Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-01-10

1900 - 10y RStNHso NSAhNIJ lASAA4-
long after the others had gone to bed.
The dimly glowing embers of real
oId-fashioned log fire on the hearth gave
the only light we had or wanted.
Now and then little Pickering flame
suddenly blazing and as quickly dying
out, made dancing ghostly shadows fl
about We spacious apartment, giving il
the weird and spooky appearance oul
romantic minds desired.
At the foot of the winding staircase
stood an ancient suit of knightly armor,
complete even to its visor drawn and its
mailed right hand grasping its battle
spear, which, no doubt, had in its day
unhorsed and pierced many valiant foe.
At the top Of the frst stair landing
was "srln father clock" ticking ia
loudest as il trying to tell two giddy
girls that after midnight it was proper
tor them 10 be in the land OF dreams an
not be wasting the precious sIumbcr
time in talking nonsense.
But its mournful "tick-tock, tick
took" only made our hobgoblin sur
rOuldiDGs more enjoyable and the old
knight in armor grimly watching us saw
but merry looks and heard only sup
pressed laughter, an maybe, a few glrl
secrets for his pains.
Not another sound echoed THROUGH
tie big sitting room hall save sometimes
the rising wind outside slamming a
shutter or moaning through the trees on
the lawn or drearily whistling down the
hue chimney before US.
Although the romance of our situation
vas delightful in the extreme, By and
by It begau to impress itself in all its IN.
caGuy spookiness upon our senses.
We became quiete-, and though wish
ing to seek our cosy bed chamber abovi
We dreaded going to 1t through til i
COON of the long stairs and upper hall
and so, yet we fingered below By th3
dying ire.
Say, Luce!" said my chun Kate,
after sTeil of dismal silence, "suppose
that ugly old knight by the stairs should
step down ana come for us-what would
you do.'
- wo.II Just run for my life, l
eUcs', answered, while the thought
made cold clil.srlu over me, "and YOU'D
r.n for yours too, brave as you are. Lets
GO to bed, Kate.
80, no hurry she laughed, "I like
it bC.e 5Tmcn-e.v. dare you to 30 ur
and touch tie i fellow. Say, Luce,
migh,n't here be q real, live man inside
that amor nov. A regular bloody
burglar, for in .tsucc, waiting for US 10
pa.s him and tIcn GRAB US tc choke
cur screams aai cut our throats. be-
l.eye l saw it move. There! Look I'm
sure it made a noise. See its eyes star.
isg right at yOu now"
could feel my hair trying TO erect it
self and in spite OF the righteousness Of.
tie ;hinG being aught but an empty shell
! fCIt awlu!iY Ike screaming and then
isinting dead away, Kate, seeing my
terror, kept on.
"Im sure its alive" she whispered,
and watching Us. There! it moved
a gain
20, KATE I gasped, more scared
than l wanted to admit, "do please stop
tslkiRg s.. I'm not afraid, Of course,
81, I don't think you ought to try to
scare person. II isn't right. Come,
l,t', 20 to bed, it must be after l o'clock.
What will my folks say when they know
IL"
"Weil, Luce, you 20 first and seq if
its sa,c to get past that old barbarian.
Thetc, lie moved again. I'm sure a
san's inside the armor."
NO. Wen go upstairs together" l
poke, give me your hand"
Kae evidently had frightened herself
aore than me for her hand trembled as
teok It. "Nowp' boldly whispered,
'csmc." And away wo dashed py
lie grim sentinel and up into my room.
After l had locked the door in the
IsrS ] found match and lighted
,and.e standing on the dressing table, I
md Kate and both looked into the I,
;iass-to see who was the whitest, I
e
Then VIC began laughing. az never
bought you was such coward, Luce, I
aid Kate, "Ehere's all your college !
,riti"
'Ana where's yours2" I answered, !
'ysu were more scared than l. Why. I
on haven't nerve enough to haze a /
or play tricks on a professor. " |
And so we bantered each other Us we /
prepared for our needed rest.
Then bl rirg out the candle, we both !
aid our ;uortest college prayer, and !
umpcd f2to bed.
But we couldn't sleep till our excite
.ent subsidized, aud so we talked. !
"Whas would you do, Kate" 1
.ked, "in real danger' WoulI you
amt or 50 into hysterics1"
Neither, Luce" she'laughed. "I'm
ot built that way. I'd be as cool as a
ucumber, and as brave as lion in any
mergency. often wish had chaneo
0 prove it.n
That's my case, exactly" earnestly
I'D. 81 may be frightened at-at
cuse, for instance, but I don't think
a robber-could scare me.
herel l forgot to open the window for
T. Ill do it now"
Out Of bed got and lifted the window
iade and stood for moment gazing cn
lie lawn. The SKY had been overcast ia
io esIIE evening, DlL now the broken |
ouds were flying before the wind. The
i moon, lately risen, shed enough |
cams on the soft snow to make the night
Fec: Of light ard shade weirdly beauti-
Il, particularly about the large ever
,ees trees Sayin in the gale.
As watched the dark shadows they
.s; 90 tue snow when the moon peered
rsIgh the cloud riffs. my attention 6
A directed to tue tree nearest my win.
~. Its shadow seemed strange, I q
ought, and at times looked as II some !
ing or somebody was moving under or
ound the dense branches. 7
Finally l whispered to Kate to come !
ke peep, too. I
"There's something alive there, that's
rta:n," she SAID, after moments in =
nse gazing, "but don't let it see us. L
seP out OF the moonlight. Goodness! r
S a man-two of them. What can they L
up tOl" IA