Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-10-30

/ than once.
/ :" L hope you won't be scared, but
folks have always said that this house
is haunted,' said Miss Matilda Jane,
cheerfully. Its nothing but the
wind bowling through the empty gar
ret, though, and the rats tumbling in
the walls. They do carry on out
rageously when it grows still al
night. It's their noise that you hear
now.'
" 'Impossible!' y l said. DO let us
be brave and open the back door,
6 'Oh, I'm not in the least afraid.
Of course / can't hear as distinctly
as you do, but I'm pretty sure there
is no one there
eve proceeded to the door at once
but found nothing but darkness and
a stray apple-bough that was tap
ping, though not noisily on the win
dow-sill. The pounding still con
tinued, however, and / was quite
positive | heard voice, or voices.
shouting from distance, as if in dis
tress.
"'Oh, that's nothing but the boys
over in Squire Goodnow's barn.
They're shelling corn over there, and
make terrible racket every evening.
[ can hear them sometimes myself,
if [ am hard of hearing, said NATL
da Jane, when I assured her of this
fact. Come, let us go into the sit
ting-room and sit down again and
make ourselves comfortable. It's
chilly away from the fire.
''I looked over in the direction of
the barn and saw the yellow light of
a lantern and moving figures through
the wide-open door, and became more
easy in my mind.
''But at half-past nine Ethan ap-
peared on the scene, with open mouth
and startled eyes. who's making
sich an ALFRED poundin' an screech-
in in the suller, or in the dairy, or
somewhere nuther?' he exclaimed,
excitedly.
well, l don't know but what
the old house is haunted,' said Miss
Matilda Jane, starting to her feet.
Miss Harris has been hearing queer
noises all the evening. Let us take
a lamp and see what we can find.'
=" i amt no coward but wouldn' t
keer to see a spirit, piped Ethan,
shrinking into corner.
Nonsense spirits don't make
such noises, said his mistress, laugh
ing.
my guns all loaded, N l guess
I'll take it long with me- he said,
becoming somewhat assured by her
GOODNESS.
4" well, take it and come along
said she quickly-'Miss Harris, I'm
afraid you're scared, turning to me,
You'd better stay here by the fire
we shan't be gone long, it's likely
"But preferred to be of the in
vestigating party, and we all three
started in solemn procession, guided
by the light of the ftful kerosene.
1t was long distance from the sit
ting-room to the back kitchen, and
as we approached this dark and iso-
lated region, the pounding, which,
had been commenced with a venge-
ance as soon as we had opened the
dining-room door, became more dis
| tinct. Ethan shouldered his gun
and looked darkly at every shadow.
Goodness the sound comes
from the dairy said Miss Matilda
Jane in tragical whisper.
''Here a voice made itself heard
with great distinctness.
'''It's the parson, two, by golly !!
That's his voice, though its kinker
shaky n funy,' said Ethan, rushing
bravely and nimhly forward as an
angry appeal to be let out reached
our startled ears.
"'Why, he must have followed
me there when | went after butter
for supper, and l locked him in by
mistake,' said Miss Matilda Jane,
looking distressed and rather awe
stricken, but laughing at the same
time in spite of herself. He said
that he had something to say to me
in private, l know, but pa was in
such squizzle for his supper that |
forgot all about it afterward.'
cit is not consoling to have ones
misery laughed at, so | discreetly re-
mained in the background when the
unfortunate gentleman emerged from
his prison-which was like a verita-
BILE cell, stone floor and all. / could
not distinguish the words which fell
from his lips, but, as there were an
abundance of them, uttered in by no
means his smooth, drawling tone,
suppose they must have been more
expressive than polite, for | heard
Miss Matilda Jane say, with cool
distinctness: after a little pause.
well, if you have got such a temper
as this, you may as we'll go youi
own way, for all me. Eve seen
enough-more than enough-of you
sir.
"'And if you haven't any more
sense than this, shall be glad to-dc
so, madam was the quick reply
ALLOW me to wish you goodnight
Z" Ethan, light your lantern apt
90 with Mr.. WhitcQmb to the barr