New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-07

1t was dying away in the distance, in q
low, faint sob, when Nellie suddenly
sprang back into the room.
30, Jean, lookI" she cried, 'Look, the
phantom light!
leaned out of the window and gazed
along the promenade Flashing through
the sombre darkness like q great star was
brilliant beautiful light. 1t came ra-
pidly toward us from the right, apparent
ly floating in the air and illuminating the
space before it for several yards. 1t adj
| vanced very swiftly, with steady, for
ward motion, floating along about yard
from the ground. As it came nearer we
| perceived, looming dimly behind it,
| giant shadow, weird and grotesque, with
outspread wings and misty, underlined
form, while a sharp rustling, whirring
sound accompanied its progress.
As the phantom approached the desc
late moaning rose again from the sands,
| and swept along in low, shuddering cries,
| dying away sad and piteous as before.
With the last faint sound, the light leaped
| up for one second into intense brilliancy
ana disappeared.
cor cried Nellie, fearfully, "What is
it Jean?"
II don't know" replied, feeling of
| unaceountable dread and horror taking
hold of me. The very demon of fear
seemed to possess my senses; an icy grasp
of terror laid hold OF my heart.
| The air outside seemed to have become
suddenly clammy and cold, chilly eerie
wind crept in at the window. The very
darkness seemed filed with shapes, hide
Gus and impalpable, at which l dared not
look lest they should take form before
my eyes.
"There it is again p shuddered Nellie.
And with unutterable dread we saw the
brilliant star-like light again floating
toward us, this time from the right hand.
1t came on swiftly, with the impalpable
fantastic shadow in the air above it, and
when exactly opposite, vanished.
We sat paralyzed with terror, not dar-
ing to move, horrible benumbing terror
Selling our hearts.
This phenomenon happened several
times, the light alternately appearing
from the right and left, and always van
lshing when exactly opposite to us, and
always accompanied by the moaning
voice.
Again the low wailing sounds from the
sands, profoundly melancholy, inexpres.
1
manity. No words were uttered, but the
, agony of the tones was like q voice from
the grave.
"Jean, Jean, here it is again" cried
Nellie, covering in my arms.
And once more the brilliant phantom
light appeared. This time il came OF
more slowly, glancing to and fro I'M
steadily, while the shadowy form behinC
it seemed more grotesque and misty thar
ever.
"Oh, Jean, if it is truel If it comes t.
foretell some loss, some troubled sobbet
Nellie, in tears.
"Hush, hush, dear" tried to say re
=. assuringly. at can not be. Sorrow
may come to us if God wills it, but no
through"
81 say, old fellow" shouted voic,
down below in the darkness. ''Youl
Brighten somebody into fits with that Ian
: tern dodge of yours. You and your con
founded bicycle look like some horribl,
; ghostly spectre, fitting along in the dark
You gave me precious start, can tel
you"
Nelly and 1 jumped to our feet, ant
; gazed incredulously out of the window.
4 Down below in the road, yard or TIVE
to the right, the phantom light stood sta
tionary at last. In the glare before i
) a young fellow was standing, while be
4 hind doomed the fantastic, mysteriou
; shadow, robbed of all its terrors in a mo
: ment.
I ''Isn't it stunning dodge?' said tn
shadow, in most unghostly slang. ''Yol
: see, Jack, this asphalt's first rate to prac
i tice on; but fellow has no chance in tn
daytime for those COMPOUNDED carriages
II SO 1 rugged out this dark lantern and fast
|. ened it to my bicycle, aud 1 can spil
u along in peace now"
Take care you don't spin away tn
>, wits of all the old maids on the prone
made" returned the other. "You lool
q most horribly like some goblin from tn
lower regions, with your dark Lantern
!, flashing in front, those noiseless wheels
q and your long legs and arms spread GU
y like great wings behind.
. The other laughed,
1.-THE old maids are all fast asleep lonj
ago, bless their old eyes" he returned il
l. reverently. "But say, Jack, the mate
for the four oars will have to be put o.
9 tomorrow; we are going to have an awfu
u storm. Listen. How the wind signs an
means among the girders of the pier
. sounds for all the world like some on
!, calling out in distress, and it's sur
! sign of rough weather. What q rag
u Gregory will be in if"
u The two old maids had heard quit
enough. Nelly and 1 looked at eacl
other rather sheepishly, it must be COZ
!, fessed, and then burst into a heart
: laugh.-LondOn Society.