The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-11-23

by like streak o. lightnin'. An now lissen
TO me" holding up the cooking fork in her
hand and speaking with solemn earnestness.
tibet were Tuesday-day afore ystiddy,
mind. Well. has night e. we'uns wuz all a.
sittin' here, an the doc an winder wide
open, an pine knot burnin' bright in the
chimbly back, that same shsdder of a man
come sKimmin right by tibet winder. We'uns
all Sc, n it, fer the pine light was a-blazin' on
his facr, and he was looking in q
he skum past. An befO' we could so
much as holler out, he had shot round the
house an past the doc thar, which was
standin' open, an not SCUM did he make
but jis streked right by like sperit. An it's
my belief" with n suppressed sob in her
throat, ats my belief tibet thing whatsoever
II be, hez come to warn us o. somethn'
unlucky bout to happen" And here she
cast an anxious glance at her husband, and
then around on the group of white headed
| little ones who lowered about her.
Though more than ever puzzled by this
account did what could to cheer up the
family, who were evidently all in
state of great nervous excitement.
petite of my meal, stepped outside
for fresh air, and after walking slowly around
the house, stepped up to the bars and stood
looking dow the road. The moon had risen
aud already .hed q clear light on the white
sandy track anu the open space around the
cabin. Nothing moved, until as | stared
down the dim vista became aware of an I'M
naturally tall aud phantom like appartion
visible in the patches of moonlight that flick
ed the road, now appearing, now vanishing
and all the time rapidly approaching to where
l stood.
At tine first glance of this apparition l un-
consciously held my breath in kind of ex-
pectant suspense. The next moment CLEAN
of recognition flashed upon me, the whole
mystery of the haunting "spook" was explain
ed and in the excitement aud amusement of
the discovery gave hilarious shout. The
figure as 1t neared me slackened its speed,
and with an easy sweep slowly and grace
fully glided to my side.
Hello i he cried cheerly, what's up"
So soon as could recover from an ire
sistible fit of laughter l explained to him the
state of affairs with the family in the cabin.
He expressed much concern for the mischief
he had unntentionally caused. He and n
friend were making bicycling tour through
The State, and having been for some days de-
ayed at Caaghan's by the indsposition of
bis companion, he had each evening amused
himself by taking run" in the cool of the
twilight along this level pine forest road He
Huu HOI uOllCtu JuG man anu nOTSG ~ the
ferry and regretted that he had on the sue
ce,ding evening been tempted by the open
bars and the level cleariog 10 make circuit
around the house, deeming himself unnoticed,
no one having hailed him. And he was now
willing and anxious to make an explanation
and apology to the disquicted family.
went before in order to prepare the way,
and with some difficulty persuaded them 10
have an interview with the "spook." He came
gently wheeling up 10 the door, and l think
never saw more relieved as well as won
drring group of faces than those which look
ed on while the stranger explained the ma
ture and qualities of his marvellous vehicle.
Mr.. Carney listened with great interest, his
wife laughed Historically and the children
were as delighted as though they had been
AT a circus, especially when the "spook" dis.
tributed among them handful of nickels
before taking his departure
Next morning when called to an early
breakfast, found Mr.. Carney up and looking
quite unlike the man had seen on the pre-
vious evening His wife explained that the
shakes" seldom lasted in her family beyond
three days; but had my own impression
that in this instance the attack had been
owing as much to the fright as to the duck
ing which her husband had received
write this as Il warning TO all bcyclists vino
are fond of exercising in the mysterious
shadows of eve before the eyes of the uninti-
ated in rural and out of the way DISTRICTS
s. A. Weiss in DetrWt Free Press.