Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-10-01


"Hush!" said Roy, pretending to
look shocked; "you mustn't speak of
such things with such irreverence. If
you don't believe in them. what are you
going to keep vigil for at that ghostly
hour?"
"Why, for fun, OF counsel" cried
Adela.
Its an insult to our understandings
to talk to us about being afraid of
ghosts" said Cora. "Alice may be, but
then Alice believes everything"
Roy shook his head, and tried to look
grave, but I caught the mischievous
twinkle in his eyes; and, for boy of
Is, must say never in my life saw
such an adept at mischief as he was.
He had determined upon some mis-
chief, was sure.
He was silent so long, we looked at
him in surprise, for it was unusual for
him to stop chatting and worrying us,
particularly Alice, who generally was
his victim.
"Look here, girls" he said, at last,
and I could see his eyes twinkling,
though he put on serious air. "Give
up your foolish idea of going to the
church. It's a full quarter of mile
from here, and in a lonely spot, with
woods all around. You'll get fright
ened, as sure as fate, and we'll have you
flying back here, screeching like insane
people, and soaring mother out of her
wit. Dare say your hair will turn white,
too, from fright, and then you'll bear
the name of venerable band instead
of fearless band Come, be reason
able. Girls are natural born towards,
you know, in spite of your Boosting"
We rose with universal shout of in
dignation, but even then I suspected
that be was craftily melting us to carry
out our undertaking by slurs upon our
courage. We prided ourselves upon
our bravery, and to tell us that we were
afraid of doing anything was to deter
mine us to do it.
"Look here, Roy" cried Emma,
whats the matter with you? We are
going to the church tomorrow night,
and just spare your insults till we get
back, will your"
oh, don't let us go!" cried Alice.
is right. We ought not to go
there alone at that hour. Oh, Roy, can't
you come, too?"
Impossiblel" said Emma, decidedly.
We certainly don't want that young
gentleman's escort. He would have
reason to triumph over us if we took
him, and, to tell the truth, Tn sure he's
afraid himself"
Roy, instead of resenting this, only
shook his head solemnly.
"Well, yes, l must acknowledge I'd
rather be in bed on st. Marks eve
than in the church porch among the
graves"
"Ch, I can't go!" Alice gasped.
every we'll, my DEAR" Emma an
swered; "only you'll have to go to bed
alone in the great red room, as we shall
all be away. Ii ghosts are really abroad
tonight, or the spirits of the doomed,
what's to prevent them from paying you
a visit? Better see them in our com
pany, child. I can't let you go on being
such ridiculous coward and such
laughing-stock as you are. You must
go with us tomorrow and see for your
self that there are no such things as
When one of your castles
of terror is demolished, We'll make short
work of the Others"
$50 you really are going?" Roy
asked.
eyes, we really are, unless you are
mean enough to tell mother what we in
tend to do. She's not afraid of ghosts,
but she's in terror of tramps."
Poor Alice shivered and whispered to
me she wouldn't be sorry if Roy did tell
Mrs. Lyons.
All me! looking back through the
years to that day, wonder at our
cruelty to the girl whom we truly loved,
and whom we would have defended
from any real danger with our lives.
We did not mean to be cruel, but in our
ignorance and folly we struck that
timid, tender nature deadly blows in Or
der to harden it.
Roy did not reveal our purpose, as
We feared he would. In fact, he seemed
terribly busy in his own room, and had
several of his young friends with him
that night and the next day. They all
kept out of our way, which was COM
fort.
When night come on-and a pretty
dark night it was at frst-we were so
much excited that we did not feel at all
uneasy at the long walk before us. We
had lantern and everything ready in
our room, and waited impatiently until
the clock struck the half hour after II.
The back door was never locked, and
we crept softly down the stairs, hardly
drawing breath until we were outside.
Emma had taken the precaution to give
Alice strong cup of tea before we
started, and she did not seem more ner-
vous than usual.
We laughed and TESTED as we went
along, and were soon seated on long
bench within the church porch. The lit
tie lantern threw very feeble light,
but the clouds had dispersed, and the
moon, just risen, shone full Oh the
churchyard and every object in it.
We did not expect to see anything, of
course, but somehow the influence of
tha time and r,1aca sobara1 O11r bipb