St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-12-20
litOr. COVINGTON. STNrAMMA@Q4

Oi-IdSt wall ptpcf-WHdt WIS tnef6 ~
examine or investigate? What could II
done but stare at it and ask ones sclJl
If it is not a voice from the land u
shadows, what is it?"
1t could not 60 on this way much
longer, l knew; so resolved on de-
cided movement, and one contrary "a
| all the reticent traditions of the Des-
pards, who had always ''insisted on
keeping things to themselves" l oSl
| dered carriage and sent mother and
Rosaleen out for drive. So soon as
they were out of sight, turned the key
in the lock and went to see the land
lord.
Mark Bolton was dapper little gens
tleman of quaint manners. and a bealny
ing courtesy which had a wonderful
attraction for me, as opposed to the
strained foppishness affected by the
young men of this age. He was the
agent for and part owner of the block
of houses, one of which was our habita4
ton.
To him related the story. and the
fact that he received the wondrous mys-
terry in svmpathizing spirit, instead Of
treating it with the derision I so much
feared, raised him much higher in my
esteem. H.
Miss DeSpard," said he, smiling be-
nignantly. Twill You allow me to call
tonight and make the acquaintance Of
these troublesome voices2'
Somehow the load dropped off my
shoulders. Mr. Bolton was 50 self-con-
tanned and courageous that went home
l.-I,. ,,.,t
many day. At eleven o'clock he
came. and in an exceedingly short time
managed to make Us all feel at home
with ourselves and our sitting-room
once more. He seemed to have dropped
into our circle as if he had belonged
there for years.
A few minutes before twelve Mr.
Bolton stationed himself as directed By
me. The clock changed out again the
hour of midnight. Some inmates
elapsed without the usual uIanifesta-
ton, until feared the spirits had failed
lis.
But. no. in a moment more the dis.
NAL groan was sounded. and the ara
lanche of hardware followed. 1 saw
Mr.. Bolton start. while a puzzled ex-
preston came over his face. felt glad
that our ghost had indicated itself and
me! The horrid noises were supple
mented by the words ..KiU The other
one issuing directly from the wall.
Our landlord stood aghast. p
He reflected moment, then pu ld
out his pocket-knife. With this he de-
tached portion of the wall paper, and
uncovered the orifice Of asq162 king:
tube! This then was the secret of it all;
the sounds were conveyed from some
other place. and the tubing transformed
ordinary noises into ghastly cadences.
The next day the mystery was further
more explained. A former owner had
connected his library with building
the piping had been broken up. leaving
intact only that portion built in the
wall. one end of which was in our sit
ting-room, the other extending to the
cellar of an adjoining house. between
4 couple of wooden shelves. The
spoken words we heard We're those of
the colored servant. who was accus-
toned to bank up the heater fire about
midnight. The rattling OF the chains
was produced by the shoveling of coal.
had mistaken some words about de
fire" for '.De Wire" The poison
and mangling had reference to mice.
which We're making free with articles
on the shelf. That was all.
| was SO much obliged L, Mr.. Bolton
for his efforts, that | could not SAY
him nay when he asked me 10 marry
him. Besides. how handy it was to
have man about the house to LAY
ghost. Godey's Lady Book.