The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-09-16


ing, which communicated with the
house by a 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.
/, for one, did not expect to see any
thing supernatural, but Mabels stories
were very vivid, and would have liked
to oblige her by seeing something un-
canny. We had brought lantern with
MS. and Butter-Scotch had very self
sacrifcingly taken charge of 1t. So we
asceuded the stairs, and made tour oil
the upper floor, then descended, and
made another tour OF the ground moor
and cellar, and Butter Scotch considered
the exploration so thorough that he
strongly advocated going home and TO
bed, and bringing III sealed verdict
"No ghost" But we wouldn't hear OF
it. SO, having made sure that the front
door was unlocked on the inside, and
could be opened instantaneonsiy II the
proposed ghost were disposed to be vio-
lent, or use language unit for ears
nolite" we made ourselves as comforta.
BILE in the hall as the circumstances OF
no bed aud an indefinite ghost would
allow.
Ten o'clock-no ghost. Eleven-not
a sound. Eleven-thirty-" Ned, you're
snoring"
"Oh. no 1 was thinking how"
Suddenly there was u CRASH somewhere
in the house.
"By George! gasped Ned, "we're
in for it, boys, and don't You forget 1t J!
don't know how long we waited, bnt
then it began again--first sneeze, then
kissing sound, then pail rolling down
stairs, 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 emphatlcally,
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, 1T raised
an arm low moan came from 1t, and
rasping sound OF a 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 fire y 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 q crash and rush. and before |
knew what had happened the door was
shut to with bang, and l was left in
darkness in the hall, with the knowl-
edge that the beastly ghost was where
II could touch me II 1t wanted TO. A
second of silence, and then q voice
Missed, "Cowards |" / indorsed that
opinion heartily, but the others were
greater towards than was | wouldn't
or shut the door on them.
There was yawn, and then the thing
said, "Oh, my y
plucked up my spirits little. Inc
ghost had sense enough to be sleepy,
and l thought could stand little talk,
If it would only keep hands off. Posi-
bly, it 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 a 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 l didn't feel afraid
of it then; ON the contrary, it seemed
afraid of me.
"Dear ghost, sweet ghost" Isaid, 81
won't hurt YOU"
The answer came tremblingly and
low: "What are you saying? Who
sent you ?"
"Why, my darling ghost" said, "the
lady that's going to be Mrs. Butter
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."
ooh, yes she does. My sweet little
phantom, you're entirely mistaken.
Come, I'll see if can't light the lantern,
if that insane BOBBY hasn't smashed it
all to pieces in getting out"
LET noe go, please" the ghost begged,
in very polite manner, and as it spoke
the words sounded 70 me very much as
from a human voice disguised, and yet
couldn't see for the life of me how any
thing human could have got into the
house after we came in, or how anything
human could have made such an ever.
lasting row, and rettled its bones so un-
pleasantly. But the ghosts hands had
flesh on them. My curiosity was
aroused, so 1 said: "No, cannot let
you CO."
cts wrong, hugging me. when you
love another"
"Whom do love?"
Mrs. Butter-Scotch, of course. ]
know all about it.
You do, Ell? Then suppose you
know how it happened ?"
Yes, of course L do"
"Do you know why / stopped?"
Because you hadn't money enough
to ask her to marry you"
You're perfectly right, my dear lit
tie ghost, but neither you nor L know
whether she'd have married me even if !
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