Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-08-18

vice. L wasn't sure whether he would
undertake 1t. Brain is a good thing
SO is courage; prefer happy mixture.
And with pleasant little nod she sailed
off.
never saw until afterward what q
comparison / had made-one all cour.
age and no brain, and the other all
brain and no courage. I had muddled
things badly, that was evident, and the
worst of it was that she never gave me
an opportunity to let her know I 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 propo-
sition that some night we three; Ned.
Butter-Scotch and myself, should 20
there and stay until morning, and if our
report was "no ghosts" she would not
say any more against the purchasing
scheme; but if anything diabolical OF
mysterious happened, that her father
was to give up the idea, Our consent
being asked We cheerfully gave it, and
IS one time was as good as another, we
decided to make the experiment. that
night.
Armed each with a stout stick and
pillow, we advanced upon the haunted
dwelling about 9 o'clock, and were
admitted by the man in charge, whose
headqrarter were in an adjoining build
ing, which communicated with the house
by long entry, at the end of which
was an iron door. This door was closed
and bolted after us, and we were left to
make our explorations in our own way.
I for one did not expect to see any
thing supernatural, but Mabel's stories
were very vivid, and I would have liked
to oblige her by seeing something un-
canny. We had brought lantern with
u.s. and Butter-Scotch had very self
sacrificingly taken charge Of it. So we
ascended the stairs, and made tour of
the upper floor, then descended, and
made another tour of the ground floor
and cellar, and Butter-S Scotch considered
the exploration SO thorough that he
strongly advocated going home and to
bed, aud bringing in sealed verdict,
"No ghosts" But we wouldn't hear
OF it. So, having made sure that the
front door was unlocked on the inside,
and could be opened instantaneously if
the proposed ghost were disposed to be
violent, or use language unfit for ears
polite" we made ourselves as comfort
able In the hall as the circumstances of
no bed and an indefinite ghost would
allow.
Ten o'clock-no ghost. EIeven-not
sound. Eleven thirty" Ned, you're
snoring"
"Oh no L was thinking how"
Suddenly there was crash sonae-
where in the house.
"By. George" gasped Ned, {" we're in
for it. boys, and don't you forget It'll"
don't know how long we waited,
but then it began again-frst sneeze,
then kissing sound, then pail rolling
downstairs, followed by an assortment
OF dust-pans and fire-irons.
This was frst-class. After the storm
ceased Butter-Scotch, in committee
OF one, proposed that we should alter
the verdict to "ghosts emphatically,"
and go home. 1t was entertaining, but,
to tell the truth, he was sleepy.
In a few minutes there was another
crash, and we saw something white on
the stairs, slowly and solemnly approach
ing. AS it neared the bottom, it raised
an arm; low moan came from it, and a
rasping sound of by no means cheer
full character.
Butter-Scotch made for the door, and
IN his excitement pushed against it in
stead of pulling, SO he couldn't get out.
The ghost, seeing our fright, uttered a
shrek, and came swiftly toward us.
This was too much for flesh and blood
to bear, and Butter-Scotch yelled.
Murder thieves! frel" frantic with
horror, and we all three pulled and
pushed, beside ourselves with fear.
Just as the ghost had nearly reached
us Ned pulled the door open, and there
was crash and a rush, and before /
knew what had happened the door was
shut to with bang, and / was left in
darkness in the hall, with the knowl-
edge that the beastly ghost was where
it could touch me if it wanted to. A
second of silence, and then voice
Missed, "Cowards r. 1 indorsed that
opinion heartily, but the others were
greater towards than I was; 1 wouldn't
have kicked the light out Of the lantern.
or shut the door on them.
There was yawn, and then the thing
said, "Oh, myl"
plucked up my spirits little. The
ghost had sense enough to be sleepy.
and thought could stand a little talk.
it it would only keep hands off. Possibly
1t wanted to find the door, for it came
straight toward me. But the knob
wasn't where the phantom thought it
ought to be, and the seeking hand
rested for about two seconds on my nose.
The touch gave me courage; it was
warm, soft and pleasant as woman's.
stretched out my arms and grasped
the phantom. 1t shrieked and started,
but was strong, and the ghost was
solid, SO it didn't get away. I didn't
feel afraid of it then; on the contrary.
it seemed afraid Of me.
"Dear ghost, sweet ghost, said
II won't hurt you"
The answer came tremblingly and
low: "What are you saying? Who
sent you ?"
Why, my darling ghost" | said,
VIC Aauy InHt gong 10 De Mrs. But
ter-Scotch."
How do you know she is?'
"Oh, know well enough. You must
be smart ghost not to know that /"
"She doesn't love him."
"Oh, yes she does. My sweet little
phantom, you're entirely mistaken.
Come. I'll see if l can't light the Ian
tern. if that insane BOBBY hasn't smashed
it all to pieces in getting out"
Let me go, please" the ghost
begged, in very polite manner, and as
it spoke the words sounded to me very
much as from human voice disguised,
and yet | couldn't see for the life of me
how anything human could have got
into the house after we came in, or how
anything human could have made such
an everlasting row. and ratified its bones
SO unpleasantly.; But the ghosts hands
L. "a