The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-07-24

y
sobl,sd Mrs Benton.
so are my hsnds," exclaimed b
!, husband.
DO Try sad get light John ] a.
bleeding 10 death Asa want 70 see you
. fses once more before die. msansd III
SspAn
Il an 90 faint from loss Of bloed ca'
hardly stand. replied her hnshsrd. IN.
arms and shoulders are one mass Of blood
! will try aud get light, but i die frs
the property is yours"
"Oh Johs, Johni don't. don't" sobbot
Mary Ann. Then she added after mo
ments silence. III ] die, John. promise
me you wont marry again
! Where are the mstchesy" asked John.
Never mind tho mathss, but promise
mo you woa't marry again
allow in thunder can get light II you
don't tell me where the matches arsy
grumbied her better half.
"You don't want 10 promise me. You
know yen don't Yos will 90 and marrv
that horrid Martha Chillngswsrth bsfors
I'm Geld ia my grave. John Benton. Il
you do I'll haunt ysu as long Is you live.
Mrs. Benton in her excitement fsrgot
all about the ghost. At this juncture the
sheep. now recovered somewhat from its
fright, approached her, and touched her
arm with its nose. She uttered . piercing
scream. Her husband was fumbling away
N the corner where swinging milk
rack hung suspended from the ceiling.
One shelf was filled with wooden bowls,
containing eggs destined for market the
next day. Another shelf had couple Of
large trays, on which were two or throe
dozen tumblsrs Of current jelly, made the
previous afternoon and not yet hardened.
Scared out OF his senses by his wife's sud.
den cry, and thinking some new danger
mensced him, be seized the lower shelf
with both hands and attempted to climb
up ont Of reach Of the ghost. The ropes
by which the rack was suspended were
old and frayed. Mr.. Benton was quite a
heavy man. Unable to sustained the addi.
tional weight, the rope broke, and down
came rack. eggs, jelly and the farmer, in
heap on the floor. The unfortunate was
SO stunned by this catastrophe. that he
lay quite still for few minutes. His wife
thinking be was killed burst into success
sion OF the most blood curdling sLrieks
that ever issued from woman's mouth.
Meanwhile the boys were vastly enter
tanned by what was transpiring inside the
house the moon had become completely
obsssrod by the clouds They lay one the
ground nearly bursting in their efforts to
restrain their laughter. Every word ut
tered inside the house was distinctly audi
BILE to those outside. When Mrs. Benton's
remarks abont bleeding to death reached
their ears. they were alarmed lest their
scheme had resulted seriously. They lis
l.ns., auxiou.ly to the subsequent conver
sAii,n. Her reference TO Marthy Cbillings
wo,tli, wealthy maiden lady whose farm
nijoined farmer Bsnten's, and the second
marriage nearly finished them, and dis
ael]ed oil fears on their part with regard
TO i,eS speedy demise. II the boys had
not heard Mrs Benton on several occa.
ions express hsr utter disbelief in ghosts
and contempt far Apil. nervous women,
they would have regretted causing her
such 9 fright, but, under the cireum.
stances, all they could do was to roll over
and over on the grass in an agony Of
laughter. When the final crash came,
they sprang to their feet and approached
the window.
There was room over the shed whichs
the hired men occupied. Had they been
asleep 10 sll probability some Of the men
would have been awsked by the screams
Of Mrs Benton. Frank thought it was
about time TO intefere. He accordingly
said to Jim. when they were within three
fsot Of the window. "Ill get q candle and
60 in through the kitchen You stand
where you are. and when ! open the bed
room door. You can see everything without
being seen." A smothsred cough, almost
at their feet startled them. II was Cleo
no, and within three ffet OF him was Ed,
both men so weak from laughter that they
could scarcely stan,l- Frank procured q
candle from the pom, and enterirg the
kitchen strust ; light. Then rushing
across the room. as il in great haste, he
opened the door and stood In the door.
vay, locking upon perhaps the most ex-
traordinary sight a young mans eyes ever
rested on.
Mrs Benton sat on the floor in the mid
dla OF the room. Her hair was plastered
with that MIXTURE known as bread sponge,
enough for 20 loAves Of bread. using new
milk and warm water In order that il
might not sour. she bad brought It into
her bedroom and pisead il on light
stand. This was the stand the farmer over
Iurnsd when be jumped to escaped the
ghost. Just after be landed on the floor the
Iirst time. The contents Of the bread pas
Termed small lake 10 the middle Of the
lioor, and II va this mixture which caused
Mrs. Benton 10 lose her footing aad fall
pvsr her husband sad the sbsep. In her
excitement her vivid Imagination easily
lnistook the lukewaim sponge for blood.
In her terror she had rolled over snd over
IN this mixture ill her condition 10 more
sasily imagined than described. From
Mrs. Benton Frank turned to her husband.
He lay on the floor 10 a sea Of eggs and
islly. From his Appearance ons might
have thought be was seriously. II not 70.
lally isjured. For At first glance, the
Jelly With which he was literally smesred