Milford chronicle., 1888-09-07

At supper was very quiet. I obeyed
implicitly and refused the third piece of
cake which was kindly offered to me by
my mother, a circumstance never known
to have happened before. My mother was
considerably astonished, and more so
when announced my intention Of going
up to bed and kissed her fond good
night. As I fingered on the steps could
hear her make some kind remark, to
which my father very cruelly answered,
''Boshw and went on with his reading.
Ten o'clock struck on the church clock.
/ could hear them about to 90 to bed; now
they were coming up the stairs; now they
had gone into their room. Here was my
opportunity, so I stole softly down stairs
with my boots in my hand, looking more
like thief than hero, fact which | ac-
knowledged to myself as I came face to
fuce with the mirror in the hall. To un-
lock the side door was short work; to run
down to the summer house in the garden
and get my candles, water and matches
was the next task. Then / went to where
my fathers small boat lay under the gar
den on the rocks.
The rope was easy to undo and the tide
pretty high, so / was soon rowing out to-
ward the black mass in front. The spirits
at last would have their rest.
That ! was frightened5I will not deny,
but the night was so clear and the moon
seemed so friendly that ! took courage,
and besides, it was only half-past 10 and
nothing would appear until IL. l had
nearly two good honrs yet.
The old man-o'- war seemed very lonely
when l approached 1t. The figure head
appeared to regard me with less friendly
glance than in day time, but | did not
care. got up to the deck slowly and
with great quiet. ! could hear my heart
beat as l looked around and realized for
the first time my utter loneliness. Could
bear to meet the ghosts if they should
appear2 Clearly / could not. And it was
getting later, too; what if anything white
should come before midnight Why, it
would be terriblel Ny courage was fast
falling; l wouldn't have stayed there
until -, not even to be Lord Nelson him
self.
But stay something might be done,
even in my absence. \ brilliant idea,
and a safe onel 1 went to the center of
the ship, trembling in every limb. lit
my two candles and set them down, and
then, in a voice broken with fear, began
slowly to read the opening chapter In
Caesar" "Gallia est omnis divisa in
parties tres"-and so 1 kept up until fin
ished the first page, and laid the book
down open at the place. Then poured
the holy water around in great profusiOn.
"Now, thought I, what more can
do? Here is everything ready, all the
materials at hand, and if the ghosts come
and want to get released let them go
through the ceremony themselves. The
candles are lit, my Cesar is at their dis
TeTsn i 1s,aN
going home" And thereupon l ran
quickly to my boat and rowed as if a
thousand fends were following me, no
longer a hero, but much frightened boy.
As good luck would have it got in
safely gained my room, undressed, and
then, with feeling of great restfulness,
took my position at the window. Twelve
o'clock struck. Nothing could be seen on
board the Bellona, but had no doubt
that strange things were taking place
there. watched carefully, was getting
sleepy-so sleepy-and finally, without
my knowing it, l dropped on the floor
asleep.
Great heavensi" what was that?" The
whole house seemed to rock and sway and
a mighty noise as Of thunder sounded in
my ears. rushed to the window. There
where the man-o' war had been mighty
sheet Of flame burst forth. It was a
frightful sight. The villagers were
crowding on the quay in abject terror.
My father rushed down and called out in
anger: ''Breslin, some miscreant has
fired the gunpowder stored on that old
hulk. See that no one leaves here to-
night"
1 saw it all now; gunpowder had been
the mysterious cargo, after all. That was
why my father had asked about pipes.
My candles had done the work. The old
ship was gone; the ghosts had been laidl
And 1 hid my head under the sheets and
made no movement that night, and in the
morning, when every one was talking
about the explosion, there was one young
gentleman who had no theory and who
had slept through it all-and that young
gentleman was myself. E. s." in
Philadelphia Times.