Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-12

|
Mrs Jones, who lived in the old
| house on the opposite hill, whose
| kitchen-window always seemed to
wink a red eye across ut them when
| the dusk settled down, came over to
! borrow some seed-corn that afternoon.
ssBv the way" said she, ''what
were YOU doing last night in the north
! room upstalrs?
Doing! last night" echoed Julia.
':ln the north room!' repeated Lefty.
Il saw light lodging back ana
! forth there-that's ALL" said Mrs.
| Jones. Folks never used that room
| in your uncle's time. It was damp
and hadn't IL pleasant lookout Il
there was death in the family, they
always laid the corpse out there"
Nobody uses it now" said Lefty.
Its kept locked"
Then" said Mrs. Jones, "what IS
there light for?'
You must be mistaken" said Lefty
Mrs. Jones shrugged her shoulders.
L amt often mistook." said she.
But good-cvening! Much obliged
for the seed-corn.
And off she went, Enthusiastically in Il
huff.
Lefty and Julia looked at each other.
Julia" said the young wife, ''what
does this mean?'
Il don't know" whispered Julia.
SIS he deceiving me?"
sit looks like it. Lefty"
Julia, must get into that room!"
81 would if were you, Lefty"
eff there's no other way, I'll break
down the hinges with the axe"
''Oh, Lettyw
''Well, will But I don't think we
shall be driven to that. There's a
bunch of rusty old keys down in the
cellar that [ found yesterday. I'll oil
them up, and I'll try every one of them
first"
Julia chung trembling to her friend.
''Oh, Lefty" said she, ''are we do
inc right?'
Lefty was very pale, but resolute as
rock.
81 can't stand this suspense" said
she. II feel as if | we're moving
through a world of mysteries On,
Julia, Julia, take my advice and don't
ever get marriedw
Like two criminals the two women
crept downstairs to the cellar, lubri-
Gated the rusty keys with a bottle of
the best salad-oil, and then, carrying 8
dark-lantern so that Amanda should
not see them, crept upstairs again.
''Hark!" said Julia, cIutching at her
friends arm. ''What was that fright
ful cry?'
Only a screech-owl in the woods, :"
SOOthGd Lefty. owe often hear them
here"
'Oh, these dark dismal woodsw
fluttered Julia. ''Aren't you afraid
of them?"
II didn't used to be-" almost
sobbed Lefty. Il believe am now"
Julia held the light while Lefty,
trembling in every limb, adjusted key
after key, until atlast-oh, unexpected
good fortune!-the wards of one re-
volved slowly and cumbrously in the
corresponding grooves.
"Oh, dom open the door, whispered
Julia. ''Im afraid!"
Il win" protested Lefty, snatching
tho lantern from her friends hand.
Julia Mercer, [ didn't know you
were such a cOwardw
She flung the door wide open, re-
vealing a big gloomy room, whose air
was of vault-like chillness. High
up in bracket against the wall
cleaned a dim kerosene lamp, but be-
fore Lefty eyes could pierce the dark
ness, two balls Of fire seemed to CLEAN
across her vision, sound between a
bark and roar cleft the silence, and
something rushed past her like a
whirlwind, leaving u blast of hot
breath on her cheek.
She dropped the lantern with q
shrek, which was echoed by Julia,
and in second Amanda was at her
side.
You've done it now," was her curt
comment. elf you wanted to know
what was in the room so bad why
couldn't you have asked me?"
"What-what was it? gasped Lefty.
''Oh, take care! Won't it come back?'
''IJs bounced outen the back door
an into the woods, thank fortunew
said Amanda. Il didn't think it was
no luck when it came into the house"
Il ''W-was it mauiac?" faltered
Lefty.
La, child no! Only a wildcat that
Charley bought. And it was extra big
and fierce, almost like 4 panther, and
the Bridgeport Snowman was coming
after it tomorrow, with an iron cage
and keeper. SO your husband IS
tNenty pounds out of pocket, Mrs.
DOrand. and all through your curiosity.
But / told him. added Amanda re-
tlectvely, THAT the house wasn't
exactly the place to keep catamount
in. But he said that the barn locks
was all out of order. and as long as
you girls didn't know, YOU wouldn't
mind. And it would only be for a day
or two"
Lefty burst into tears.
Don't cry, said Amanda. II guess
he won't scold much
- am worse than Blucbeard's wife, :"
sobbed Lefty. "Oh. dear-oh. dear!,
And it was as much my fault as
yours" added brave Julia. IF he
scolds You, he shall scold me also"
But Charley did not scold at ALL He
only laughed at the mishap, even
while he trembed at the thought of
the wild beast being so near his young
wife.
The fact is said he, Il ought to
have told YOU all about it. But | was
afraid of frightening You and Julia
here"
And you won't call me Bluebeard's
wife?" laughed Lefty through Ter
tears.
Nor me Sister Annie?' added Julia.
Neither one nor tie other said
Charley the magnanimous.
And he kept his word.