Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-20

We ere 70 tuf IfOui thS sbloBc.
Whereupon followed fearful and nm
governabls language from MIR. Cnrper:
BE shook the door violently. stamped
about the room, and "went on gene
rally in most alarming way. pacified
him as well as / could, or rather | tried
10 pacify him but he continued to
storm aud swear without apparently lis
tenine 10 my lies they were nothing
less-and at last j went down stairs
again and took my place at the head OF
the table in furious passion. Cur pre-
vious deceptions had never gore as far
as this. and 1 felt myself sneak from
the tips Of my fingers to the toes OF my
boots. This was q most preposterous
and outrageous plan OF elias. reflect
ed savagely. We could never carry it
out. Why had / listened to her?
As we devoured our soup we could
hear footsteps trampHng about excitedly
and irregularly overhead. Then there
was sudden silence. 1t was the lull
before the storm.
Scarcely had tho fish been removed
than series of loud bangs resounded
on the panels upstairs. Uncle Simon
started nervously. Ella became Grim
son and murmured something about
"rousing baby" l took no notice but
went on grimIy carving the fowl before
me.
"Will you take a leg or q wing,
Uncle?" said shortly.
"a leg, boy " Indignantly. "What
are Won thinking Of? I'll take O wing
the liver wing-of course
/ hastily apologized and said l was
thinking OF something else. $50 was
l was thinking OF Uncle Gregory
Bang bang bang from above.
"Good gracious what is that ?" ex-
claimed Uncle Simon, in tone express
siye Of alarm and amszement,
"Wbat is what 2" l asked coldly,
without raising my eyes from my plate.
"That most extraordinary noise,
Charlesl" went on nv uncle, in much
agitation. "Is it possible you do not
hear it?"
81 hear the wind rising" I replied
calmly, 81 fear we shall have storm. y
Happily. the wind had risen by this
time, and was blowing pretty stiflly.l
"Pray help yourself to claret, uncle" |
continued ~ think you will find ii
good
There was short since after this,
broken by the walls OF the baby. who
/ had reused up at last. Ella fled up
stairs, and l engaged my uncle III polite
and easy conversation.
Suddenly. Just as Mr.. Finicker was
launched on a lengthy TRADE upon the
agrarian outrages in Ireland, the bang
ing began again with renewed fury.
What on earth could the old fellow be
doing. wondered wretchedly, as the
unmistakable crash Of broken glass or
crockery Tor both sounded overhead.
There was no saying what he might do
for Mr.. Carpsr, when aroused, was no
thing less than a mailman, and he was
evidently reused now.
Good Heavens boy, what is that
noise ?" exclaimed my uncle, starting
from his chair.
"What noise, uncle ?" I said, with a
CHASTITY smile. "You are nervous to-
night, fear"
"Nervousl Listen to that, and that,
and that !" he continued, fiercely.
"Have you lunatic or wild beast con-
cealed in your house, sir ?"
L listened hypocritically for few mo-
ments.
81 certainly do hear sounds" l said
then, in doubtful tones. (By this time
the noise was enough to waken the dead.
"Sounds Why you must be deaf or
an idiot, sir. It's pandemonium, l tell
you-nothing less"
"My dear uncle" l replied gently,
compose yourself. Those-er-sounds
are, regret to say, Of frequent occur
renee. When the wind is high, as it is
tonight, the noise is positively deafen-
| ing" Ut certainly was.) 81 will 60 up
after dinner and fasten the skylights in
the attics. They have been LEFT open,
probably. The house is said to be
haunted but that is all nonsense, OF
course"
Haunted !" repeated my uncle,
glancing over his shoulder nervously.
+" Haunted That is very unpleasant
IL never knew that"
mop" returned in careless tones
ave certainly hear some most unac-
countable noises. But one gets accus-
toned to them in time. Do have some
more claret.
Though L spoke thus calmly / was in
wardly consumed with rage and NORTH
cation and shame. However, there was
no help for it. / must keep it up now at
all events :; and by and by that maniac up
stairs would surely, in the course Of ma
ture, tire himself out. l simply could
not 20 and tell him any more lies.
Things must take their course l re-
solved desperately.
"You were speaking Of the Irish
question, observed in courteous tones,
making myself heard as well as 1 could
amid the appalling row overhead. 81
quite agree with you that something will
have to be DONE" "By Jove !" Iejacu-
lated mentally, something will have to
be done, or my wiie's uncle will be
through the ceiling on to the dining
table >"
Uncle Simon helped himself to claret
and glanced upward.
Cit seems to be in the room
above" he said, in helpless, irritated
kind of way.
ooh, it Is sometimes in one part of
the house, sometimes in another" | an
swered carelessly. "The curious thing
is that have known weeks to pass with
out our hearing any peculiar noises at
all. You were not disturbed during
your last visit, If L remember rightly.
But, pardon me, you were speaking of
Mr.. Gladstone's policy in regard to Ire
land, were you not ?"
"Ah. yes, yes It is atrocious The
man is becoming unbearable !" resumed
my uncle testify (alluding, of course, to
Mr.. Gladstone, and not to the concealed
enemy up-stairs) at is-but bless my
soul, boy, will that noise go on all
night ?"
Here o terrific crash, followed by a
piercing yell, 50 startled poor Uncle 81
mon that he sprang to his feet, over
turned his chair, and spilled his wine all
over the table cloth.
"We will go into the other ROOM"
said, seeing that the poor old fellow was
as white as sheet. ave shall not be so
disturbed there"