The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-07-29

said apologetically.
''Sh! We can't do anything at all five
don't keep STILL" demonstrated Dick.
They tried hard to be quiet, and by and
bv Dicks earnestness began to affect the
others, and the feeling of merrlment died
away. The room grew very still, and
wnat long, lonely room it was at night!
Not bit like the sunny spot they knew by
daylight.
The table trembled a little.
lyon did that" said Dick, glancing
suspiciously at Max.
mo, | didn't" answered Max posi-
lively.
After all that new leg was very insecure,
and the table shook 50 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 a dreary, depressing
sort of room, and how m0urnIully 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 down stairs.
Suddenly, in the pauses Of the wind,
came sound as of heavy breathing.
IF any of you are trying to frightcn us
I wish you'd just stop" said Pansy, in u
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.
Il think I'd like to go downstairs for
drink of water" faltercd Midge.
"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 cXtinguished it. They
were not left in utter darkness, for pale
moon shOne dimlv through the skylight,
and by its faint CLEAN they saw Il strange
white figure moving slowly to and fro.
ooh! what is that" whispered Pansy,
with shiver
No one answered. Dick had fearful
suspicion that his experiment had been
entirely too successful. They huddlcd
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. Midgc
screamed and attempted to spring into Il
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 a moment or two before
Hester appeared, bearinga 4 lamp and fol
| lowed by Aunt Prue and Miss RONbury.
| The clear light revealed the trembling,
frightened group in one corner, the
broken table, and old Rover stalking sol
emnly through the room with asheet 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. It's sudden ovcrturning
had disturbed his long nap and he had
crept out with the tablc-covcr clinging to
his back. The boys looked exceedingly
foolish when they saw him, and PanSyS
crying changed to a burst Of hysterical
laughter.
Aunt Pruc could not comprehend so
readily.
els it fire? Are ~ou 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-MidgG being too
much overcome to contribute anything TO
the general explanation IA terribly mixed
up story, but it was all told at last.
Hester leaned against the wall and sniff
fed contemptuously. Miss Roxbury
laughed, while Aunt Prue soothcd Midge'
and scoded by turns, and Aunt Pruc
talked fast when she was a little indig-
nant.
"You were at the bottom Of it, Richard,
I know you wercn she SAID, severely
It's another of your wild schemes for
getting things done without doing them.
It's time you learned that every one is
placed on the earth to do his own work,
and that no spirit from any world, good
or bad, will ever do yours for you. \
spirit of industry is the spirit you necd
most, and if you would call that up we
would have an end of such nonsense as
this"
Dick listened with remarkable meek
ness for he had been not little fright
ened; the others looked pale yet, and
Nudge was still sobbing over her bumped
head. 1t is probable, after sleeping over
, the matter, he came to the conclusion that
Aunt Prue was right, for he went valiantly
to work the next morning at the wood
, pile, with Max and Teddy to help him.
After all, they seemed to succeed about as
well as they had hoped to do the day be
fore, for when they laid their hands on Il
stick of wood it flew on to the pile in an
, instant-St Nicholas for August.