The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-06-14
every instance the supernatural has been

, ike the warm weather vanished rap
idly.
Fathers farming experience was very
limited, and the crops, taking advan-
tage of this fact, were also limited. To
make our cup of sorrow full to over
flowing, father was taken sick with a
slow fever.
For the first time since we moved
wished we were back in the city, There
were 50 many things | could to earn a
little money, if | were only there. 1t
was no use wishing, however, for what
could not be, so Helen and l tried to
content ourselves by ransacking the
house from top to bottom for grandfath
ers money. Not one peEny could we
find, and our faith in its discnvery-not
very strong in the first place-grew
beautifully less.
The days dragged wearily on, cheered
only by the knowledge that father was
growing stronger.
One night after Helen and had gone
to our room, noticed she was excited
about something. She did not undress,
but sat on the foot of the bed and watch
ed me as I braided my hair for the
night.
Well, little sphinx, said at last, what
are you dreaming about2
Then she deigned to open her lips.
Janet, do you know what day of the
month it isf
After thinking moment, | said:
The 18th, isn't it?
The IA of what?
Why, of December,
Then as it occurred to me why she was
so anxious about the date, | looked at
her IN surprise.
You are asking me these questions be
cause you are thinking of that story
about great grandmother's ghost, Helen
Dayton. | hope you are not silly enough
to believe it.
| don't know whether to believe it or
not, but Aunt Nina says she has seen it
ever so many times, If there is really a
ghost it will be fun to watch and see it
ourselves,
If you are foolish enough to believe
everything an old negro tells you, am
sorry for you, l said scornfully. One
thing is sure, if anybody watches for
ghosts tonight, it wont be Janet Day
ton.
If you don't watch with me I shall
watch alone she cried very determin-
edly.
After doing all | could to persuade
her to give up her foolish plan and see
ing she was determined to go alone if |
did not go with her, at last consented
to hide with he behind the great sofa
in the hall and watch for ghosts.
| We waited till we heard the clock
strike twelve; then. slipping off our
shoes, we crept out into the hall and
hid behind the sofa.
1t seemed to me we had been hidden
hours. | was growing sleepy and tired,
when Helen grasped my arm so fiercely
that nearly screamed aloud, and point
ed exctedly toward the back stairs. |
glanced down the dim hall lighted only
by the moonlight and saw-a figure all
in white walking or floating toward the
garret door. The door was partly open,
and the ghost disappeared up the
stairs.
Helen took my hand
Como, shs -.'hispa-al, ~aa rose to her
feet.
confess | was frightened. My heart
beat 50 | could scarcely breathe, but |
wasn't quite coward enough to stay be-
hind and let Helen go on alone; so fol
lowed with trembling limbs.
Softly we stole up the garret stairs
and paused at the top, No ghost was IN
sight. Moving on a few steps, we glanc
ed toward the front of the garret. The
moonlight streaming in through the
window at that end made a path Of
light on the floor. and crouched upon it
before the chest that held our great
grandmother's dress, was the ghost we
were looking for.
Grasping the stair rail | closed my
eyes and shook from head to foot. Open
ing them in IA moment | saw that Helen,
keeping in the shadow as much as pos
sible, was creeping nearer our ghostly
visitor. Not daring to be left alone, |
followed.
As we drew near the chest n strange
noise reached our ears. 1t sounded like
the gnashing of teeth. The moment
Helen heard it she sprang forward with
n scream and endeavOred to grasp the
ghost. With a shrill cry it sprang up.
| caught a glimpse of dark object
flashing by me, then rushed to Helen
She sat upon the floor shaking with
laughter and holding white robe in
her hands.
Helen Helen! Are you crazyP What
was it? cried.
When she was able to speak, she
said;
Oh, Janet, our ghost is nothing more
or less than Tom Dana's pet ape,
Jocko.
And she went off in another gale of
laughter, in which tremulously join
ed.
BY this time father and mother,
awakened by Helen's screams and the
apes cry, came hurriedly up stairs with
a light. Before they could speak we
rushed TO them and told our story.
when we reached the place where we
introduced Jocko as the ghost they
laughed as heartily as we.
What led you to suppose that the
ape was playing ghost, Helen, asked
father.
Why, she replied, when we first came
here helped Jessie Dana make this
robe and very tall white cap for Jocko
to wear when we play charades; he
makes a splendid servant. When | saw
him kneeling in the moonlight thought
his head gear looked very familiar, but
| wasn't sure it was Jocko till | heard
him chatter. Then / knew it must be
the little fellow and nothing else.
HOW COulu nc ScV llE lhqullou iiVVH-
er.
Probably through the cellar window,
said father. 1t hasn't been closed since
we moved here.
He must have been here before. or he
would not know the way so well,l said
What could he be doing up here so late
at nightg
have heard Jessie Dana say that he
is great thief; perhaps he was hiding
sOmpthinp let's look and see.