The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-12-02

swear without apparently listening to my
lies-they were nothing less-and at last
went down stairs again and took my place
at the table in furious passion Our
previous deceptions bad never gone as far
as this, and felt myself sneak from the
tips of my fingers to the toes of my boots.
Gus PIaS i, most prepOsterous aud outrage
| We could never as. l reflected savagcly
listened to her? Why had |
As we deyoured our soup we could ~
footsteps trampling about excitedly and
irregularly overhead. Then there was
sudden silence 1t was the lull before the
storm
Scarcely had the fish been removed than
series of loud bangs, resounded on the
panels up stairs. Uncle Simon started
nervously. Ella became crimson and muir
INJURED something about ''rousing baby.
! took no notice but went on grimly carv-
ing the fowl before NE.
"WilI you take leg or wing, tncle?'
| said shortly.
"a leg, boy Indignantly "What are
you thinking of? I'll take wing-the
liver wing-of course"
I hastily apologized and said | was
thinking of something else. $50 | was
I was thinking of Uncle Gregory.
Bang bang bang from above.
''Good gracious what is that?" exclaim-
ed Uncle Simon, in tcne expressive of
alarm and amazement
"What is what?' l asked coldly, without
raising my eyes from my plate.
"That most extraordinary noise, Chas. p
went on my uncle, in much agitation. "Is
it possible you do not hear it p
Il hear the wind rising" replied
calmly, II fear we shall have storm. =
Happily, the wind had risen by this time,
and was blowing pretty stiffiy.) Pray
help yourself to claret, uncle" continued;
Il think you will find it good.
There was short silence after this,
broken by the walls of the baby, who had
reused up at last Ella fed upstairs, and
| engaged my uncle in polite and easy
conversation.
Suddenly, just as Mr. Finicker was
launched on lengthy TRADE upon the
agrarian outrages in Ireland, the banging
began again with renewed fury.
What on earth could the old fellow be
doing, wondered wretchedly, as the un-
mistakable crash of broken glass or crockery
Cor BOTH sounded overhead There was
no saying what he might do for Mr.. Car
per, when aroused, was nothing less than a
mailman, and he was evidently reused now.
"Good Heavens boy, what is that
noise ?" exclaimed my uncle, starting from
his chair.
''What noise, uncle?" | said, with a
CHASTITY smile. "You are nervous tonight
| fear
"Nervous Listen to that, and that
and that y he continued, fiercely. "Have
you lunatic or wild beast concealed in
your house, sir?''
/ listened hypocritically for a few mo,
ments.
~ certainly do hear sounds, | said
then, in doubtful tones BY this time
the noise was enough to waken the dead
sounds Why you must be deaf oil
an idiot, sir. It's pandemonium, l tell you
nothing less"
MY dear uncle, replied gently" com
pose youself. Those-er-sounds are,
regret to say, of frequent occurrence
When the wind is high, as it is tonight
the noise is positively deafeniug" CT
certainly was. 81 will go up after dinner
and fasten the skylights in the atties.
They have been left open, probably. The
house is said to be haunted; but that is all
nonsense, of course
"Haunted = repeated my uncle, glanc-
ing over his shoulder nervously, Haunted
That is very unpleasant II never knew
that
"No?' | returned in careless tones.
"We certainly hear some most unaccoun-
table noises. But one gets accustomed to
them in time Do have some more claret
Though spoke thus calmly was in
wardly consumed with rage and mortfca-
ton and shame However. there was no
help for it. 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 resolved desperately.
"You were speaking of the Irish ques-
ton" | observed in courteous tones, max
ing myself heard as well as could amid
the appalling row overhead. Il quite
agree with you that something will have to
be done C'By Jovel'' l calculated men
tally, Something will have to be done, or
my wifes uncle will be through the ceiling
on to the dining-table!'9
Uncle Simon helped himself to claret
and glanced upward.
"It-it seems to be in the room above, g
he said, in helpless, irritatcd kind of way
"Oh, it is sometimes in one part of the
house, sometimes in another" answered
carelessly. "'rhe curious thing is that /
have known weeks to pass without our
hearing any peculiar noises at ALL You
we're not disturbed during your last visit,