Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-07-29
They waited until the two ladies vore

lle stairs DID anybody ever tip-toe care
fully upstairs without having every step
crack and creak in most marvellous way?
! Ihese stairs behaved after the usual
fashion, and the children grew so excited
and nlirthfuI over their efforts that their
progress was a constant succession of tit
terlng and hushing, and they arrived in
the attic in condition so nearly uproari-
Gus that it was long time before 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 giggfed in
stanty. Then Pansy shook her head re-
proyingly at the boys, and Teddy imme-
diately drew his face into such an express
sion Of woful solemnity that Pansy
laughed outright
We 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 at all if we
don't keep still, f." demonstrated Dick.
They tried hard to be quiet, and by and
by Dicks earnestness began to affect the
others, and the feeling of merrlment 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
. 1on did that" said Dick, glancing
suspiciously at Max
"No, didn't" answered Max posi-
lively
After all that new leg was very insecure,
and the table shook so easily that some
one might have done it unconsciously.
In moment it moved again, and the chill
dren looked questioningly at each other
That certainly was dreary, depressing
sort OF room, and how mournfully the
wind blew! Nudge glanced apprehensive-
~ toward the door leading to unfinished
parts OF the attic, and began to wish Aunt
| Prue would call them downs stairs.
Suddenly, in the pauses of the wind,
came sound as of heavy breathing
8 If any of you are trying to frighten us
| wish you'd just stop, said Pansy, in a
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
think I'd like to go downstairs for
drink of WATER" faltered Nudge
"'Pshaw!" exclaimed Dick, turning
round so hastily that he struck his foot
against the table, and in 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 a pale
moon shone dimly through the skylight,
and by its faint CLEAN they saw strange
white figure moving slowly to and fro.
ooh! what is that:' whispered Pansy,
with a shiver.
No one answered Dick had a fearful
suspicion that his experiment had been
entirely too successful They huddled
closely together, not daring to move or at
tempt an escape with that dreadful some
thing 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 a
chair, but In her haste and fright she
missed it and fell heavily to the floor.
Then the others joined in a 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, bearin lamp and fol-
lowed by Aunt Prue and Miss Roxburv.
The clear light revealed the trembling,
frightened group in one corner, the
broken table, and old Rover stalking SOL
EMMY through the room with sheet upon
his back. The children understood it all
the instant their eyes rested upon the dog.
He had followed them upstairs late in the
afternoon and had lain down under the
table to sleep. Its sudden overturning
had disturbed his long nap and he had
crept out with the table-cover clinging to
his back. The boys looked exceedingly
foolish when they saw him, and Pansy's
crying changed to burst of historical
laughter
Aunt Prue could not comprehend so
readily.
"Is it fire? Are you all murdered
What in the world has happened ?" she
asked anxiously.
1t was an absurd story to tell, but it
came out in four parts-NIidge being too
much overcome to contribute anything to
the general explanation "a terribly mixed !
up story, but it was all told at last.
Hester leaned against the wall and sniff
fled contemptuously. Miss Roxbury
laughed, while Aunt Prue soothed Nudge, |
and scolded by turns, and Aunt Prue
talked fast when she was a little indig- |
nant.
You were at the bottom of it, Richard, |
L know you were!' she SAID, severely |
" It's another of your wild schemes for |
getting things done 49,,