The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-12-31

tory stop to The 'children's talking non
sense" whereupon Dick forthwith re-
verted TO the theory promulgated by
those reliable authorities, Carriers Tom
and Bill, gravely declaring that he was
disposed TO coincide with their opin-
ions, and add the full force Of his per-
sonal testimony and convictions to the
at present somewhat vaguely supported
belief in the existence OF the Barnes
| Common Wrath,
For I'm in a position to swear" he
concluded emphatically, that we
passed no human creature on our way,
| and no living thing passed us. How
| then could the feet-tOoted messenger
SO graphically described by Messrs.
Bill and Tom have been other than q
| boailess being, who momentarily elect
cd to adopt the female form diylney"
"But, Dick, surely you don't believe
in ghosts in the nineteenth century,"
questioned Nellie with severely judc-
ial air. "One would think to hear yon
talk you were silly brainless school
boy instead Of
"A sage and reflective man-about-
town" interrupted her brother gravely,
lin position to acquire and retain all
les Of modern scientists and biologists,
who prove facts so incredible that eX-
ploded myths and so-called "fallacies"
sink by comparison into actual insight
icance in the scale of wonders and the
history of marvels."
Well began Edie with sagely re-
Elective air; Il don't see why we should
dlsbelieye in elhn creatures, for
Observe that Edie wisely eschews
the vulgar monosyllabic 'ghost"" Kate
opined archly.
Because ghost suggests the spirit
of murdered creature" Edie eX-
planned with momentary accession Of
color, "and---"
why as to that interrupted Mel
lie in voice savoring of triumph; "you
| know the story of the Barnes Common
Ghost does originate in the history Of a
hapless little girl who had her throat
cut by rowing pedlar at Burnham
crossroads one Christmas Eve more
than twenty years ago. Ever since
when, the tale goes"
''She re-appears on Christmas Eve"
Edie finished hurriedly. But not like
a remorseless vindictive ghost pursuing
the surviving relatives of the wicked
murderer; but in the guise of fair
| Christian spirit seeking to perform
some kindly action which may do pen
ance here on earth for the hapless soul
chained below, and ultimately assist in
its deliverance from the lowest depths
of purgatory; where everyone knows
the souls of the damned writhe in red
hot irons, bound to fiery stakes for a
thousand mortal years, unless by dint
of charitable deeds those who would
fain intercede---N
"Ediel | cannot listen to such nom
senSen materfamilias interrupted de-
cisively. Papa is doing again, see,
such ridiculous conversation, and
must desire, Dick
"ThatI throw some light Oh the pop
ular delusion, mother. respecting
ghosts, as BELTS time, place, and cir
cumstances on this auspiciouS Dhfist-
mas eve? You shall forthwith be
obeyed, madam. and"
go on, Dick, go on" urged Nellie,
drawing nearer and propping her elbow
on the table, that she might support
her chin on the palm of her hand, and
thus catch In her open mouth, it
seemed, the sapient words which fell
from her brothers lips. DO you real
ly believe in the Barnes Common
| Ghost, and"
After the experiences of this hence
forth ever memorable night, my child,
how can | doubt?" returned Dick
! gravely, delighted at the opportunity
! thus afforded him of turning bis late
adventures to admirable account, and
at the same time holding the little par
tv enthralled by discussion of the or
| thodOX calDre, ON Christmas Eve OF all
good nights should | not otherwise
prove myself the prince of sceptics, the
most plOlane of cynics. after SO direct
a manifestation of spiritual agencies on
behalf of my unworthy self? Ede has
unwittinQly corroborated the evidence
already before the court; the theory Of
the wrath of the murdered girl coin
cides meiTeille with the united testi-
mony of Tom and Bill, both of whom
aver that the spectral messenger OF DIS
aster on this occasion was beautiful as
a dream, clothed in flowing garments Of
spollesS white of so ETHEREAL fabric
that they could with difficulty be dis
tinguished from the surrounding snow,
ana with flowing eltin locks streaming
in the wintry breeze; she disappeared,
they assert. moreover, as mySterlously
as she first crossed their path, vanish
ing into limbo, even az she was evolved
from space
II wonder, then" suggested Kate, the
most strongminded Of the sisterhood,
forcing a sharp hysterical laugh, that
the carriers 50 unhesitatingly complied
with the instructions of this weird In
tangible beingY should have thought
they would have shirked setting out on
such night, Oh apostolic fool's-errand
and
NO, They declare there was some
thing irresistibly impressive in the
creatures bearing; they felt constrained
"a obey her mandate, continued DICK,
warming with his subject, and coloriDs
according to fancy as the photogra-
| pliers say; land to hooray on ards--I
quote yerbatim--at the risk of life and
limb, in order to do its bidding. Well,
it must be clear to any logical mind,
that this was none other than the mer-
cifnl wrath Ede has so graphically de-
scribed, bent on its errand Of charity on
behalf Of the wretched soul in purgato-
ry; and without doubt, | should say
she cancelled a full purgatoral year
il the calendar of the Internal regions
corresponds with our own--of the muir