Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-03-03
a SpOOK story.

Don't look in that trunk; that's
Uncle Ned's. See here! How will this
brown velvet do?"
"Oh, papa don't like brown, and
neither do |, because Mr.. Samuels,
who is always getting drunk, wears
brown" said little Pearl, with a dis
dainful toss of her pretty golden head.
Here is some beautiful maroon col
ored plush, and know papa will be
sure to think it pretty" said lnez.
"Oh, yes! let's go down now and get
mamma to listen. What was that?
Oh, look, look" suddenly exclaimed
Pearl, pointing to an open place in the
wall.
AS they gazed they saw two fiery
eyes ga ing back at them.
The two girls gave piercing shrek
as they fled down stairs.
"Oh, mamma, mamma, we saw a
ghost" they both exclaimed as they
rushed into their mothers room.
"Why, children, what do you mean?
What was it YOU SAW" she asked.
why, we were up in the garnet
hunting for something to make a slip
per case for papa, and just as we
turned to come down stairs we saw two
large eyes that looked like fire in that
open place in the wall, exclaimed Inez
breathlessly.
"Oh, dear! I'll rever, never go in
that horrid garnet again." sobbed
Pearl.
at was rat if it was anything, l
guess" said mamma,
"No, mamma. l don't think it was
a rat"
"Why, of course it wasn't rat"
exclaimed Pearl.
well, we will go and see if it is
there still; come children, said
mamma.
"Oh, I'm afraid" gasped Inez.
80 am ], J." declared / earl.
why, what brave little girls
have"
The girls hung their heads, but fl,
lowed their mother up to the garnet.
Il guess you naughty girls didn't
see anything; you know there are no
ghosts" said mamma. She pulled
boxes and trunks about, and peered
behind cupboards, wardrobes, etc, but
could not find or hear anything.
Here is a box you haven't moved
YET" called out IneZ, who, growing
bold, had venturcd out to assist in the
search.
just as she pulled the box from the
wall something sprang from behind it
and ran across the room, and d:sap-
peared behind the wall.
he girls ran for the door, but were
not so frightened now, as their mother
was W tn them. When they left the
garnet there was queer twinkle in
mammals eyes.
81 guess it was a cat, wasn't it, NAM
MAJ" asked lnez, who had got peep
at it,"
Il suppose we will have to decide in
that way" answered mamma, laugh
ingly.
"Jh, we have left our plush in the
garnet door, suddenly exclaimed Pearl,
when they We're about down stpirs.
"Wait Inez, and I'll go and get Il"
She had recovered from her fright af
ter the verdict of the cat.
A few minutes later, IneI and her
mother, on looking mp to see if Pearl
was coming, saw ner standing trans
fixed in the doorway, dumb with ter
ror.
Mamma fastened to her feet, bat be-
fore she reached the door she heard
the scalnpering of feet. Pearl turned,
and uttering 4 piercing shrie'l, fell
fainting in her mothers arms.
Come here and help me get Pearl
Il ,wn stairs"
"Oh, mamma, | don't want to come
near the old garrett" walled Jnez.
In little while Pearl opened her
.\I bora 90 ba \
mamma! | saw that horrid thing stand.
ing with its arms stretched ont as il
it vas going to catch me, and | was
awfully frightened; | know it wasn't
cat
You just mag ned YOU saw some.
thing, | guess.
"No, 1 do believe l saw real
ghost"
"Where is it you saw ghost?" said
new voice
"Oh, Uncle Ned! Inez md | saw
ghost in the garnet, but mamma will
rot believe it; don't you 'spect it is a
ghost?"
la, ha, ha" laughed Uncle Ned.
I'm sure l can't say until l see it." he
said.
The days pa sed swi fly 10y until
Christmas morning arrived. when Isari
aud lnez had ventured up tie garnet
door on their tip-tCes.
AS they stood peering into the room,
they heard a low moan like n person
in distress, then small being, more
like dwarf than anything they could
think of, IAN swiftly across the room
and into the open plao in the wall.
AS it disappeared the girls turned
and fed down stairs
THE ghost! the ghost! We have
seen the ghost again, they cried, as
they rushed into Uncle Ned's room,
where he sat reading.
He sprang mp as they ran in, but
when they told hin what they had
seen, he laughed until the tears chased
each other down his face.
"Please come up and hunt the hor-
rid thing out; please do, Uncle Ned"
they pleaded.
well, girls. I'll try to clear the
mystery, but you will have to go with
me or 1 might die of fright if should
go alone"
When they reached the door he
cried out: mamie! Mamie!"
"O-o-oh, the girls cried, as little
animal ran up to Unc.e Ned, and be-
gan to eat some nuts from his hand.
"Why, children! why are You look
ing SO friphtenedp This is q monkey