Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-15
remarked the minister In his most solemn

remarked the minister In his most solemn
"His cheeks were more like the red, red rose
than usual, and he had brought a. gifts TO the
object OF his affection oranges and the Misston
Miss Matilda Jane was extremely uucon.
scious and matter-offact, tho her toilet bore
marks Of more than ordinary consideration
YOU'D better walt long enough to fust taste q
cup Of tea. too, brother Whitcomb,' said she
u won't be any time preparing it. The tea.
there in time. can't one Of the deacons open the
ale shook his head piaintively. we are toe
prone 70 follow our own inclinations m stray
away from the straight and narrow path. No
We must follow dooty, even tho IL leads US
away from our dearest cOmpanfOns,' RlanciuR
with solemn fondness at Mis- Matilda Jane"
II wouldn't never a he'd a man in this world
sinner Hs r exclaimed ain Mrs. Brasdon on. ''"
"Hs did not follow duty Immediately, how
ever" 1 resumed, shut stood irresoiute, with
s 10 aaaa
kitchen instead; and, tho he did not make his
adieux 70 either Captain John or me, Isupposed
sionary meetin, when. in the course of q halt
hour or SO, Miss Matilda Jane announced that
"Lai Brother " hitcomb went home after all,
did hep inquired the lady, looking somewhat
disturbed, fancied. al thought he had de-
s,ded to stay Strange he didn't come out and
"' Why didn't hep said Captain John; .he
went out toward the kitchen, and that's the last
miss Matilda Jane seemed slightly absent.
minded for a moment or two. out soon recov-
cree herself, and was as bright and laxative IS
ever. Now I'll make haste and get my work
together, said she.
hearth, and we dispensed with lamp In U order der
TO enjoy 1t to the fullest extent. It was de-
lishtfol evening. Miss Matilda Jane, who is q
events which had ever happened In the old
town. But the wind came up at length, the
tree boughs creaked weirdly outside, and we
were disturbed by strange noises during the
"'Some one Is certainly pounding on the back
door' tI Insisted NOR, more than once ,,,,-. 49,.
always said that this house is haunted said
Miss Matilda Jane, cheerfuliy. IT'S nothing
tho. and the rats tumbIns in the walls. They
do carry on outrageously when 1T grows quite
still at night. It's their noise that you hear
"' Impossiblei' I said Do let rs be brave and
.Oh, I'm not in the least afraid. OF course I
can't hear IL as distinctly as you do, but I'm
pretty sure there is no one there
I'VE proceeded to the door at once, but found
nothing but darkness aud a stray apple bough
that was tapping, tho not notsily, ON the sill.
The pounding still continued, however, and
was quite positive that heard a voice or voices
"'Oh, that's nothing but the boys over in
Squire Goodnow's barn. They re Smelling corn
over there, and make a terrible racket every
IL am hard OF hearing said Matilda Jane,
when assured her OF this fact. Come, let us
go into the sitting-room and sit down again and
maze ourselves comfortable. Its chilly away
from the fire.
~ looked over in the direction of the barn,
and saw the yellow light OF lantern and NOV
ing figures through the wide open door, aud be-
came more easy in my mind.
but at half past niue Ethan appeared on the
scene, with open mouth and startled eyes
w hos that a-lnakin' sich an ALFRED poundin'
an screechin' in the suiler, or in the dairy, or
somewhere nother9' he exclaimed excitedly.
"'Well, dont know but that the old house Is
haunted, sure 'nough,' said Miss Matilda Jane
starting to her feet. Miss Harris has been hear
lag 1uees5 noisss all the evening Let US take
AZ hain't no coward, but wouldn't keer
to see spirit piped Ethan, shrinking into q
"'Nonsense! Spirits don't make such noise
said bis mistress, laughing.
My gums loaded, N guess I'll take 1t long
assured by her GOODNESS.
well, TAKE IL and come along said she
saiesdy ,nr Miss Harris I'm AFRAID you are
likely
party. and We al! three started in solemn pro-
cession, guided by the light OF the fltful kerO-
sene. 1t was a long distance from the sitting
room iS 20 the oack kitchen and as we approached
which had commenced with a VENGEANCE as
soon as We had opened the dining room door,
became more and more distinct. Ethan shout
dered his gun, and looked darkly at every
shadow.
Goodness. the sound comes from the dairy.
SAID Miss Matilda Jane, in tragical whisper.
Here voice made itself heard with great
distinctness.
Its the parson, tew. By golly. That's his
voice. tho its so kinder shaky n funny said
Ethan, rushing forward bravely and nimbly as
an angry appeal to be let out reached our
why, he must have followed me there
when went after butter tor supper, aud /
locked him in by mistake said Miss Matilda
Jane, looking distressed aud rather awe
stticken. but laughing in spite of herself He
said that he had something TO say to me In pri-
vate, know, but pa was In such q squizzle tor
his supper that forgot all about il afterward.'
1t not very consoing to have ones misery
laughed at, so discreetly remained IN the
background when the unfortunate man merged
from the priSOn-whch was like a veritable
cell, stone floor and all. could not distinguish
the words which fell from his lips. but as there
was an abundance OF them, uttered In by no
means bis Usual smooth, drawing tone, I sup
pose they must have been more expressive
than polite, for | heard Miss Matilda Jane
say, with cool dis:tnctusss after little pause
Well, II You have got such a temper as this,
you may AS well go your own way, for all OF
me- I've seen enough, more than enough, Of
"'And II you havn't any more sense than
this, shall be glad to do so, madam was
the quick reply. ALLOW me to wish you good
Ethan, light your lantern and go with
Mr.. Whiteomb to the barn aud help him
harness his horse, commanded the lady, turn
Ing to follow me with stately dignity to the sit
ting ROOM"
N he never come ag'in," says Mrs. Brag-
don, whose face is all agIOw with happy excite
ment: IL knowed all the time that they must
he'd some kind of IA quarrel, N kin see Jest
exactly how twas, now, as If I'd a bin there
myself. Probably he folered her into the dairy
10 pop the ques tiOn-its an crfui retired place
N shes so dretful def a. absentmindei
tina: she didn't neither see nor hear him. She's
most incOnvenient spry-motioned, tew, fur
sech q person, N I s'pose she come out N
locked him In fore he had time to think, he
bein kinder clustered like, under the circurn-
stances. I don't wonder nobody didn't hear
hun for SO long. for that diary is q mile away
from the front Of the house, three steps
down from the back kitchen. Well, we'll
1 hope Alfonso won't bring no more news
terniSht, fer sha'n't sleep = wink as 'tis-I
kAow L sha' MT; n then it's kinder provOkin'
In ssch dull times ter hev every thing TO
oncs.'
About Dreams.
HOW A PERSON SHOULD LIE IN Bed
From Every OtLer Saturday.
French physician, DIR. Delaunay tells some
interesting facts about dreams. These are
embodied in q communication to the Societe de
b,ologia Of Paris. It Is well known, when q