The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-03-09

just the same with tables and all othe
kinds of ghostly apparatus; sceptlc'
presence stops everything. When
7 off. How long do you think it vii
be necessary to stay here? Oh,
: don't complain; only, when go" ar
satisfied, I am-quite.'
I will not deny that was disap
pointed beyond measure by this re
suit. It made me look like a credu
,, lous fool 1t gave the doctor such
pull over me as nothing else could.
should point all his morals for year:
to come, and his materialism, hi:
scepticism would be increased beyond
endurance ut seems, indeed" I said
that there is to be no" miami
festation," he said, laughing; "that is
what all the mediums say. No mani
festations, in consequence of the pres
ence of an unbeliever." His laugh
sounded very uncomfortable to me in
the silence; and it was now near mid
night. But that laugh seemed sthe
signal; before it died away the moan
ing we had heard before was resumed.
1t started from some distance off, and
came towards us, nearer and nearer,
like some one walking along and
moaning to himself There could be
no idea now that it was hare caught
in trap. The approach was slow,
like that of a weak person with little
halts and pauses. We heard it COM
ing along the grass straight towards
the vacant doorway. Simson had
been little startled by the first
sound. He said hastily, THAT child
has no business to be out so late" :"
But he felt, as well as |, that this was
no child's voice. As it came nearer,
he grew silent, and, going to the door
way with his taper, stood looking out
towards the sound. The taper being
unprotected blew about in the night
air, though there was scarcely any
wind. [ threw the light Of my Ian
tern steady and white across the same
space. It was blaze Of light in the
midst of the blackness. A little icy
thrill had gone over me at the first
sound, but as it came close, | confess
that my only feeling was satisfaction.
The scoffer could scoff no more The
light touched his own face, and show
ed very perplexed countenance. IF
he was afraid, he concealed it with
great success, but he was perplexed.
And then all that had happened on
the previous night was enacted once
more. 1t fell strangely upon me with
a sense of repetition. Every cry,
every sob seemed the sa e as before
| listened almost without any emo
ton at all III my own person, think
ing of its effect upon Simson. He
maintained very bold front on the
whole All that coming and going Of
the voice was, if our ears could be
trusted, exactly in front of the vacant,
blank doorway, blazing full Of light,
which caught and shone in the glis-
tening leaves Of the great hollies at
little distance. Not a rabbit could
have crossed the turf without being
seen; but there was nothing. After a
time, Simson, with certain caution
and bodily reluctance, as it seemed to
me, went out with his roll Of taper
into this space. His figure showed
against the holly in full outline. Just
at this moment the voice sank, as was
its custom, and seemed to fling itself
down at the door. Simson recoiled
violently, as if some one had come up
against him, then turned, and held
his taper low as if examining some
thing. do you see anybody?" l
cried in a whisper, feeling the chill of
nervous panic steal over me at this
action. Its nothing but a-con-
founded juniper-bush, he said. This
[ knew very well to be nonsense, for
the juniper-bush was on the other
side. He went about after this'round
and round, poking his taper every
where, then returned to me on the
inner side of the wall He scoffed no
longer; his face was contracted and
pale How long does this go on?"
he whispered to me, like man who
does not wish to interrupt some one
who is speaking. | had become too
much perturbed myself to remark
whether the SUGGESTIONS and changes
of the voice were the same as last
night. 1t suddenly went out in the
air lmost as he was speaking, with a
soft reiterated sob dying away. If
there had been anything to be seen, |
should have said that the person was
at that moment crouching on the
ground close to the door. I'VE walked
home very silent afterwards. 1t was
only when we were in sight of the
house that l said, "What do you
think of it?' Il can't tell what to
think of it," he said quickly. He
took-though he was very temper
ate man-not thesclaret | was going
to offer him, but some brandy from
the tray, and swallowed it almost un-
diluted. Mind you, [ don't believe
a word of it," he said, when he had
lighted his candle; ''but | can't tell
what to think. of it, he turned round
to add, when he was halfway up
stairs.
All of this, however, did me no
good with the solution of my prob
lem. l was to help this weeping,
sobbing thing, which was already to
me as distinct personality as any
thing [ knew-or what should [ say
to Roland? 1t was on my heart that
my boy would die if | could not find
some way Of helping this creature.
You may be surprised that | should
speak of it in this way. | did not
know if it was man or woman; but |
no more doubted that it was a soul in
pain than | doubted my own being;
and it was my business to soothe this
pain-to deliver 1t, if that was posi-
BILE. Was ever such task given to
an anxious father trembling for his
only koy? | felt in my heart, fan
tastic as it'may appear, that | must