of the girls Convulsivcly
.rasped my hand, saying: "What's
hat? Listen"
And we did listen. | know that
o moro strained, solemn silence
,as ever kept. Sharp upon the
air came the steady tramp,
ramp of footsteps. Through the
ate, up the walk, and slowly around
he house they went. Another time
teadily around, and yet another.
he mystic circle of three is then
and as we listened with
launched faces and dilated eyes, the
tops came upon the front porch,
he hall door flew open with crash,
nd tramp came the feet toward the
ining-rOom. The door was flung I
idle, and, may never gaze on such
hideous band again! Two or three
the girls had quietly gone off in
gentle faint in one corner. If the {
L Il E,,. 4 Gin III l.,