Richland beacon., 1880-07-03

IuIRent promises, nlle0 tnemSelve0 Win
grub land corn juice), retired early,
locked their doors, slid quietly out of the
windows, and took the back track on a
quiet "go-as-you-please." The weather,
however. was against them. and . wild
Western snow-storm ragged upon the
prairie. They were driven to the shelter
Of . little point of timber, found
lonely church, got inside quickly, and
made themselves perfectly at home, and
as comfortable - was possible under the
circumstances.
But, pretty we'll used up, they soon
grew tired of singing and poking fun at
each other, and began looking around
for some place to lay their weary bones.
A few cushions were found and dragged
to the pulpit platform; they doubled up
both themselves and their overcoats and
prepared for snooze, with the under
standing that any one who CHANGED to
awaken should replenish the fire.
Slumber they did speedily, heavily,
but not long. There came q laundering
at the doors sufficient to have awakened
the notorious Seven Sleepers, and the
boys fairly shook in their boots, believ-
ing a band of revenging Regulator"
were after them, and they would soon
swing by the neck from the steeple or a
tree, whichever came the most handy.
Fortunately they were at the extreme
end of the church, screened by the pull
pit, the doors strong, and they had
little time for reflection.
Lets slide out of the window and
cut for it, whispered Dick, with chat
tering teeth.
Better hide" suggested Johnny.
"Or get ready for a fight" put in
Larry, whose Milesian blood always
"bOomed at the prospect of q scrim.
mage.
"Hold onw commanded Charley, who
was the coolest of the lot. "Wait and
sec what turns up"
Almost with the words the fastenings
of the door gave way and in rushed a
party Of young girls and boys, shivering
with cold, who crowded around the
stove.
"Who could have expected to find q
fire here? said one, stamping his fec
and blowing his fingers.
"Lucky there was" responded an
other, for since that miserable old
sleigh >, broke down l have nearly per-
Charley Bennett drank in every
word and whispered to the now 70
assured boys But unsuspecting the
presence of Others, the sleigS-riding
party made merry over their mishap.
now that they were safe, crowded the
great stove with wood, and some Of the
most daring even limited that the fire
had been started by ghosts who had
found it uncomfortable roaming around
in such weather.
"Don't talk that way" said one OF
the bevy of beauties, q she clung to
her companion and looked around in
"Oh, sdoa't plsade," chimed in an
otber. at il bad and wicked enough
to break into . church, and I am certain
something terrible will happen. / am all
in . tremble."
$50 am /, TO kiss and console the
darling" whispered Larry.
"Hushl or Ill choke your com
manded Charley. Remember what
told you"
But, though he succeeded in keeping
order in his part of the house, it wat
not 70 easy in the other. The mere
mention of ghosts had caused the blood
to forsake the cheeks of the girls, and
they declared they would sooner wall
all the way home and be frozen t.
DEATH" than remain any longer.
think of the pretty little dear
wading through the snow" whispered
Larry. -,t tt.tlf.
"Be quiet, will your and stron,
hand was instantly laid on his thrOa
and brawny fist shaken in dangerous
proximity to his nose, and he =" col
lapsed" into silence, - he afterwart
said. .s. .s.
And BY degsses the otter compan!
aleo were quieted. Going home afoo
over the prairie in such bowling storm
was an impoesibility: there could b. n,
stirring until the sleigh that had beeI
sent for came. and 30 to paS the tim
they began singing. But suddenly the,
paused, looked at each other with eye
starting out from pale faces and ques
tions with trembling lips:
| "What sound was thatr'
"The wind" suggested one of t.
number in the lowest of whisperA
1T sounded like stringed instru
mentA"
"Gue@ they think it il angels playin,
on the GOLDEN harps" interpOsed Larry
to Immediately have his wind shut Of
by Charley.
al knew 1t was" exclaimed one Of tn
girb. IL heard it - plainly a. could bt
Harkw
! , A sound a. ofia far-away song, under
toned by the melody of harps touche
! By the softest of fingers, came to thei
ssn and held them spell-bound. NOv
I the words seemed to float in the ai
above-now to come from beneath thei
feet-then to swell into chorus, an
then to die away - the whispering Q
ghosts.
lit was too much for the visitors to er