Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-08-21

to cling to the moldering baluatrade like dense curtains of crape. Peggy was grow ing uneasy, and, too nervous to converse, sat shivering on the edge of the steps, white faced and alert.
 Ancil leaned against the polished railing and listened with the air of a martyr.
 Doubtless they were both martyrs to foolish freak, and I, relenting, was on the point of saying ''quits," when something arrested my attention. I was conscious Of a stealthy movement in the corridor above, and 1t seemed to me felt, rather than heard, the manifestation, if such an expression IS allowable Peggy held her breath, and, put ting her finger on her lip, signifed: ''Si- lence; istenr'
 A sound as of some one walking wearily about with muffled step cameto our ears at intervals, and l fancied Sir Rupert was restin 2 between marches. This continued l for some time.
 l Back and forth through the corridor | went the weary, painful march of unseen | feet, with the moments of rest sandwiched l in at regular intervals.
 "A very methodical ghost," I said to 1 Peggy. "Hush !' she whispered, and shut up like clam.
 Then weary sigh hoated down the long | staircase, and l felt rather uncomfortable to think the plot was thickening so fast in | favor of Sir Rupert.
 Surely my theory was in danger already of being exploded by the persistent spirit. But while we listened the manifestations grew fainter and fainter, as if disgusted | with the fruitless tramp, tramp, and the sound of footsteps had died out altogether when the soft, indistinct tread as of some one in their stockinged feet was plainly heard on the landing just above us. and | fancied Q sort of murmured whispering
 seemed very near us.
 This was more than Peggy and Ancil had
 contracted for and their precipitate flight
 was something wonderful to behold. They
 rushed from the foot of the staircase across
 to the side entrance through which we
 came in; there they paused in the open
 doorway, Peggy beckoninR frantically foi
 me to follow. followed her, seeing that
 such a terror had seized them. And ir
 fact I, myself, began to feel "creepy' anc
 imagined I could hear the repentant con
 fession of the hapless old man i'll my wake
 Pausing at the passage-way, l instantly
 regainsd my self-possession and siRniliet
 my intention of returning to the foot of th'
 staircase. Peggy demonstrated, and hnall.
 said that if "must jine hans with thu
 spirit," why, must go alone, as she should
 not return.
 "Al right, Peggy" I said; "wait for m
 here, will you?"
 | 1d1Lu VI VIII II CuC AAoSlAuA AOA U fur gittin' afthur me too airnestly," sh replied, shivering with fear and excitement was in for the whole manifestation, an If 1 should pause now from some squeamis notion of danger should always regretm having done so.
 The open passage-way made very col draught, connecting the outdoor curren of raw night air with the one formed in tn
 stairway, and felt rather uncomfortable 7 so wrapping my loose cloak about my chill 3 form I retraced my steps, and leanin 7 against column midway of the hall wal
 ed further developments.
 ,, 'Pshaw!' said feeling ashamed of ou
 inglorious retreat, and began taking mysc I to task, mentally, for so doing, when th
 ;ndistinct footballs came on down stairs. l trained every nerve to catch every sount