The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-09-03

that, and he and | soon became firm friends
but Butter Scotch | Localized. | really do not
know why loalhed him 40 much, unless he
cause there was u rumOr aflOat that Mabel was
making up her mind to rcnouDce the bangs
and bangles of u single life, and henccfprlh
stick 10 Butter Scotch. OF course this of itself
was enough to make me contemplate placing
an extraordinary bent pin on his chair, or con.
vcr,ing his oycrroat pocket into repository
for liter OF baby kittens. BIT independent
of this rumor, | had n distinct and positive
impression that loalhed the man just rs he
was whether he ever succeeded IN marrying
Mabel or not. Or course It was none of my
business, hut II did seem pity 10 stand by
and see her become The missing RIB, thereby
completing the anatomy, OF such a molly
cSddle.
One morning was standing on the piazza
Just finishing u very nice cigar Mr.. Hum.
phreys had presented me with the day before,
with the remark that he didn't mind a man
smoking once In while If he smoked tobac.
co. but he abominated cabbage" Mabel
came out.
MIR. Wolcou," she SAID, "arc you going to
be busy for a few minu,es."
II think not" replied. "Mr. Humphreys
doesn't want 10 begin TOR over half an hour
yet" ~
Then will you come to the croquet ground,
and finish your cigar there?"
Certainly" | answered; "wiih pleasure"
Over to the croQuet ground We strOled, and
Mabel sat down on one Of the rustic seats.
Without preamble Of any kind she began:
~ know you have friendly feeling tor US
all, Mr.. Wolcott, and want to ask pour opln.
ion and advice"
/ bowed, for che was unquestionably right
about my friendly feeling; but wondered
what was coming.
S,eele?"
Well, that was a poser What did Think
of Butter Scotch! That he was fool, OF
course: but ! reflected it wouldn't do to tell
her so, PARTICULAR y 1t she was gong TO- NJ,
il wouldn't do AZ all.
"Why do you ask Miss Humphreys,"
II will tell you frankly There Is q very
strong inclination on papa's part 70 buy the
stone house."
"Yes, know there is"
"And don't want him to-
inlay ask why nOty'
Because II Is haunted
II don't see how that affects Mr.. Steelc-he
isn't haunted"
Mabel laughed. 81 don't suppose he is.
But that isn't what | mean. want to know
ii he 10 courageous enough TO go there and
see If 1t really is haunted
30 guess he's pretty brave; he says he IS,
and Mr. humphreys thinks SO too, | believe"
"Yes, papa is SO enthusiastic over MIR. But
l mean Mr.. Steeles kind heart and religious
feelings; he thinks he must be a good man,
and not easily frightened" She looked at me
squarely And | want to know if he is q
man fully to be trusted
with untold wealth."
No; to see a ghost"
"Ah, see!"
"You are brave, too, aren't you, Mr.. VOL.
coity
you're very kind to say So but assure
you there never WAS worse coward than
am. I've no courage at all-lm all BRAIN.
Now there's the differences between Mr.. Steele
and myself"
Mabel rose. "Yes, see tho difference" she
said. Il am very much Obliged to you, Mr..
WolcOtt for your good advice. l wasn't sure
whether he would undertake il. Brain is a
good thing, SO Is courage; | prefer happy
mixture" And with pleasant little nod she
sailed of.
Inever saw until afterwards what comparl.
son had made-One all courage and no brain,
and the other all brain and no courage. had
muddled thiLgs badly, that was evident and
the worst of it was that she had never given
me an opportunity to lot her know had not
intended any disrespect to her future liege.
All this time Sol Humphreys never ceased
talking about buying the stone house. AT last
Mabel MADE the proposition that some night
we three. Ned, Butter. Scotch and myself,
should 90 there and stay until morning and
If our report was mo ghosts" she would not
say any more against the purchasing scheme
but if anything dlabolical or mysterious hap.
pened, that her father was to give up the idea.
Our consent beng asked, we cheerfuly gave
II, and as one time was as good as another, we
decided to make che experiment that night.
for one did not expect to see anything su.
pernatural, but Mabel's stories were very vivid,
and would have liked to ohige her by seeing
tern with US, and Bnt;er.ScOtch lad very self.
sacrlfcingIy taken care of 1t.
Ten O'clock-no ghost. Eleven-not a
sound. Elevenihirty-"Ned,yo you're snoring"
20, no; | was thinking how"
"Great hcavens!" whispered ButterScotch.
"Wherey where!" we asked simultaneously.
Butter.ScOtch wiped a moth oil his cheek.
IL thought you saw something" Ned saId
TO him, irritably
"He went IN my eye. guess you'd cry out
if a hug went In your eye"
That's all right, Scotchy. You're game,
Ell, old MANI"
This IL the sheerest nonsense MIR. Steele
explained
Whirrrrrr tizz, thump!
ButterScotch yelled, and started up.
"Slt down. Don't you know Juno bug
when you hear ity"
"Was it, indeedy" and Butter'Scotch wiped
his forehead.
Suddenly there was crash somewhere in
the house.
"Rv Georper' gasped Ned "We're IN for il
boys and don't you forget It."
don't know how long we waited but then
it began again-frst a sneeze, then Kissing
sound, then pail rolling down stairs, follow
ed by an assortment of dust-pans and fire-irons.
THIS was first class. After the storm had
ceased, Butter,Scotch, IN committee of one,
proposed that we should alter the verdict to
ghosts emphatically," apd go home. 1t was
nuiie entertaining but 10 tell the truth he