The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-14

misty, sundefned formy while a''saarp
rustllpg, whirrtD9 sound accompanied q
rs prngfess.
As the phantom approached the desc
latejmoaning rose again from the SANDS,
and swept aloag in low, shuddering
cries, dying away sad and piteous as
before. With the last faint sound the
light leaped up for one second into III
tense- brillianoy and disappeared
"Op cried Nelly, fearfuily. "What is
lit, JeanP' ~ Is NY.A.sI i
II don't know" l replied, feeling OF
unaccountaOle dread and horror taking
hold Of me. The very demon of fear
seemed to possess my senses, aa ICY
gras of terror laid hold of my heart.
Tue air outside seemed to have be-
come clammy and cold, q chilly eerie
wind crept in at the window. The very
darkness seemed filled with shapes, hid
eous and impalpable, at which dared
mol look, lesU they shOuld take form be
fore my eyes.
"TheTe ID is againl" shuddered Nellie.
And with uuutterable dread we saw
the brilliant star-like light Hoatlng TO-
wards US, this time from the right hand.
1t came ON swiftly, with the impalpa-'
BILE tantas astic shadow in the air above ~,
and when exactly opposite vanished.
We sat paralyzedl with terror, not dar-
ing to move, u horrible beuunbing ter
ror seizing our hearts.
This phenomenon happened several
times, the light alternately appearing
from the right and left, and always VAN
ishing when exactly opposite to US, and
always accompanied by the moaning
voice. .... .'
NJ from
the sands, profoundly melancholy, mex
pressibly moutuful, like nothing akin to
humanity. No words were uttered, but
tue agony of the tones was like a voice
| from the grave. ...
"Jean, Jean, here It's again." cried
Nellie, covering in my arms.
And once more the brilliant phantom
| light appeared. This time it came on
more slowly, glancing to and 1ro un-
steadily, while the shadowy form behind
it seemed more grotesque and misty
| than ever. -....., s...
"On, Jean, IL it is true! Ifit comes to
| foretell some loss, some trouble!' sobbed
Nellie In tears.
"Hush, hush, dearp' tried to say
| reas uringly. "lt can not be, Sorrow
may come to lis ii God wills it, but moi
| through" ..
II say, old fellow" shouted voice
down below in the darkness. "You'n
!righten somebody into fits with that
| lantern dodge of yours. You and your
| confomded bicycle look like some hor.
| riDle ghostly spectre, fitting along in
the dark. You gaVe'me q precious start,
L can tell you"
| Nellie and jumped to our feet, and
gazed incredulously out OF the window.
UUwn below in the road, yard
or two to the right, the phantom light
stood stationary at last. In the glare
4 before it a young fellow was standing,
while behind loomed the fantastic, mys.
terious shadow, robbed Of all its terrors
4 in a moment.
isn't it a stunning dodge~ said the
| shadow, in most unghostly slang. "Y OF
see, Jack, this asphalPs first rate tO
practice on; but fellow has no chance
in the daytime for those confounded Car.
lriages; 80 Irigged out this dark-lanterr
ana fasteneditto my bicycle, and can
spin along in peace now"
-"Take care you DON'T spin away the
wits of all the old maids on the promen
ade," returned the" other. ''YUu LOOK
most horribly like some goblin from the
lower regions, with your dark lantern
flashing IN front, those noiseless wheels
and your long legs and arms spread ou
like great wings behind"
The other laughed.
s'rhe old mafds are all fast asleep p Ions
ago, bless their old eyes," he returned
irreverently.
"But say, Jack, the match for thu
four.oars will have to be put off tom or
row; we are going to have an aWfu
storm. Listen! How the wind sigh
and means among the gtrders OF th
pier. 1t sounds for all the world lik
some one calling out in distress, and it,
sure sign of rough weather. What
rage Gregory will be in il"
The two old maids had heard quit
enough. Nellie and I looked at eac
other rather sheepishly, IL must be COZ
, lessed, and then burst into u heart
| laugh.-[London Society.