Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-05-14

ghostl"
| shivered. But my father, who was
not n believer In ghosts, laughed out
night. This seemed 10 nettle our lodger
considerably, as he always prided HIM
self on his veracity, and could not bear
to have 1t lmpugned. especially on so
serious subject. After he had Gained
down a little my father endeavored to
reason him out of his belief. But it
was useless. He had seen a ghost,
though he never believed in them be-
fore, and there was an end of it.
well, said my father, Il have never
seen ghost; but should much like to
have ii to say that | had seen one;
and If you think there is any chance OF
your ghost tavoring us with second
app | propose that we both set
OIL To the graveyard at once"
Coburn seemed very reluctant to
make the experiment; out as my father
began 10 throw some light aspersions
on his courage, he at last consented and
they both set off. They examined the
gate and found it locked; peered
through the bars, but saw no signs of
ghost. Thinking the gentleman might
have gone second time for "a stroll to-
ward the village, they proceeded short
distance IN that direction; but imagine
their feelings when, on looking back
they saw behind them not only one
ghost, but two! Both ghosts went
through the gate as before; but proved
to be nothing more than the shadows
of the two men, thrown by the newly
erected gas lamps. the bend in the wall
causing the figures to appear as II they
had vanished into the graveyard.
One evening some weeks ago, | was
III my room preparing for bed, when |
suddenly heard what sounded like foot
steps coming along the passage leading
To my room; then some one appeared
to be feeling III the dark for the handle
OF the door, which was slightly shaken,
and low knock was heard. OF course
/ at once concluded that some one OF
the family was outside; and, my door
being locked. | called out to know who
was there, but received no answer.
Thinking this very odd, | went to the
door ana opened II; but, to my amaze
ment, no one was outside, and yet had
heard no footsteps retreatlng. l must
explain that my room is at the end of II
long assage, To which you descend 10y
hive or SIX steps, my door forming the
end OF the passage, (my room bengal
the end of one wing of the house,;
therefore, on opening my door, l I'M
mediately commanded the whole ofthe
corridor, and it seemed impossible for
any one to have escaped IN tlne; and l
knew that the two rooms opening on
the same passage were locked up SO that
no one could have got out of sight III
that way.
Very much puzzled, | closed and
lerval The same thing was repeated.
Cautious footsteps We're heard APP
preaching; then, as If some one were
feeling Tor the handle OF the door In
tn e dark, and shaking the door slightly
by 50 doing; and then again low
knock. A second time did 1 open my
door, but with the same result. No one
was there. | frankly c.ntess that now
| began to feel somewhat uncomtorta-
bic, not on account OF ghosts, but visions
of thieves which tloated across my
mind (very lrrationally, of course }, and
l felt persuaded that some one must be
moving about the house; aid yet
knew mat every one else had gone TO
bed long ago; and | own l did not feul
inclined to risk an encounter with this
mysterious visitor while trying to
arouse some one else, my room being
some way from the rest OF the family.
Determined, however, if possible to
find out what it was, l crouched down
with my ear to the door, listening for
repetition of the noise, which was re-
peated for a third time. But n01U, ow-
ing to my closenesS to the door, 1 dis
covered the dlsturber of my peace in u
mouse! 1t appeared this mouse, which
had very evidently lost its sway, had
got down IN the passage, and hnding re-
treat rather difficult lowing, suppose,
TO the steps,, was rushing up and down
the passage at full speed, thereby pro-
uuclng the sound OF footsteps on the
carpet, and on finding Its egress barred
by my door, trying TO escape by run
ulng up the door; but the vanished
paint afforded it no foothold, the
I'm petus of Its run only sutiiced 10 car
~ 1t up short way (thus shaking the
door and slightly moving the handle),
anu it then tell down with Hap, thus
producing the knock.
| could not resist a hearty laugh when
| found out the real cause OF the dis
turbance; but yet 1t shows that stores
OF strange nocturnal noises should be
received with great caution, Tor GER
tainly / should always have declared
that some one had been trying my door
that night, had not found out the real
cause.
The following story, it is to be hoped,
may assist still further IN dispelling