The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-05-12

opened, and Ethel appeared in Q
long. white dressing-gown, with a
small night-lamp in her hand.
There was look on her face which
made me start up and exclaim
Z" What is the matter? What has
happened ?"
She set down the lamp and came
toward me.
Il have heard it again." she
breathed, laying her hand On my
wrist.
a You have heard-what ?"
"The noise in the bedroom.
stared at her a moment in be-
wildermeut, and then half smiled
'0h, is that it?'' | exclaimed in
tone OF relief. :" You have been
dreaming again, it seems"
" have not been asleep at all, -
she replied. The sounds have
kept me awake. They are louder
than the first time the child seems
TO be crying and sobbing as if its
heart would break. 1t is miserable
to hear it.
Have YOU looked inside?" l
asked, impressed in spite of myself
by her manner.
No, dared not to night. l was
afraid of seeing-something," she re-
turned, with q shiver.
Come. we must get to the bot
tom of this mystery" | said cheer
fully, and taking up the lamp | led
the way up stairs TO her room.
As the door of the mysterious
closet was level with the wall, and
papered like it, / did not perceive
it till Ethel pointed it out. | listen
ed with my ear close to it, but heard
not the faintest sound, and after
waiting a moment threw it open and
looked in, holding the lamp so that
every corner was lighted. 1t was a
cramped, close, airless place; the
ceiling, (which was Immediately be
low the upper staircase) sloping at
an acute angle to the floor. A glance
showed me that it contained moth
ing but a broken chair and a couple
of empty boxes.
Slightly Struggling my shoulders,
closed the door.
Your ghost is vox ct Praeterea
nihil,' il SEEMS | remarked dryly.
Z" Don't YOU think, Ethel. you may
have been"
Ethel held up her hand, motion
ing me to silence
Hark ~ she whispered, there it
is againl But it is dying away now.
Listen"
I complied, half infected by her
excitement, but within and without
the house all was profoundly still.
"There-it has ceased" she said
at length, drawing a deep breath.
" You heard it, did you not ?"
| shook my head " My dear
Ethel. there was nothing to hear"
She opened her blue eyes to their
widest.
Papa-am | not TO believe the
evidence of my own senses ?"
Not when they e:e affected by
nervous excitement. If you give
way to this fancy. you will certainly
make yourself i'll. See how you
tremblel Come, lie down again, and
try to sleep
F" Not here" she returned. glancing
round with shudder shall go
to the spare chamber. Nothing would
induce me to spend another night in
this ROOM"
| said no more, but | felt perplex-
ed and uneasy. 1t was so unlike
Ethel to indulge in superstitious
fancies that began TO fear she must
be seriously out of health, and | re-
solved for my own satisfaction to
have a doctors opinion regarding
her.
1t happened that our nearest
neighbor was a physician, whom |
knew by repute though not person
ally acquainted with him. After
breakfast, without mentioning my
to my daughter, | sent a
note to DIR. Cameron. requesting
him to call at his earliest conven-
ience
He came without delay tall,
gray bearded man of middle age,
with a grave, intelligent face, obser-
want eyes, and sympathetic manner.
His patient received him with
astonishment, and on
learning that he had called at nv re-
quest, she gave me look of mute re-
proaeh.
| am sorry that papa troubled
yeu, DR.. Cameron. There is really |
the matter with me, she |
said.
And, indeed at that moment, with |
flushed cheeks. and eyes even bright
er than usual, she looked as little
like an invalid as could well be i'm
agined,
Ny dear Ethel" / interposed.
" when people take to dreaming
startling dreams, and hearing super
natural sounds, it is sign OF some
thing wrong with either mind or
body-as | am sure DR.. Cameron
will tell you."
The doctor started perceptibiy.
All, is that Miss Dysart's case?"
he inquired, turning TO her with a
sudden look of interest.
Il have had strange-experi-
ence, which papa considers delu
sion. l dare say you will be of the
same opinion"
Suppose you tell me what it
was" he suggested.
She was silent, trifling with oneof
ner silver bangles"
Pray excuse me-" she said hur-
-iedly, at length, Il don't care to
speak Of it but papa will tell you"
And before I could detain her she
1ad hurriedly left the room.
When we were alene he turned to
ne inquiringly, and in few words
related to him what the reader al
ready knows. He listened without
Interruption, and when / had fin
shed sat for some moments with
,ut speaking, thoughtfully stroking
lis beard.
He was evidently impressed by
What he had heard, and | waited /
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