The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-08-02

curiosity, when q singular sound, pro-
ceeding from the inside of the church.
fell on our ears, startling US more than
we cared to say.
"'What's that?' asked the story-teller,
half-rising, his face as pale as death.
Great Scott! what can it be-?
Each of US looked at the other as the
ominous sound ratified and rolled again.
Louder and louder, clatter, thump,
thump, chatter, as though dozen horses
were tramping overhead. had never
heard any thing quite like it.
"T'll not stay here said Jack Hale,
as the noise, after subsiding for mo-
ment, broke out again.
"'It's the wind, perhaps l said,
though / didn't believe it. sit down
and 60 on with your story
AS If l could, with that horrible
clatter going on! never heard such an
internal noise in my life-and in this
church, too, just the place to give one
the horrors! / just believe it's old
Parson jerks
"'Whos old Parson Jcnks? asked
Fred Gray. slight young fellow, very
boyish-looking.
- That's him. said Jack, pointing to
the picture of the man in clerical dress.
found dead in one of the rooms of this
old rectory; had been living alone for
some time, and as several hundred dol
lars of church money was missing, it
was thought by some that he had been
foully dealt by, though the coroner's
verdict was death from natural causes.
1 hate these old churches, anyhow-that
is, at night
"'We're not exactly in the church.
said Fred Gray. But should like to
know what that noise is
" Suppose we investigator / said.
and see if we can find out. Ny father
taught me to prove things. There must
be some reason, Of course, for the noise,
and don't believe in ghosts
II dared not say how much the story
of Parson jerks had affected me.
81 should think it was a hundred
something's Jack said, as the thunder
ing sounds began again. Its mules,
and they are racing
"'Mulesr laughed Fred. Fancy mules
in church. Even nine-pins would be
funny
"Who will carry the candle and 60
with me?' asked.
"'Not L. said Jack. You may count
me out
az WILL Fred Gray said. in resolute
voice, that gave the lie to his slight
figure and delicate features. 4 should
like to CO.
"Well, stay here, thank you,' said
Jack. No money would tempt me to
go into that poky old church tonight
"There is some reason for the noise,
! said, and I'm going to find what It is.
Come on, Gray
"Oh, come, don't leave fellow alone,
and its storming cats and dogs, too.
think we had all better leave and take
our chances
HE looked so miserable that for q
moment / wavered. 1t was, may be, a
foolish experiment. There was nc
chance Of lighting the church, but the
romance of the thing had got hold Of
me, and hated to give 1t up. 1 always
did hate to give up things / had once
tackled-you know that boys. The
harder my lessons, the more determined
was to master them. 1 suppose there
must be certain bulldog obstinacy in
my character. Well, thought for Z
moment, and looked over at the picture
of the poor old clergyman. 1 declare
it seemed to smile at my indecision.
That settled it
Nothing will hurt you here, Hale,
said, with the fire on one side and the
door on the other. I'm going
Fred Gray had lighted the candle at
the fire, and he followed me into the
study. The glazing lights showed
books everywhere, an open closet, in
which hung two or three ghostly-loolx
ing, white surplices, q stove, small
cabinet organ, and the large desk a
which the minister wrote his sermon.
every Saturday. remember noting fol
the first time . small statuette tina
stood on the back of the desk, and
thinking that had never seen it Their,
before. The door of the study opened
directly on the chancel, but as we wer,
passing through, puff of wind blew
the candle out Thoroughly excited b.
this time, and not little frightened
we CROPPED our way back to the den
clinging to each other. After knocking
down chairs, stumbling against thu
stove, and giving yourselves severa
slight bruises, we came at length to thu
room we had Just left Jack had beef
piling light wood on the fire. and thu
interior was one grand illumination
Never was sight more welcome.
"'Ah, ha! knocked out were you7
ieered Jack Hale. I thought you
courage would Dose out at your lingo
ends Az for me I'm on to the recto