The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-07-11


mainder OF the evening between tho
children's cribs.
'All went well next night. There
was no alarm TO summon US from our
papers and novels. and we went 10 bed
at eleven. Angela romarking that the
three cherubs were sleeping beauti-
I fully. and that Ii had been "A good
move 10 let Lucy bear the other two
company. was reused out OF sound
sleep by wild shrieks from the three
children.
What More bad dreams? This
sort OF thing must be put stop to.
said; and confess / was very angry
with the young rascals. My wife was
fumbling for the matchbox. .Hushr'
she whispered, there Is somebody In
the room And l. too. nj that instant
felt the presence OF some creature be-
sides ourselves and the children. The
candle lighted. We again reconnoitred
nothing To be seen In dressing-room.
bedroom. on the drawing-room be-
yOnd the door of which was shut.
But the curious sense OF presence
near us, stronger than any feeling OF
the kind ! had ever previously expert
enced. was gone. You have all felt
the presence OF another person unseen.
You may be writing. you have not
heard the door open. but though your
back is toward the visitor you know
somehow that he has entered"
Poor Angela, trembling. hung over
the cribs. trying 10 soothe the children.
IL was good while before they could
tell what happened. She came again.
said Hal and she came close. close To
me. and she put her cold face down
near my cheek till she touched me.
and ! don't like her; oh. | don't like
her. motherr
did she go TO Jack and Lucy,
tool?
Yes, yes; and she made them cry
as we'll
4" Why do you not like her? Is II
the black bonnet You dreamed OF a
black bonnet last night you know,
said half puzzled. half provoked
Z" She's so frightful cried Hal.
How could you see her? There
was no candle
This question perplexed the little
boys. They persisted that she had "A
light about her somewhere. | need
hardly say that there was no comfort
for ms the rest OF the night III any
one Is trying TO brighten us out OF the
place. I'll be even with him yet. said
! My wife believed that "A trick had
been played upon the children and she
was most indignant
Next day the cribs were removed
10 the upper story. and Charlotte and
Joanna, our daughters OF twelve and
fourteen, were put 10 sleep in the dress
ing-room. We predicted an end to the
annoyance we had been suffering. The
nurse was quick-tempered woman
who would not stand any nonsense. and
Halls bad dreams would be sternly
driven away. We settled ourselves 10
our comfortable light reading by the
drawing-room fire. Suddenly there
was commotion overi.ead; an outcry
surprised more than terrified IL
sounded 90 ms. Angela laid her book
down quickly and listened with all her
ears. Fast-nying footsteps were heard
above; the clapping OF door; then
scurry. scurry--the patter OF bare feet
down the staircase. We hurried across
the hall and saw Charlotte In her
night-gown returning slowly up the
kitchen stairs. with puzzled express
sion on her honest face.
{" What on earth are you doing.
childP" cried Angela
h" Il was giving chase 90 hideous
old woman In n black bonnet who
chose 10 intrude upon us. painted
Charlotte. i saw her In our room;
/ jumped out OF bed and pursued hor
through your room and the sitting
room Then | saw her before me go
ing downstairs. and / ran after her. but
the door at the foot OF the kitchen
staircase was shut She certainly could
not have had time 10 open IL. and /
really don't know where she can have
gone to-
This was Charlotte's explanation
OF her mad scurry downstairs. Her
downright sensible face was puzzled
and angry.
a. so you see the little ones must
have been tormented by that old wretch.
whoever she Is. They didn't dream IT.
father. as you thought. Wouldn't |
like TO punish her"
What a brave girl" cried Mrs.
Marchmont
'Brayep Oh. Charlotte's as bold as
lioni She went back to bed; and
when we followed her. in couple OF
hours. she was sleeping soundly. But
| can't say either OF us slept so well.
II trick was being played upon us. II
was carried out In so clever manner
az 10 battle me completely. need not
say that | made careful search OF
every Granny about the handsome
a A .sxl.