The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-18

upon his knees, and was rapidly securing
the floor with small stick of what looked
like n black cosmetic. In few moments
no trace of the blood stain could be seen.
81 know Pinkerton would do it," he
exclaimed triumphantly, as he looked
round at his admiring family; but no
sooner had he said these words than a
terrible flash of lightning lit up the SOM
Der room, fearful peal of thunder m EIDE
them sll start to their feet, and Mrs. [ m
ney tainted.
'What moustrous climaiep' said the
American minister calmly, as he lit long
cheroot. 81 guess the old country is so
oyer-populated that they have not enough
decent weather for everybody. / have
always been of opinion that emigration is
the only thing for England"
MY dear Hiram" cried Mrs. Otis,
what can we do with woman who
faints?''
Charge it to her like breakages," an
swered the minister; "she won't faint
after that"
And in few moments Mrs. Umnsy GER
tainly came to. There was no doubt, how
ever, that she was extremely upset. and
she sternly warned Mr.. Otis TO beware of
some trouble coming to the house.
Il have seen things with my own eyes,
sir" she said, that would make any
Christians hair stand on end and many
and many night l have not closed my
eyes in sleep for the awful things that are
done here"
Mr.. Otis, however, and his wife warmly
assured the honest soul that they were
not afraid OF ghosts; and, after invoking
the blessings of providence on her new
master and mistress, and making arrange
ments for an increase in salary, the old
housekeeper tottered of TO her own room.
H.
The storm ragged fiercely all that night,
but nothing OF particular note occurred.
The next morning, however, when they
came down to breakfast, they found the
terrible stain of blood once again on the
floor. a don't think it can be the fault
of the Paragon Detergent" said Washing
ton, ''for have tried it with everything.
1t must be the ghost" He accordingly
rubbed out the stain second time, but
the second morning it appeared again.
The third morning also it was there,
though the library had been locked up at
night by Mr.. Otis himself. and the kew
carried upstairs. The whole family were
now quite interested. Mr.. Otis began to
suspect that he had been too dogmatic in
his denial of the existence OF ghosts. Mrs.
Otis expressed her intention OF joining the
Psychieal society, and Washington pre-
pared long letter TO Messrs. Myers and
Podmore on the subject of the permsnence
of sanguineous stains when connected
with crime. That night ali doubts about
the objective existence of phantasmaLa
were removed forever.
The dav had been warm and sunny,
and in the cool of the evening the whole
, family went out to drive. They did not
return home till 9 o'clock, when they had
light supper. The conversation in no
way turned upon ghosts, so there were not
even those primary conditions of receptive
expectation which so often precede the
presentation of physical phenomena. The
subjects discussed as have since learned
from Mr.. Otis, were merely such as form
the ordinary conversation OF cultured
Americans of the better class, such as the
immense superiority OF Miss Fannie DAY.
export over Sarah Bernhard as an ac-
tress; the difficulty OF obtaining green
corn, buckwhe2t cakes, and homiDy. even
in the best English houses; the import
ance of Boston in the development of the
world-soul; the advantages Of the baggage
check system in railway travelling; and the
sweetness of the New York accent as COM
pared TO the London drawi. No mention
at all was made of the supernatural. nor
was Sir Simon de Canterville alluded to in
any way. At IL o'clock the family retired,
and by IL so all the lights were out. Some
time after, Mr.. Otis was awakened by a
curious noise in the corridor, outside bis
room IL sounded like the clank OF metal.
and seemed 10 be coming nearer every
moment He got up at once, struck
match, and looked at the time. IL was
exactly o'clock. He was quite calm, and
felt his pulse, which was not at all fever
ish. The strange noise still continued,
and with il he heard distinctly the sound
of footsteps. He pot on his slippers, took
a small oblong p hal out Of his dressing
case, and opened the door. Right in front
of him be saw, in the wan moonlight an
old man Of terrible aspect. His eyes were
a. red burning Goals; long gray hair fell
over bis shoulders in matted coils: his
| garments, which were Of antique cut,
were soiled and ragged, and from his wrists
and ankles hung heavy manscles and
rusty gives.
"My dear sir" said Mr.. Otis, 81 really
| must insist on your oiling those chains,
and have brought you for that purpose a
| small bottle of the TammaEy Rising Sun
Lubricator. IL is said 10 be completely
eIuCdCiOub upOu OuO hppiCdsiouf anu tncIe
are several testimonials TO that effect on
the wrapper from some of our most emil
nsnt native divines. l shall leave it here
| for you BY the bedroom candles. and will
be happy to supply you with more should
you require it," With these words the
! u. s. minister laid the bottle down on a
marble table, and, closing his door, retired
] 70 rest.
I For a moment the Canterville ghost
stood quite motionless in natusal indigna-
ton; and then. dashing the bottle VIC
lently upon the polished floor, he fled
down the corridor, uttering hollow groans
! and emitting a CHASTITY green light. Just,
however, as he reached the top of the
great oak staircase a door was flung open,
two little white-robed figures appeared,
and large pillow whizzed past his head
| There was evidently no time TO be lost.
so, hastily adopting the Fourth Dimension
OF Space as a means of escape, he vanished
through the wainscoting, and the house
became quite quiet
On reaching a small secret chamber in
the left wing he leaned up against moon
beam to recover his breath, and began to
| try and realize bis position. Never, in a
brilliant and uninterrupted career of 800
years, had he been 80 grossly insulted.
He thought of the Dowager Duchess,
4 urhnrn ka nod fxfohtanad into n a. NJ a d a