The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-05-22

did it at the spiritualistic 'sea'ess III help
"Mayw cried Tom. jumping 70. hia Il,
trump! Just wait till Jem comes, and well
have it all fixed. The professor never locks
his doOr.'
Tho two pairs OF brown eyes looked at each
other, and the respective owners of them
burst out laughing, with the delightful unan.
unity Of sentiment that occurs whenever any
especially delectable piece Of mischief is On
foot So Z.
Jem In no way dissented from the pro.
| gramme when he presented timself at night
but, on the contrary, added some timely sug.
pes;ions. Tom considered his friend the
quickest witted mortal in the world, and q
handsome fellow beside, which Last was true
enough. The young people soon found out
| that to copy the spirits successfully required
| more time and practice than they had counted
| upon. their Rhostly advisers having failed to
| provide any short road to perfection. They
were very patient, however, as people will BE-
when engaged ip something with which they
have no manner of busineso, and il about q
| week had all their- Arrangements completed.
Jem was to personate the ghoet tom and bic
| sister the audience, Tom having reluctantly
yielded the post of distinction to Jem in con-
sideratlon OF his abilities.
Il But when u came to the point the would
oe ghost had new proposal to make. Lets
tell him to do something or other" he said
something that he would never think OF him
self-so that We shall know by that afterward
whether he believes in it at all or not"
This being hailed with reclamation, Tom
| suggested that the professor should be COM
| manded to wear a cooked hat for a month /;
May, that he should make daily pilgrimage
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. III
NO; it must be something that will affect
his whole life," he said-"eomething OF 60
" the spirits would be charged to deliver it.
Wen tell him he mustgo as a missionary; or,
nO, better still, let's tell him to marry some
bOdy-May, here, for instance; he was al
ways fond Of her, and she Is right in the same
house." rs. - = IL = -
"But, unluckily, May is not fond of him,
but Of you," observed Tom, w.ckedly.
swell, he doesn't know that. He will think
It's his duty to ask her. And when she says
no, he will wait for some new spiritual light.
You don't mind. do you, May"
two boys, aided by her own sense of fun, at
last persuaded her into it. Perhaps the
thought that twas sure to be discovered, and
that the professor could not POSSIBLY carry
his credulity to that point, helped to quiet her
but, after the fashion of womankind, was the
one to originate the boldest part of the
scheme.
1T let you do that, boys, you must let me
OF course they both asked. "What is it,"
May refused to tell them. "You'n know
soon enough" she said, with the mischievous
sparkles coming and going in her brown
eyes "Only, If l don't say anything to
mine"
They both gave this promise very readily,
I'M nnuy inf a., hot
that something not laid down in the plan
might possibly happen.
In about a 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 in the
.structon, when the door cresked gently,
seemed to swing open Of itself, and present.
ly. to bis astonished eyes, tall, white figure
presented itself, with faint blue light encr-
cling Il, aud a general misty uncertainty of
outline that might be attributed to the shift
ing Of some thick vapor, but to an uninftiated
person was highly suggestive of uncorporeal
spirits.
g Bless me! bless mel" said Prof. Renset,
staring at this vision. "Who are you, my
friend.'
81 am disembodied SPIRIT" replied a sep
ulchral voice.
Dear, dear, what a pity! Can't-can't
ANYTHING be done for you:''
sNOthing. l am sent to YOU"
swell, my friend, l am hereafter a
pause, in which he seemed to imagine that
the embarrassed spirit required some eucour-
agement. His face shOne with a mild benevO-
lence. II am here" he repeated. "What
can do for you."
The blue light was shaken for q moment,
as If the spectral visitor was disturbed by this
tantdlizing calmpess, and even disposed to
back out of the situation. Then the sepul-
chral voice replied, You are commanded to
"How! What. Nv good friend you are
talking like a-ghost!" exclaimed the aston
ished professor. A slight flush rose to his
benevolent face.
"You are commanded to do it," repeated
the spirit, monotonOusly.
"Bless me. bless me! II isn't possible
with US, all things are possible"
lnoeed!" said the professor, inquiringly.
Indeed" he repeated, with as much deliber-
swell, well. Let us consider that settled,
and-and pass ON to something else, I" with q
certain mild dignity, as if he objected to dis
cussing the lady they had named even with
ghost. He was evidently disposed to be hos
pitable, but somewhat at loss how to enter
tain his visitor.
You are not" said the professor, glanclng
hestatingly at the suggestive blue light,
from the celestial regions, am afraid!'
Dear me! dear me what pity! 1t must
be very unpleasant. Yet if you could-if you
could be persuaded to give me . little infor-
motion about the other place-the truth is,
have young friend who is going that way,
very much fear, and"
Here something not laid down in the pro-
gramme happened; the ghost incontinently
bolted, blue light and all Outside there was
a suspicious scuffltrg and hurrying of feet
that may have been produced spiritually, but
was very like scampering humanity.
The professor deliberately got up and closed
the door, murmuring to himself: !.
VERY singular-very singular indeed!'
The same embarrassed flush still fingered
on his face, but he got into bed snd went
calmly to sleep, as If nothing unusual had
Meanwhile the ghost and the audience were
holding hurried consultation downstairs.
All three we're considerably taken aback. 2
He knew u.s." said Jem, discop solately.
He must have known US the very first thing.
His young friend! That was cool, at any rate.
Which of US does he mean, Tom--you or
me!'
perhaps he didn't know himself which it
As neither of them could settle this point,
they at last adjourned to bed, each, perhaps,
with little sense Of discontinue under all
his merrimOnt.
The next morning, after watching Tom out
OF the house, May sat down to some feminine
WIN VI ASA2 VWhf " pouuCE VNCE GuclI Ill.
fatcd schemes, when 10 walked Prof. Rensel,
who was supposed to be safe in his class
room. May was aghast at the sight of him.
Now for it," she thought. 1t is too
bad should have to take the scolding alone"
For it could not but be that even SO mild a
man would be angry at such an escapade.
True, he couid not know of her share in it,
but then it was nearly as bad to have Tom
made the scape goat. -
Miss May was an audacious young lady,
but conscience made coward of her, and she
dared not look no or ask him why he was not
at school.
Why don't he begins" she unused, still
keeping her eyes on her work, as the tall
figure shuffied uneasily round the room. 9
Presently the professor stopped In front of
her and cleared his throat. "My dear Miss
May, do you think You could ever bring your
self to marry meg" -rsa -
The work feh out of her hands, and NAV
sat fairly dumb with astonishment. The pro-
lessor picked it up again for her.
am much older than yourself, Miss
May" he went on, 81 and very awkard man
in action and speech, as you see. Not such
one as young lady would ever be likely to
fancy nn1v--np1v foIf vny x1,,%,, 81.