The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-07-30


white that she limited strong desire Il
change the proposed circle into tea
party.
The others were not inclined to give
up their grand scheme for anything SC
commonplace, and poor little Nudge
yielded to the majority, though will
some lingering misgivings.
81 hope the spirits won't ever try to
help me any when I'm all alone" she
said uneasily. "'Cause may be j
wouldn't be afraid-'cause l wouldn't
but L guess I'm pretty good deal bash
full when Amt 'quainted."
The next thing was to provide seats.
| The attic furnished but two, SO there
were three chairs to be smuggled up
stairs without attracting observation from
Aunt Prue or Hester, and Dick secured
an old lamp with which to illuminate the
scene.
1t was the most fortunate thing in the
world, the children thought, that Miss
Roxbury dropped in directly after tea to
spend the evening with Aunt Prue, be-
cause that left them at liberty to carry
out their plan with little danger of in
terruption.
"Of course it isn't wrong or anything
if anybody did see us, but then they
might think it queer, and laugh, and all
that" explained Dick, by way of salts
flying the general conscience.
They waited until the two ladies were
comfortably busy with chatting and
crocheting, and then they stole softly
past the sitting-room door, and began to
hA tofr
tip-toe carefully upstairs without having
every step crack and creak in most
marvellous wayl These stairs behaved
after the usual fashion, and the children
grew so excited and mirthful over their
efforts that their progress was a constant
succession of tittering and hushing, and
they arrived i'll the attic in condition
so nearly uproarious that it was a long
time before they could settle into any
thing like gravity again.
They seated themselves around the
table, and placed their hands upon it !;
but Max looked at Nudge and Nudge
giggled instantly. Then Pansy shook
her head reprovingly at the boys, and
Teddy Immediately drew his face into
such an expression OF woful solemnity
that Pansy laughed outright.
eve do look so funny with our
hands all stretched out, as if we were trying
to play tune and didn't know how"
she said, apologetically.
Sh we can't do anything atall, if we
don't keep still, reconstructed Dick.
They tried hard to be quiet, and by
and. by Dicks earnestness began to af-
feet the others, and the feeling of merri-
ment died away. The room grew very
still, and what long, lonely room it was
at night not bit Like the sunny spot
they knew by daylight.
The table trembled little.
/" You did that, said Dick, glancing
suspiciously at Max.
20, L didn't" answered Max posi-
lively.
After all, that new leg was very in Sc
Gre, and the table shook so easily that
some one might have done it uncon-
sciously. In moment it moved again,
and the children looked questioningly at
each other. That certainly was dreary,
depressing sort of room, and how mourn
fully the wind blew Nudge glanced
apprehensively toward the door leading
to unfinished parts of the attic, and be-
gan to wish Aunt Prue would call them
down stairs.
Suddenly, in the pauses of the wind,
came sound as of heavy breathing.
If any of you are trying to brighten
us wish you'd just stop" said Pansy,
in tone half startled, half petulant.
But the boys shook their heads. The
sound grew more and more distinct, and
evidently came from somewhere 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 to go down stairs for
a drink of water, faltered Nudge.
"Pshaw !" exclaimed Dick, turning
round SO hastily that he struck his foot
against the table, and i'll an instant the
weak leg gave way. A mingled 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 left in utter darkness, for
pale moon shone dimly through the
skylight, and by its faint CLEAN they
saw strange white figure moving slowly
to and fro.
"Oh. what is that" whispered Pansy,
with shiver.
No one answered. Dick had fearful
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.
Nudge screamed 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
shrek that rang through every part of
the house.
Doors opened and voices called below,
and it was but moment or two before
Hester appeared, bearing lamp, and
followed by Aunt Prue and Miss Rox-
bury. The clear light revealed the
trembling, frightened group in one cor
ner, the broken table, and old Rover
stalking solemnly through the room with
a sheet upon his back. The children
understood it all the instant their eyes
rested upon the dog. He had followed
them up stairs late in the afternoon, and
had lain down under the table to sleep.
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