The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-03
can tell your wife the same thing from

Nh'NiNN Tie IOOIl.
why. Arthur" she cried. what has
disturbed YOU
Arthur deigned not to cnlighten her
then. but plunged at once into a vigor-
GUS plan of his own for setting his
household m example.
"tlorimel, my dear" he said. II am
thinking Of changing my sleeping
apartment. | shall take the little
chamber in the wing-the back one on
the ground floor. with the porch cut
side and the vines running all over the
window. BE good enough to have the
room thrown open and aired to-day. l
shall occupy it tomorrow night"
Mr.. Whiting had rented the manor
house as the last occupant left it-fur-
nished. The rector. its owner. had
placed it in the hands of an agent i'm
mrdintely after the sad accident that
belell his daughter. and had taken the
rest of his family abroad. 1t had not
occurred to Mr.. Whiting tlat the e.
night was that deliciously horrible gala
night of the Spooks, HallOwe 'en.
Stephens quaked in his shoes as he
lighted his master TO the ground floor
chamber at . o'clock and the latter
turned disappearing eye on his trem-
bling hands as the suffering candle
they held quivered n~ervously, and the
fellow stared superstitiously into the
black gulf beyond the rays of light.
When he was alone he speedily lost
himself in his book. SO absorbed was
he that he did not hear Miss Writings
low rap at the door until it was re-
peated more emphatically and her
voice said through the keyhole:
arthur, if YOU have not yet retired.
open the door. | have something for
YOU
When he had obeyed he was con-
fronted by his sister and Il dainty tray
of smoking pippins.
"IIave you clean forgotten that this
is Hallowc'en!' prattled Miss Flori-
mel, cheerily. "Why Art! what a
sleepy head you are growing to be,
with your everlasting books and ink
pots-in your old age, | was going to
say. but 4S is young. l am 80 myself,
tilb SNN W L navy W NNS my idNul-
ties for US both!
You ought to be ashamed-we
haven't missed keeping Halloween in
at least forty-live years-you haven't.
that is. I've kept it ever since | could
remember, and There now, do
close that book, and sit down and toast
your feet by the fire and drink the ale
while it's warm. Good night, dear"
Mr.. Whiting blew out the candle and
pulled the curtains aside to let in the
bright moonlight. But the thick vine
tendrils outside, still loaded down with
their luxurious LEAKAGE of crimson and
frecklcd gold, barred the way SO that
only Il CLEAN of silvery light struggled
through into the inner darkness. There
was Il suspicious dimness in the glass
us seen by the uncertain light. too,
which suggested duSt-the bachelors
! pet adherence. He drew a long track
down the obscure pane with his fore
finger. Yes. the glass was thick with
it. He threw up the sash, and pen
knife in hand began the work of de-
%StructiOn. In ten minutes time not Il
| single tendril remained clinging to the
window. through which Il flood of fair
est moonlight poured, subdued Il little
by the thick veil of dust.
Suddenly as he fingered there look
ing out upon the pleasant landscape,
he was conscious of a faint, dim pro-
file between himself and the outer
! world. He rubbed his eyes and looked
| again %intently. 1t was gone-no, the
faintest shadow of Il shape still re-
| manned, like Il thought underlined. He
| snatched his flannel penwiper off the
desk and hastily rubbed it over the
dusty glass, that he might see more
clearly. Then he quickly threw up the
sash and stepped out onto the little
| porch beneath. Not Il moving thing in
| sight.
"Pshaw!' he muttered to himself.
with an impatient laugh at his folly,
has the silly tattle of the country
turned my brain. too. l wonder:'
But soon that unpleasant conscious
ness of Il mysterious presence intruded
on the would-be sleeper again, this
time strongly. With Il low exclamation
| of disgust at himself and everything in
general. he raised himself upon his ell
bow and looked toward the window.
with difficulty restraining Il positive
| start as he did SO, for. clearer than be-
fore, it appeared aEain-a distinct face
and figure. apparently standing just
outside the window pane, III Il position
sideWiSe to him.
Mr.. Whiting could not have de-
scribed it. so unreal waS the experience.
even while its spell was on. He leaned
q little forward to see the eyes. Were
thcy open: only on the faces Of
sleeping children was h Il expression
.f utt.f. obIiviou TO be seen. Wis WAS