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

door, almost in less time than it takes
me To narrate the fact; only to return,
however, in less than sixty seconds, and
drop apparently speechless and exhaust
ed into the chair he had previously va
Gated.
well, did you see anythingY" ques-
toned Kate hoarsely, whilst both the
other girls drew long deep breath.
"Nothing--no one!" responded Dick
in awe-strcken tones, gazing bIankly
round.
How stranger groaned Nell in sep.
ulchral tones, yet it was plain--plain
as ones own face in glass.'
"Plain--what was plaln?' asked the
vicar, reused from the veritable slum-
Der which had oyertaken him at last,
and glaDcing round with the injured
air of man prepared to resent as a per-
sonal insult any insinuaton that he has
| temporarily 'strayed from his own fire.
side to the Shad0wy realms of nod.
"Why, what on earth's the matterp
You all look as though you'd seen
ghostl"
Then by general accord the three
| girls, and mamma herself. not less than
| Dick, burst into a tit OF uncomfortable
| laughter-laughter which had an hys-
| terical echo, and an undercurrent sus-
| piciously akin to sobs repressed; in
| deed, Eide calmly produced her hand
kerchief, and wiped her eyes, declaring
she had laughed till veritable tears
ran down her cheeks
"But what is it all aboutY' the vicar
questioned with rising sense Of grew
ance, in that apparently he was to be
excluded from participation in what
was evidently so excellent joke.
Instead of answering him, however,
the family party continued to stare
blankly at one another, until Dick at
length broke the silence, turning TO
Kate with mel0dramatic air; Kitty,
tell me, did my eyes deceive me, or did
| Ibid | really see-oyer there, at the
window, pressed against tie pane--lust
between the shutters. which seemed to
have been pushed apart, ID
"A---N echoed the three girls stimuli
tancously; then by tact consent all
paused.
"A what?n the vicar demanded impa-
tiently. Dick don't stand gap!nethele
! like fool: but open your mouth and
speak! Mamma, Kate. ] insist, tell me
what you saw
"What did you see Dick; Kate
questioned slowly beneath her breath,
turning to her brother, 'or YOU, Edle2
Nell - mamma why does no one
speak
II SAVIOR lancied ! saw began
Dick cautiously, "a small -" lie
paused, looking appeaingly at Nell
white face, pressed against the win
dow pane" she continued, taking up
the parable boldly; the face of-of a
girl----"
"All clothed in white, it seemed to
me-" Edith went on eXcitedly, each sis
ter being ready and eager now to add
her testimony of the astounding truth,
once the ice had been etectually bro6-
en- land with long elfH locks streaming
in the wintry breeze2'
"J{de Chronicles Of the Barnes Com
mon Ghost" supplemented Dick in
low solemn tones. If YOU quote, Edie,
why not quote correctly, aud duly rem
der up your authority
What in Heavens name Is all this
nonsense, children questioned the vi
car, rousing himself for action, and
now thoroughly annoyed, Dick, I'm
surprised at you am, indeed, and,
wife, really | wonder you encourage
| ridiculous talk of this natureN an
But Herbert dear, II saw it toO,'
faltered poor Mrs. Carlisle, turning
wide-opened eyes towards her husband;
II did, indeed, my dear
saw what2' the vicar yelled, spring
ing to his feet.
SHerl papa" she! dad" at!
| father simultaneously escaped the
lips of the wears three daughters;
some OF whom. in this moment OF emo
ton waXed more emphatic than gram
ma,ical, as the reader Weil-yerSed IN
| Lindley Murray may observe.
The Barnes Common Ghost I9die
added boldly, "of whom we were speak
ing but few minutes ago. She opened
! the shutter and just peeped IN, and then
disappcared--as they always do--in q
trice. before one could draw breath,n
And when Dick rushed out con-
tinued Nell, behold, she had left no
sign. Dick. without doubt it was the
merciful wandering spirit, " no came TO
see tiff the carriers had obeyed her,
and whether you We're safely housed
Though, after all. Kate opined con-
temptuously, zone would hardly think
a ghost required ocular demonstration
of n fact. rather incline To the belief
that creatures of that sort know every.
thing by instinct, and
But the vicar interfered peremptorily
at this juncture, expressing himself
both grieved and shocked that intelli-
gent aud carefully-educated girls much
less daughters of his. could condescend
to speculation of this vulgar nature.
He hardly knew whether he was most
disguised by their ignorance, or indig-
nant at Dicks foolery. He sternly for
babe the very mention Of ghostlore for
the remainder Of the evening, and much
regretted that he must consequently
deprive the company, by way of pun
ishiug their frivolity, of a long-prom.
ised treat in the shape Of Celebrated
Christmas story Of misunderstanding
Of hobgoblins in general, and a highly
interesting spectre in particular-which
he had previously undertaken to read
aloud when they should all be assembled
round the ireside on Christmas Eve.
Nevertheless, during the temporary
withdrawal of the wears presence later
in the evening. Dick aud the girls hast
ened to put their heads together and re-
open the mueh-veXed and finally ia
booed subject Individual impressions
were compared respecting it, and
striking similarity of detail in each in