The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-04

forward motion, floating along about a
yard from the ground. AS it came near
er we perceived, looming dimly behind it
a giant shadow, wierd and grotesque,
with outspread wings and misty, unde-
fined form, while a sharp, rustling, whir-
ring sound accompanied its progress.
AS the phantom approached, tho des-
olate moaning rose again from the sands,
and swept along in low shuddering cries,
dying away sad ali. piteous as before.
With the last faint sound, the light leap
ed up for one second into immense bril-
liancy and disappeared.
"O" cried Nellie fearfully. "What is
it, Jean?"
".I don't know" l replied, feeling of
unaccountable 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 oerie
wind crept in at the window. The very
darkness seemed filled with shapes,
hideous and impalpable. at which dared
not look, lest they should take form be-
fore my eyes.
"There it is again." shuddered Nellie.
And with unutterable dread We saw
the brilliant star-like light again float
ing toward US, this time from the right
hand.
1t came on swiftly, with the i'm
palpable fantastic shadow in the air
above it, and when exactly opposite, van
ished.
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
ishing when exactly opposite to us, and
always accompanied by the moaning
voice.
Again the low wailing sounds from the
sands, profoundly melancholy, inexpress-
IDLY mournful, like nothing akin to human
ity. No words were uttered but the
agony Of the tones was like voice from
the grave.
"Jean, Jean; here it is again!" cried
Nellie, covering in my arms.
And orce more the brilliant phantom
light appeared. This time it came on
more slowly, glancing to and fro unstead-
", while the shadowy form behind it
eemed more grotesque and misty than
ever.
"Oh, Jean, if it is true! If it comes to
foretell some loss, some trouble!' sobbed
Nellie, in tears.
"Hush. hush, dear!' I tried to say
re-assuringly. ut cannot be. Sorrow
may come to us if God wills it, but not
through"
Il say, old fellow" shouted voice
down below in the darkness. You'll
brighten somebody into fits with that
lantern dodge of yours: You and your
contounded bicycle look like some hor-
rible ghostly spectre, fittering along in
the dark. You gave me precious start,
can tell you"
Nellie and jumped to our feet, and
gazed incredulously out of the window.
Down below, in the road, a yard or two
/ to the right, the phantom light stood
stationary at last. In the glare before it
Ia young fellow was standing while be-
hind loomed the fantastic, mysterious
shadow, robbed of all its terrors in mo-
ment.
"1sn't it stunning dodge?" said the
shadow, in most unghostly slang. "You
see, Jack, this asphalt's first-rate to prac-
tice on; SO rugged out this dark-lan-
tern and fastened it to my bicycle, and I
can spin along in peace now"
! "Take care you don't spin away the
wits of all the old maids on the prom
enade, return d the other. "You look
most horribly like some goblin from the
lower regions, with your dark lantern
.ashing in front, those noiseless wheels
and your long legs and arms spread out
Ii great wings behind"
The other laughed.
"The old maids were fast asleep long
ago, bless their old eyes!" he returned IT,
reverently. But I say, Jack, the match
for the four oars will have to be put off
tomorrow; We arc going to have an awful
storm. Listen! How the wind signs and
means among the girders of the pier! It
sounds for all the world like some one
calling out in distress, and its sure sign
of rough weather. What a rage Gregory
will be in if -
The two old maids had heard quite
enough. Nelly and l looked at each
other rather sheepishly, it must be con-
fessed, and then burst into hearty
laugh.