Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-04-22

versation of the previous day. I could not
doubt that Mr.. Shelly and his wife were
both thoroughly honest in their convictions,
still l could not bring myself to accept the
thing as supernatural. l dressed, and, as
was my custom, went out to the kennel to
visit my friend Captain, for by this time
there was mutual attachment between us
and / would sooner have trusted the beasts
loyalty than would most mems. With
Captain for an ally should feel compare
lively safe. for he was the very perfection
of bravery.
The day was pleasant, there was not a
cloud in the sky and gentle wind blew
with delicious GOODNESS. Dinner had been
very late, for Mrs. Shelly was not well. 1t
was drawing towards O'Clock when took
my accustomed seat on the porch with my
pipe. Shelly joined me; his wife was sit
ting inside by the window. My eyes were
involuntarily turning towards the fallen
tree. Shelly OWNED my thoughts, for he
shook his head gravcly, smoked on and
said nothing. Suddenly there came half
suppressed cry from Mrs. Shelly, and at
the same instant her husband exclaimed
"There, don't you see it Look''
gazed steadily at the spot, but could
discern nothing unusual and told him SO.
"And you don't see it?' he cried
"Watch how it waves its arms towards US
and dapcoc IN tho 1Or -
l arose to my feet and went to the edge
of the porch. Every foot of the tree trunk
was visible, but nowhere conld discern a
ghost. 1 absolutely could see nothing but
the old weather-beaten decaying log.
'Heavensp exclaimed Shelly, ''observe
how wildly it tosses it's arms and see how
its drapery trails.''
I took a steady look at the speaker, for l
could not reconcile the matter, and said:
81 will try and solve this thing"
''Don't go there" implored Mrs. Shelly
as 1 stepped down on the ground.
made no reply, but walked straight to
Captains kennel and unclaimed him.
cold boy" I said, patting his head,
s'you and I will try it together. Come
along"
The noble fellow appeared to compre-
hend me, for he looked up in my face, lick
ed my hand and walked gravely by my
side. He didn't .frisk or gambol, but be-
haved with the seriousness becoming the
occasion. I went straight down the road,
mounted the fence and jumped over, Cap
tain keeping little in my advance. 1 had
excited the creature by talking to him
until the hair stood stffiy up on his neck
and his eyes glared like Goals. To my ut
ter CONSERVATION when he was dash1ng
ahead bravely and about twenty feet from
the tree he gazed in dazed manner for an
instant an !, uttering sharp cry, dropped
his tail between his legs and rushed back to
the house with all his speed. looked at
his retreating form with sort of bewil-
derment and then at the tree. There was
certainly nothing unusual visible to my
eyes at least. The bare old tree trunk, that
was ALL 1 smiled as mounted it and took
several turns up and down its length and
then walked back leisurely to the house.
Captain was lying by his masters chair
trembling in every limb; the dog was sure
ly terrified.
81 saw nothing" I remarked.
''But we did, returned Mrs Shelly.
"Every step you took the thing followed
you, waving its arms over your head. Oh,
am SO sorry you went there. Something
will surely happen you if you are not care
full You were too rash. 1t was two
perilous,' and she wrung her hands.
"It has gone now,' said Shelly.
Seventeen years have passed since then
and am not conscious of any particu
evil having overtaken me, but there is one
thing 1 would like very much like to
know-if Shelly and his wife did not see a
ghost, what did the dog see. J. H. N.