Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10


great starwas a brilliant, beautiful light.
It came rapidly toward us from the
right, apparently floating in the air, and
illuminating the space before it for sew
eral yards. 1t advanced very swiftly,
with steady, forward motion, floating
about yard from the ground As it
came nearer, we perceived, looming
dimly behind it, a giant shadow, weird
and grotesque, with outspread wings
and misty, underlined form, while a
sharp, rustling, whirling sound accom-
panied its progress.
As the phantom approached, the des-
olate moaning rose again from the
sands, and swept along in low, shudder-
ing cries, dying away, sad and piteous
as before With the last faint sound,
the light leaped up for one second into
intense brilliancy. and disappeared.
co." cried Nellie fearfully. "What
is it, Jean?"
Il 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 be-
come suddenly clammy and cold; a
chilly, eerie wind crept in at the window.
| The very darkness seemed filled with
shades, hideous and impalpable, at
which / dared not look: lest they should
| take form before my eyes.
"There it is again." shuddered Nellie.
/ And with unutterable dread we saw
the brilliant, starlight again floating to-
| ii +L;C frO,,o Tho ,io,b+ ho,,I
1t came on swiftly, with the impalpa-
BILE, fantastic shadow in the air above it.
and. when exactly opposite, vanished.
We sat paralyzed with terror, not dar-
ing to move, horrible, benumbing ter
ror 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, inexpres
sibly mournful, like nothing akin tc
humanity. No words were uttered, but
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 it came OF
more slowly, glancing to and fro I'M
steadily, while the shadowy form behind
it seemed more grotesque and misty
than ever.
ooh, Jean. if it is true! If it com es
to fOretell some loss, some trouble!'
sobbed Nellie in tears
Hush, hush, dear!" I tried to say re
assuringly. cit cannot be. Sorrow
may come to us if God wills it, but no
through"
81 say, old fellow" shouted voice
down below in the darkness. You'll
frighten somebody into fits with tina
lantern dodge of yours. You and YOU
COMPOUNDED bicycle look like some hor
rible, ghostly spectre, fitting along il
the dark. You gave me a preciou:
start, [ can tell you" Nellie and
jumped to our feet, and gazed incredu
ously out of the window. Down below
in the road, yard or two to the right
the phantom light stood stationary a
last. In the glare before it youns
fellow was standing, while beyond
doomed the fantastic, mysterious shad
ow robbed of all its terrors in mo
ment
Isn't it a stunning dodge?" said the
shadow, in most unghostly slang. "You
see, Jack, this asphalt's first rate to prac
tice on; but fellow has no chance IL
rlages; SO L rugged out this dark-lanterr
and fastened it to my bicycle, and car
spin along i'll peace now"
'Take care you don't spin away the
wits of all the old maids on the prone
made" returned the other. You look
most horribly like some goblin from
the lower regions with your dark-lanterr
flashing in front; those noiseless wheels
and your long legs and arms spread out
like great wings behind"
The other laughed.
The old maids are all fast asleep
long ago, bless their old eyes!" he re-
turned irreverently. "But say Jack
the match for the four-oars will have tC
be put off tomorrow; we are going tC
have an awful storm. Listen! how the
wind signs and means among the grid
ers of the pier. 1t sounds for all the
world like some one calling out in dis
-tress, and it's q sure sign of rough
weather. What a rage Gregory will be
in if"
The two old maids had heard quite
enough Nell and l looked at each
other sheepishly, it must be confessed
and then burst into hearty laugh
London Society.
How She WON Il Husband.