Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-12-04
was there before us. "Where is Lula ?" she

Aunty, in her red sleeping wrapper, silk
handkerchief tied over her nght-csp, a
shawl over all, crouched on the lower step,
shaking more with fear than cold.
The unearthly racket went on. Call
Lulu" repeated mother.
Lulu came, rosy with sleep. and very
cross. Bother" she said, when aun,y
gasped ont, Fire !"
81 insist upon knowing what this means, "
said mother.
"Helo" said Lulu to the transmitter.
"Whom do YOU want What is it Who are
you ?"
The ringing went on fast and turious-a
string of fours, string Of twenty-threes and
twos. and then hundred at least, at a
breath.
Perhaps some children have got hold Of
it, suggested Lulu, sulkiy.
"Children' at two o'clock A. NJ. :" said
mother in a withering tone
Perhaps our house is on fire" said Missy
"and they are ringing to warn us"
Go and see" said mother.
Nan and Lulu started on a round through
the cellars. Jane and | went round the
house outside looking for glare All was
calm, STILL and pitch, dark ; the unseen
surf scarcely hlssed as it slid off the rocks.
which it struck with little velve,y thud
We re-entered the house the telephone was
still ringing furiously increasingly Mother
had placed herself on the sofa with the air
of one who means to stay. Aunty had re-
treated TO the top step. where she sat with
an eve on the open door Of her room. In a
voice faint with terror she reiterated her
belief in supernatural agency. We all sat
down For an hour. one dreary hour OF
bitter November night, we sat and listened
to that awful bell. Then il died away gradu-
ally, with few spasmodic taps.
This settles it" SAID mother, "to-m1r- "
we get one Of the other bells, which only re-
peats our own call"
We crept up stairs cold and cross, and Just
a We closed our doors. a final tap made US
all start
The new bell was put III next !ay, mother
experimenting the operation with much in
,eres'. making many inquiries, and finally
with great dignt, sending the first message.
We we're all much moved Lulu especial,
watched her with startled face, and looked
unaccountanIy grave; indeed we soon
noticed change III the child. All that DAY
and the next she was very nervous. red and
pale by turns, and lyng TO the telephone
every second imagining continual cali. Two
more days passed. Lulu would not 90 out,
though mother told her a. she had now
lcIrst! 20 Use the telephone, we were in
dependent Of byr. Lulu ".,il not care 70 20
o4t," Me >a.! She t,oN a book ana sat III
tHe hll'.ogt np one saw her read She could
scarcely 'si her meats for G,lng up to listen
IN tac Telephone She was the first up IN the
house, lu TIE .l,t 10 -,n to bel. She grew
pa., au. ;hiI.
That Aw:u, night prey~ upon her." said
auu'y
On tac fifth lak mother sent her ont on
an crrara. Lula, usually 80 glad foF an tN-
cu>e 10 90 out tried 10 ,hlrk it; she begged
uf Fir lay, she hal lu,t all her pretty
h.u~hr~. but ,t.r nov b,ushci furiols.y
Mother wl, iuilrXihlr, anL Lulu w,a'
AhoI' haf an hour after she lefr. the tc.,-
phone h,', rang Nu,her arose IN her pe-
cllatIs dignitird way anI vent n ,tr III
all followed her and, as have since learned
exactly what she then heard, will put ID
down here in IL night place:
"Hello " said mother, gently. What i
it ?"
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always dreaming Of hearing You say ii to a
more important question:
,t.. ILL., IT, '''''o' :"
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