The Van Buren press., 1877-01-09

But, about the Bogie, how curious II
muct be to meet one! Oh. ! say, let us
20 to the gallery now, and see if we hear
any strange noises there. Will you?"
"Oh, Rale III afraid. / don't quite
like
But you can't be afraid il I'm there, "
said Rafe, valsantly "besides, I'll put
on Humphreys old sword which he left
behind. Then if the Bogie comes
shall see
Rate spoke like a conqueering hero,
leXie thought SO, though she tfembled,
she made no further objection, but stoed
by while he lifted down the sword, help
ed to faster It's belt over his shoulders,
ana followed along the passage which
led to the gallery The heavy sword
cbatteied and ratified as it dragged OF
the floor, and the sound was echoed in 4
ghostly way, which renewed Hexie's $
fears
"Rafe Rafe let us go back" she
cried.
"Go back yourself if you are afraid, >
replied Ralph, stoutly and as going back
alone through the dim passage seemed
just then worse than staying where she
was, HeXie stayed with her valiant
brother.
Very softly they unlatched the gallery
door, and stole in. 1t was long, lofty
apartment, paneled with ceder wood, to
which time had given beautiful light
brown color The ceiling of the same
wood, was carved here aud there, with
| phialIg Of h..r Il
There was little furniture one tall cabi
net, few high backed chairs, and some
portraits hanging on the walls, The Sun
not yet quite set, poured stream OF red
light across the polished floor, leaving
the far corners and the empty spaces
formidably dusk The children had sel
dom been in the gallery at this hour, and
it looked to them almost like strange
place, not at all as it did at MONDAY
when they came to jump up and down
the slippery floor and play hide and
in the corners which now seemed SO dark
and dismal
Even Rafe felt the difference, aud shiv.
cred in spite of his bold heart and the
big sword BY his side Timidly they
went forward, hushing their footsteps
and peering fnrtively into the shadows
Suddenly Ilexie stopped with n little
scream.
Close to them stood large suit of ar.
NOR, larger and taller than a man. The
empty eye holes of the helmet glared
out quite like real eyes, and the whole
| figure wes terrible enough to frighten
any little girl. But it vas hot at the ar.
NOR that IIexie screamed. the iron man
Was an Old friend Of the chillren's, man,
a game Of nide aud seek lad they played
around, and behind, and even inside him
for Humphrey had contriyed cunning
way by which the figure could be taken
to pieces and put together again; and
more than once Rafe ha been popped
inside, and had lain shaking with laugh
ter while HeXie vainly searched for him
all through the gallery. This had not
/ happened lately, for Rafe was hardly
strong enough to manage by himself the
screws and hinges which opened the ar
NOR; bat he knew the iron man too well
10 scream at him, and SO did Hcxe The
ohj"nt which excited her terror was some
thing different, and SO strange and sur
prsng that it is no wonder that she
/ screamed.
Close by the armor, half hidden by a
curtain of heavy tapestry, WAS an open
! door, where never door had been known
to he. 1t stood ajar, and dimly visible
inside was a narrow staircase winding
| upward.
The hole ofthe Bogie," pasped IIesie,
clutching al RATES. arm. He started and
telt for the sword 1t ratified learfully
and the sound completed Hexies terror.
She burst away, flew like a scared lap
wing down the gallery, along the pass
ages, and never stopped till she reached
the nursery and her own bed, where with
two pillows and the quilt drawn over
her head, she lay sobbng bitterly At the
thought Of Ralph left behind, to be eaten
perhaps by The Bogie Poor little 1exie
Ralph. meanwhile, stood his ground.
His heart beat very fast, but he would
not run away--tbat was for girls. 1t
must be owned, however, that when n
moment later the sound OF mutlled voices
became audible down stairs, he trembled
extremely, and was guilty of the unman
like act 0; hiding be lind the curtain.
lie was only ten years old, which must
plead his excuse with bigger boys who
are eonllden that they could never, under
any circumstances, hid themselves or be
| afraid.
The voices drew nearer, steps sounded
and two figures came out of the mario w
doorway. Could there be two Boges Z
No wonder they ate 50 much. But in
another minute all thought Of Bogies
vanished from Ralph's mi d, for in one
of the figures he recognized his own sis
ter Winitred.
Her companion was a man There
was something familiar in his form. 1t
moved forward, and Ralph jumped so
that the big sword ratified again. Bogie
number two was his brother Humphrey,
mouned as dead ever since the summer
before, when so many brave gentlemen
gave up their lives for King Charles at
the battle Of Naseby.
"What noise was that?' whispered
Wiuifred, fearfully.
Some sound from below" replied
Humphrey, after listening a moment.
Must YOU 90, Winnie 2"
II must, dear Humphrey. dare not
absent myself longer lest | ho missed
and suspected. Oh, il to morrow were
Int oVpr and Won safr On ihn nrpnrh