Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-07-25

be doing? I wondered wretchedly, as
the unmistakable crash of broken glass
or crockery Tor both) sounded over
head. There was no saying what he
might do, for Mr. Carper, when
aroused, was nothing less than mad
man, and he was evidently reused now.
''Good heavens, boy, what Is that
noiseP" exclaimed my uncle. starting
from his chair. Il
"What noise, uncle?" L said, witRa
ghastly smile. "You are nervous to-
night, l fear''
''NervousI Listen to that, and that,
and thatl" he continued fer cely.
Have you lunatic or a wild beast
concealed in your house, sir?"
L listened hypocritically for a few
moments.
81 certainly do hear sounds" said
then. in doubtful tones. (By this time
the noise was enough to waken the
dead.)
"SoundsI Why, you must be deaf
or an idiot, sir! It's pandemonium, l
tell you-nothing less"
My dear uncle," l replied, gently,
compose yourself. Those-er-sounds
are, regret to say, Of frequent occur
renee. When the wind is high, as it Is
ing" Ut certainly was.) Il will gs
up after dinner and fasten the skylights
in the attics. 7 hey have been left
open, probably. The house is said to
be haunted, but that is all nonsense, OF
course"
Haunted" repeated my uncle.
glancing over his shoulder nervously.
"Hauntedl That is very unpleasant.
IL never knew tharD
"No?" 1 returned in careless tones.
"We certainly hear some most unac-
countable noises. But one gets accus-
toned to them In time. Do have some
more claret.''
Though 1 spoke thus calmly, was
Inwardly consumed with rage and NOR
tiicatIon and shame. However, there
was no help for it. l must keep it up
now at all events; and by and by that
maniac upstairs, would surely in the
course of nature tire himself out. /
simply could not go and tell him any
more lies. Things must take their
course. I.resolved, desperately.
"You were speaking OF the Irish
question:" L observed, in courteous
tones (making myself heard as well as
could amid the appalling row over
head.) SCI quite agree with you that
something will have to be done BY
Jove!" calculated mentally, "some-
thing will have to be done. or my
wIfe's uncle Will be through the ceiling
On to the dining tablet"
Uncle Simon helped himself 10 claret
and glanced upward.
lit seems to be in the room
kind of way.
s.nh q, I. aop,attpnau In ops mart og
the house, sometimes in another" /
answered carelessly. The curious
thing is that have known weeks to
pass without our hearing any peculiar
noises at all. You were not disturbed
during your last visit, IL 1 remember
rightly. But, pardon me, yon were
speaking of Mr. GiaIstone's policy in
regard to Ireland, were you notr'
"Ah. yes, yesI It is atrociousI The
man Is becoming unbearsble!" resumed
my uncle testify (alluding, OF course, to
Mr.. Gladstone, and not to the concealed
enemy up stairs "It is-but bless
my soul, boy, will that noise 60 on all
night?'
Here a terrific crash, followed by
piercing yell, so startled poor Uncle
Simon that he sprang to his feet, over
turned his chair, and spilled his wine
all over the tablecloth."
''We will go into the other room,"
1 said, seeing that the poor old fellow
was as white as sheet. 1--WE shall
not be disturbed there"
We accordingly went into the draw
ing room, where we found Ella playing
merry jigs and reels upon the piano.
The noise upstairs had abruptly ceased.
After a game or two OF cribbage, In
which 1 cut but sorry figure, sug-
gested, backed up by Ella. that my
uncle looked very tired. and alluded
10 his projected early start In the
morning. He agreed he was tired, and
after a couple glasses OF brandy and
water he went to bed.
An ominous silence meanwhile pre-
vailed In the pink room.
When we were alone / turned to
Ella and said in voice Of suppressed
fury.
"WeIl, madam, may I ask what you
propose doing nowp 1 swear this Is the
last time L shall have anything to do
with such confounded tomfoolery. 1
never felt so contemplate in my life.
Your uncle and mine may leave their
money To the Irish Land League or TO
the devil for all care" 1 continued,
pacing up and down the room in q
towering passion. "I refuse to take
part any longer in your mean, deceitful
practices"
This was distinctly unjust, of course,
as well as rdde, and Ella fired up at
once, saying that it was as much my
ia ult as hers, etc.
"Hold your tongue, madam" l
thundered, goaded past endurance
Here there was an extraordinary,
inexplicable. muffled kind Of noise from
the direction OF the pink room.
seized a candle and rushed up stairs.
II hope and trust he may not have
had a fit OF apoplexy,"I muttsred, be-
tween my set teeth, as we reached the
door. All was silent.
-"where is the key?" 1 said shortly.
But Ella hesitated.
Uncle" she said timldly through
the key-hole, s'we have found an old
key that we think will open the door.
The locksmith did not come"
L listened, appalled,, to this glib per-
version of the truth, and wondered il
It had ever been practiced upon Inc.
Still. all was silent
1.-The room is quite dark. Charley"
said my wife nervously, as she pro-
ceeded to fit the key into the lock.
In another moment the door was
open. and gust OF wind almost extin-
guished my candle. held 1t aloft with
a whistle OF dismsy; for what . scene
met our eyesi The room was strewn
with manned and disfigured furniture;
the mirror was cracked right across;
the crockery was smashed, and the
lower half of the window appeared to
have entirely vanished. And oh, hor-
rori the pale pink window curtains, the
bed curtains, the covers of the chairs
were stained here and there with deep
crimson. But where was Uncle Gre
CORY?
He had disappeared. The room was
emptyl
Ella, after Mortified glance around,
uttered a series OF piercing screams.
"Hushl" 1 exclaimed, seizing her
arm viciously. ''Have you lost your
senses? You will wake Uncle Simon.n
But she sobbed and cried, and de-
rla rod hvsfaric2lIy that T1ncIA Groonrv