Connecticut western news., 1888-01-18

At midnight-so far as they could judge from the sepulchral striking of a rheumatic old clock on the kitchen-shelf sudden wind arose, and Sophy gently touched her friends arm #.
 ssNannie," said she, "are you awake"
 "Ycs. Why" ..-
 Do you hear the wind banging the doors up stairs2"
 "Hear itl I should think I did. Sophy we must go up stairs and shut the garret window, or the whole house will be blown to piecesr'
 And so, clad in blue flannel wrappers and crochet slippers, they crept up stairs, c,inging nervously to each other, especially after particularly energetic blast had blown out the feeble flame of their candle. .:.
 t'There's moon, you know" said Mamie, in slightly tremulous vo ce. .tOh, yes!" said Sophy. 1t isn't at alFworth while to go back after another candle" .@ g1@
 But the light that gleamed athwart the dreary, gaunt floor, from the un- curtained window-panes, revealed 8 sight that made their flesh quake. A tail, spectral figure stood beside the shadowy outline of the spinning wheel. For an instant the vivid moonbeams, emerging from behind the masses of black wind clouds, threw the apparition into strong relief, and then all was darkness as new rack of clouds swept over the pallid moon. Like flying birds the two women hur- ricd down stairs, pale, with terror, never pausing until they reached the kitchen, where some remains of the 1 evening fire yet smouldered dimly.
 "sophy!" cried Mrs. Parsons, in an agony of terror, "what was that"
 'It's ghost!" sobbsd sophy. "A ghost! Yes, I'm sure of it. I didn't tell you before, Mamie, because I didn't want to make you nervous; but I'm sure the place is haunted! Such q rattling of chains" - sIt isn't chains" faltered Mamie, 'it's only the window fastonings that have come loose and rattle against the side of the house, Rex says so."
 "And such dread full m oanings through the hall. S
 'It's the draught from the garret windows.
 "But how do you account for thata'' cried Sophy, pointing upward with 8 trembling finger. !
 And Mamie could only reply by hys- terical tears and sobs. re
 ''No wonder Rex bought the house so cheapr' said she. q won't stay in ii another night, not if I go out under the apple trees to sleepw
 And she and Miss Wilkins sat up all night, trembling at every gust of wind, i growing pale at the souad of little mice scuffling behind the wainscoting.
 'Tll never, never spend such night again ]" said Mrs. Parsons, wringing her hands.
 When Rex came homo he laughed them to scoru. ..s ...t...
 "sucn gooses," said he jeeringly.
 "But we saw it ourselves, Rex!' cried Mamie. 4 =. F.. i "With our own eyesW added Sophy. "Depend on it, MT. Parsons, there's some dreadful secret connected witf that old spinning wheell Do get it out of tho house as fast as you camp
 s'What nonsense!' said Rex.
 But nevertheless hc ran up pstairs tt take as he expressed it, "another look at the thing" -5
 Presently he came down again, rath CT flushed, and inclined to be angry. l .'Why couldn't you have told mc?' said he.
 'Told you .what2" questioned Nan nie.
 ''That you thought that spin ming wheel down."
 "We never touched it!" shrieket Sophy and Mamie, in chorus.
 | 'Then, where is ita' i "'Why, up in the garret, by the bi' centre beam, isn't it2
 Rex stamped his foot in vexation.
 "There's nothing in the garret bu your grandmother old set of china, tha the expres sman broke so badly, thrc bags of hops, hanging from nails, an' an empty trunk" said he.
 Sophy looked at Mamie. Nannl broke into violent fit of shuddering.
 "There's witchcraft in it," said she
 "I knew there was. Oh, Rex, take m away from this horrible place. I can breathe easily under this roof" "Stuff !' cried Rex. . , Mamie began to cry. "You-you said you loved mel" sh , walled. ---.- ..-a-. -. l "So do!' reasoned Rex "But yo ? know, my darling, all this is so utterl unreasonable. /" -~-.- , Nevertheless, Mamie persisted in he : unreasonablencss to that degree ths
 Rex, with his hands thrust irately int r h,s pockets, and his hat balanced bellis : erently on the back of his head, we1 l down to see Farmer Thaxtcr, who aftt !, parting with the homestead of his fore t fathers, had stolidly set up in the gener' : grocery, shoe, crockery and dry-good | Eno ohork 4hroo x,,iloc doun tho road