The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-02-10

Snrickeo OccauSe tne noSefs began 10 play again al her throat.
 Of all forms of supernatural visi,ations, that of fingers al the throat has always seemed 10 me the least desirable The appantion of sheesed ghost, with or without chains, the squeezing of hands Jeff inadvertently outside the sheets, the cold breathing upon the sleeping brow, the groaning behind wainscot walls, the dragging of chains, the signing or sob bing by the bedside, the shying about of crockery, the shneking in the garden, the uphe1val of heavy furniture, the creAk- ing on the stairs, the lurking in unsus- pected places, the unreasonable claim to property in a place after you have be- come ghost-al these things are effect i've, though perhaps overdone- New ghost machinery has to be invented if the popular imagination IS 10 be fired, and take ii that the miserable falling of ir ghosts during the last fifty years must the imagination, which refuses any longer to be stirred by oid-fashioned modes of spiritual manifestations. Even rapping has had iis day, and one sees no hope for ghosts in the future. unless they are prepared 10 bring trustworthy informa- ton as to the rules and regulations q oEf,e-mer. Then, indeed, there would be so great run upon ghosts that the good old times would come back again, and many a mus,y family ghost, long since laughed at, scorned, and forgotten, would return, 10 bloom and blossom again among curious and credulous posterity.
 But to have ones throat felt, touched. and fingered by ghostiy fingers! That Is, If you please, thing which in no way attracts the curiosity or stimulates the imagination. Quite the contrary ; i, simply terrifies.
 Laura shrieked and would have tainted had she thought it would have been of the least use. But she was too much isTIltled for talns.ng. h real moments Of crisIs, Tn supreme moments, as the prigS say. one IS too much Tn earnest 10 iaint. One may faint comfortably when tooth IS pulled out, and feel all the bet ter for Il afterwards, but when d more se- rious operation IS performed no one thinks about talntns, and takes ehloro- form instead.
 'N-n-othins. said jacl< with less hear; Tn his tone than he eoaid have wished. .'c-can hurt ,ea whsie ! A.n here.
 let there were fingers al her throat, and just then Laura would nave saeri- need all the honor and :. ory of the fam fly ghost could she have iound herself saie outside that dreadful door with the bar let dowa to keep them n. Or. sup pose her ancestor had appeared. hunger ing, ravenIng for liie, believe she would have gwen up her lover Tn the same spirit ot duty as prompted Aga memnon to sacrifice lphigenia, so as to get out of the mess with as much ease and safety as possible. But all that they had heard and seen were mere trifies, bagatelles, skittles, apple tart, compared to what they were about 10 see.
 Suddenly the bells, which had been ringing melodious peal, and the kettle drums, which had been beating a muf- fed harmony, clashed and changed in horritic discord, at the hearing of which Laura moaned and groaned, while Jack, oiutching her hand. as if for his own safety, murmured mechanically, "N-n-n- nothing ocean h-h-h-hur-" and here his jaws stuck and he said no more
 For, at the clang and clash of the bells, the curtains fell before the windows, and they were in darkness absolute.
 IL seemed next as if the end of the room was taken away, and another room opened to their eyes.
 There was nothing al all in this room. but II was lighted by large window at the end, and q long narrow window at ahe side. The glimmer from the snow without Sutt l.rkt tk.. Iadins pair to see the things which pre- sentcd themselves.
 The bells stopped. the drums stopped. Then there began wailing, pla.ntive music, tune never heard on earth. which seemed, like the bells and the drums, to be played around them, above them, below them. And while this weird and ghossly tune was slowly played, there appeared suddenly. not, said Laura after wards. as fl they sprang from the ground CT dropped from he skies. but suddenly. as If they come from nowhere, three skel- ctons. In the dim ligh, one could dis cern their shadowy forms. the lean fin- gers with which they pointed, the long, bony legs with which they danced ,-the hollow, cyeless sockets, and grinning teeth of the skulls. As they came, so they disappeared, as suddenly, as silently.
 But the music. the supernatural, weird. and ghostly music. went on, and then - ah then-the final manifestation ap- peared. For. as if he had stepped from the wall, Laura saw her great-grandfather the actual family ghost i,self-walk slowly, and as if with difficulty, across the rooIn, and, as he nearcd the opposite wall. he turned, faced bis great-grand- daughter, and with his white locks and white beard faintly visible, he seemed to hold up warning forehnger and disap- peared. &l
 Then the music ceased the room of the ghost and skeletons disappeared l: the curtains which had fallen before the windows were drawn back, and there was silence.
 Jack '" said Laura
 "G-g-g-ood heavens" cried Jack.
 Are we living, Jackr
 ''G-g-g-ghosts ' said Jack.
 Do you think it is over, Jack ?" asked