The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-05-07

USUAL lining 10 BS6 rOOmS DeQ8f1QR IN LQAE
fashion. And, if you believe me, the pro-
lessor actually took it all in; is writing
paper now-if Jem's any authority on tn
subject-on these extraordinary natural
phenomena d u a
Tom was IN ecstacies of laughter by this
time, and his sister was not slow in joining
him.
Il II was only afraid father would hear the.
noise, and stop the fun" gasped he at last,
when he was able to speak, luckily he
didn't come in till it was all over. sug
gested to the professor that it might brighten
mother if he was to mention it at the table,
and he has been as mum about 1t as possible
ever since. May, we can make HIM believe
nything-any thing whatever. If l told
him there were ghosts in the house, he'd
put out his light and sit watching for one the
very next night"
"Why don't you show him a ghost, then?'
aueried May. ''You know we read how
they did it at the spiritualistic seances.
I'll help you, and"
MAY" cried Tom, jumping to his feet
a trump Just wait till Jem comes. and
we'll have 1t all fixed. The professor never
locks his door,"
The two pairs of brown eyes looked at
each other, and the respective owners of
them burst out laughing, with the delightful
unanlmity of sentiment that occurs when
ever any specially delectable piece of mis-
chief is on foot
Jem in no way dissented from the pro-
gramme when he presented himself at night,
but, on the contrary, added some timely
suggestions. Tom considered his friend the
quickest witted mortal in the world, and
handsome fellow besides, which last was true
enough. The young people soon found out
that to copy the spirits successfully re-
quired more time and practice than they had
counted upon, their ghostiy advisers having
failed to provide any short road to perfec
Tbou notIanf hnWevpr
people will be when engaged in something
with which they have no manner of bust
ness, and in about week had all their
arrangements completed. Jem was to per-
senate the ghost, Tom and his sister the
audience, Tom having reluctantly yielded
ton of his abilities.
But when 1t came to the point, the would
be ghost had new proposal to make. Let 8
| tell him to do something or other" he said
-''somethlng that he would never think of
| imself-so that we shall know by that
| afterward whether he believes in 1t all or
| not"
| This being hailed with reclamation, Tom
suggested that the professor should be COM
manded to wear q cooked hat for month
May, that he should make a daily pilgrim
age to the top of Meeting house hill for that
| length of time. But Jem rejected both OF
these proposals; they would be liable to
bring about discovery, and were not solemn
enough to be accredited to ghost
mo; it must be something that will affect
his whole life,'' he said-something OF 80
much consequence that he would think ii
likely the spirits would be charged to deliver
| 1t. Well tell him he must go as a mission
/ airy; or, no, better still, letstel him tc
marry somebody-May, here, for instance
he was always fond OF her, and she is right
/ in the same house."
ssBut, unluckily, May is not fond of him
but of you," observed Tom wickedly.
"Well, he doesn't know that. He will
| think it's his duty to ask her. And wheI
she says no, he will wait for some new
spiritual light. You don't mind, do you
Mayo"
May did mind very much at first, but the
two boys, aided by her own sense of fun
at last persuaded her into it. Perhaps thu
thought that it was sure to be discovered
and that the professor could not possibl,
carry his credulity to that point, helped t.
quiet her conscience. At any rate, she no
only yielded, but, after the fashion of wo
mankind. was the one to originate tn
boldest part OF the scheme.
IF let you do that, boys, you must lie
me do what / want to-"
OF course they both asked "What is it?'
May refused to tell them. You'll know
soon enough" she said, with the mischiev
GUS sparkles coming and going in her brown
eyes, "0nly, if 1 don't say anything T.
spoil your fun, you must promise rot +
spoil mine"
They both gave this promise very ready
finding new interest in their project nov
that something not laid down in the plal
might possibly happen.
In about week everything WAS ready
and the night set for the ghostly visitation
The professor, after putting out his light
was just getting into bed, still absorbed i
the true Interpretation OF a difficult aoris
construction, when the door creaked ger
thy, seemed to SWING open of itself, with
faint blue light encircling 1t, and geners
misty uncertainty of outline that might b
attributed to the shifting of some thic
: vapor, but to an uninitiated person We
highly suggestive of uncorporeai spirits.
BLESS mel bless men' said Professc
ReHsel, staring at this vision. Who az
you, my friend?"
81 am a disembodied spirit" replied
sepulchral voice.
dear, dear what pity! Can't-can
anything be done for your"
Nothing i am sent to you.
"Well, my friend, am hereafter
pause, in which he seemed TO imagine ths
the embarrassed spirit required some Ell
! couragement His face shone with a mil
benevolence. 81 am here he repeated
what can I do for you?"
The blue light was shaken for momen
as If the spectral visitor was disturbed
this tantalizing calmness, and even di
posed to back out of the situation. The
the sepulchral voice replied: you Al
: commanded to marry May Kingsley"
How! What? Ny good friend, you Al
talking like a-ghost!'' exclaimed the aston
1shed professor. A slight flush rose to b
benevolent face.
"You are commanded to do it, repeate
Z the spirit, monotonously. sssse,
Z sBless mel bless mel 1t isn't possible
!, "With us. all things are possible"
] ssIndeed?" said the professor, inquirlngl
Indeed" he repeated, with as much deli
y Grafton at if he were addressing his classe
J. well, well. Let us consider that settle
= and-and pass on to something else" with
:. certain mild dignity, as If he objected
4 discussing the lady they had named eve
/. with ghost He was evidently disposed
y be hospitable, but somewhat at a loss how
= entertain his visitor.
e .sYou are not" said the professor, CLAN
:. ing hesitatingly at the suggestive blue ligh
e from the celestial regions, am afraid
s'No'' e.ty