Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-11-16

knocking in that outrageous way.
The girl did not stir. After mo-
ment she sail, 'It's the cellar door"
Impossible" said her mistress.
go quickly and see what it IS.
We heard the unlocking and relocs-
ing of the yard door. When the girl
came back she said there was no oae
there. Presently, while was reading,
there came more loud blows, as If
struck with heavy fist; and unmis-
takably against the cellar door.
When PRAYERS were ended, we went
to make acquaintance with or mystic
rious captive. On opening the door,
there was nothing to be seen but the
flight of steps.
Nv wife and / exchanged glances,
which said very plainly, ga sweet
heart" So, as the youth appeared shy,
| gave him an encouraging invitation
to come forth and snow himself. No
reply.
are" said, nobly plunging into an
abyss, the boys at my heels. Nothing
whatever t De seen, and not a corner
in which anything bigger than mouse
could hide. The window? 1t was
tightly closed up for winter, and was,
besides blocked with snow. | was GER
tainly mystifed; but | sent the young
ones off to bed with an assurance tho;
wind, in an old house, was capable OF
making the most extraordinary noises
and, in illustration, we all in turn shook
the door; not, however, producing any.
| thing like the previous effect.
st must have been at the back door,
said my wife, with a searching look al
Saltwater.
"No, it's the cellar door that does it,
quietly replied the girl.
GLOW car it make that noise of it
self"
81 don't know"
"Did you ever hear it before%
Eyes; this evening when Miss was a.
the piano"
We decided that we must watch Still
water.
In the course of the night we were
awaked by the agreeable sound o
''Drip, drip, drip" in one corner of the
room, My wife put basin beneath
with towel in it, 20 deaden the sound
Presently, drip, drip" again just out
side the door, which we always KEPT
open.
"There's sudden thaw, and we're IL
for it," said l. Let's go to sleep. II
won't hurt the floor cloth"
But there was no going to sleep, foi
the drip came faster than ever, until il
increased to a little stream. There
were no matches in the room; but |
managed to find my bath and to set it
with blanket inside it, under the spot
whence the sound came.
When, at breakfast, | announced the
sad news Of the sudden thaw, there
was a chorus OF ordinations; why
everything is rs hard as iron, etc.
etc.
The mother, meanwhile, WAS direct
ing her handmaiden to dry up the
water which had come IN during the
night. The girl started, when she
came into the room again her mistress
asked her what she had done with the
wet blanket. She stared more ex
pressively, and was mute.
bDIl 1Ou uhutIbbttilu4
eyes, ma'am. But there is no wet
blanket, and no water to wipe up"
Up stairs went mistress and servant
and in two minutes back came my
wife, looking quite bewildered,
There's not trace of water any
where" said she: land yet after you
were asleep, | heard it drip fast upor
the countepane, Just at my feet"
Our delighted offspring settled it tina
mother had been dreaming and PR
mus irrevel emily limited that | haC
generously lert my bath in order t.
escape my mornings shudder.
When Tertins was being tucked W
that night he asked: "Who was tina
person who came and looked at mt
after | was in bed?"
saltwater, | suppose"
"Oh, no. 1t was an old woman, an,
she had funny cap on
"You dreamed her, dear"
"But / hadn't been to sleep. And
turnedIny head TO the wall, and whel
looked for her again she had gon
away"
"You must have been half ASLEEP
Now go to sleep quiet and finish til
dream"
The next night Primus began;
Mother, wish you would tell tha
old party not to come into my roor
without knocking. lhad just got int
bed, happened to glance across to tn
f drawers, and there she stood, cool
looking at ne, | was Disguised an
turned my back upon her. Present.
| looked odt of the tail of my eye, I
see what she was dong, but she'd cut.
, "You don't know VINO it wasp
f "No. She looked ike one of tn
charwomen-Boots mother, | dal
3 say. These people are cool enough f,
/ anything"
: My wife called to saltwater, to ask
! Mrs Brown or Mrs. Jones had been i
). that evening. She was answered tn
i. 10 one had been.
/. Chen you must have been ha
asleep, although you did not know
( and have Dreamed
; Eyes, / suppose so. But it SCENE
very real. At any rate, Pm half aslet
r now uurmured Primls.
I Night after night we were aroused |
i. the voice of this or that child. The