Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-05-21

! light twlnknng IN q hollow Oeyonu. MY
horse was still fresh, and calling out to
the boys 10 follow me and bear for the
light. struck out for il. In another mo-
meat | was before little cabin that was
bali burrowed in the black chapparel. !
dismsunted aud raped at the door, but
il was fastened securely from within. |
was all the more surprised when one OF
tho boys who had overtaken me, told me
that he had seen through the window Q
man reading by the fire. Indignant al
this inhOspilaliiy, We both made reso-
lutte onset against the door, at the same
time raising our angry voices to yell.
Suddenly there was quick response, the
hurried Withdrawing of bolt, and the
door opened.
The occupant was short, thickset
man, with pale, careworn face. whose
prevailing expression was one of gentle
good humor, and patient suffering. When
we entered he asked US hastily why We
had not sung out before.
But We knocked!' | said impatientiy,
land almost drove your door in"
That's nothing, he said impatiently.
"l'm used 10 that "
l looked again at the mans patient.
iaieiul face and then around the cabin.
10 an instant the whole situation flashed
before me. Are We not near Cave
CitY2' | asked.
Yes" he replied, "it's just below.
You have passed it in the storm"
81 see." l sgain looked around the
cabin. Isn't this what We call the
haunted house?"
He locked at me curiously. at is.
he said simply.
You can imagine my delight Here
was sn opportunity to test the truth Of
the whole story-to work down 10 bed
rock and see how it would pan out We
were too many and too well armed TO
fear tricks or dangers from outside. If
as one theory had been hed-lhe disturb.
ance was kept up by band OF concealed
marauders or road agents. whose pur-
pose was TO preserve their haunt from in
lrusion. we were quite able to pay them
back in kind for any assault. l need not
say that the boys were delighted with
this prospect when the fact was revealed
10 them. The only one doubtful or aps-
thetic spirit there was our host, who qui-
etly resumed his seat and his book with
his old expression and patient martyr
dom. 1t would have been easy for me to
have drawn him ont. and l telt that did
not want to corroborate anybody else 5
experience only to record my own. And
| thought it better to keep the boys from
any predisposing terror.
We ate our supper and sat patiently
and expectsnt around the fire. An hour
slipped away, but no disturbance ano,f-
or hour passed "a monotopously. Our
host read his book; only tho dash OF hail
against the roof broke the silence. But
The doctor stopped. Since the last in
terruption l noticed he had changed the
easy slangy style OF his story to n more
perfect. artistic, and even studied mar
ner. He dropped now suddenly into bis
old colloquisl speech, and quietly said :
III you don't quit stun bling over those
rstias, Juan, I'll hobbIe you. Come
here, then; lie down will you p
We all turned iercey on the cause OF
this second dangerous interruption, but q
sight OF the poor fellow 5 pale and fright
ened face withheld our vindictive
tongues. Aud the doctor, happily, OF his
own accord, went on:
But l had forgotten that it was no
easy matter to keep those high spirited
boys bent on a row in decent subjection,
and after the third hour had passed
without supernatural exhibition, OBJ.
Sc, we'd from certain winks and whispers
that they were deierm ned to get up in
dications of their own. In few no.
ments violent rappiDgs were heard from
all parts Of the cabin; lsrge stones
(adroitly thrown up the chimney fell
with heavy thud upon the roof. Strange
grOans and ominous yells seemed to come
from the outside, where Inc interStices
between the logs were wide enough
Yet through all this uprosr, our host sa,
still and patient with no. signs oi indigns.
ton or reproach upon bis good humored
bot haggsrd features. Before long it be.
came evident that this exhibition was ex
clusively for bis benefit. Under the thir
disguise of asking him to assist in dis
covering the disturbers outside the cabin.
those inside took advantage of his ab.
sence 10 turn the cabin topsey turvoy.
You see what the spirits have done
old man." said the arch leader OF thi:
mischief. They've upset that there flour
barrel while we wasn't looking, and ther
kicked over the water jug and spilled al
the water T.
The patient man lifted his head anc
looked at the -four strewn walls. TheI
he glanced down at the floor, but drew
back with slight tremor.
1T amt wster!' he said quietly
What is it then p"