Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-11-29

out as stealthily as though you were
so many men getting in at two o'clock
in the morning"
Forty footpads never stole out more
cautiously than did we 40 girls, bent on
learning our fate. Once outside the big
white gate we knew we were safe and
we literally flew down the green road
to the mill. Within short distance of
the place we halted, and Bell said:
"You know, you must go alone. Throw
the ball of yarn in at the north win
dow; it is the lowest" she advised.
Some of the more timid ones protested
against going alone.
What is the use in playing the game
if you don't play it right ?" argued Bell.
''To be alone is the most essential
thing in all Halloween games."
Finally, after some argument, we
agreed to go alone, but who would go
first? No one had sufficient courage.
"ohl l will go myself" said Bell, ''if
no one else will"
We all fell back little and Bell went
over to the north side of the old mill
and in few minutes we heard her dis
tinctly repeat, in a clear voice: "As
Bell Monteith unwinds, OIL ruins,
canst thou tell who winds?" This
three times; then there was a mo-
ment's silence, followed by the most
terrific scream from Bell. We ran to
meet her as she came towards us.
What is it, Bell?" we asked. you
didn't hear anything, dear?" said Kit
tie Mather, winding her arms around
Bell. Hush! hush! Bell" as Bells
screams rent the evening air.
"Oh, girls, it was horrible, and
heard the name so distinctly"
"Why, Bell, you imagined it," per-
sisted Kittie.
81 tell you didn't, Kittie."
"Was it name, Bell?" we asked.
ooh, yes! yes!" she sobbed.
Some one you know?"
"Yes!" and she shuddered at the
thought.
ooh! 1 am so frightened" said a
timid little girl from Boston. "Let us
go back"
Nonsense" said Kittie. 81 will go
and throw my ball in to show you it
Is all Bells Imagination" Suiting the
action to the words, Kittie pushed past
us, on to the north window. In few
moments we heard her repeat her
lines. Then there was silence again.
This time there was no scream, but In
few minutes Kittie Joined US, pale
and trembling. Perhaps it was the
moonlight shining on her dark face
that made it look SO white, but
thought | had never seen anything In
life so ghastly.
did you hear anything, Kittie?" we
asked, staring at her.
Yes! l heard name; don't ask
me any more" she said.
By this time we We're thoroughly ex
cited. Had these girls really heard
anything, or did they imagine it. The
most courageous of our girls was Jen
ME Grant.
DO you think they heard anything
Jen?" l asked, moving over to where
Jennie stood.
NO" she said. II thought at first
they were pretending to be frightened
but l think now that their magma
lions have played them trick. l viii
go next, Emily, if you will follow"
| l agreed, and Jennie went bravely
up to the north window. The girl:
scarcely breathed while she repeated
her lines. Bells screams were nothing
| to the screams that came from Jennie
kittie and Bell seemed entirely recov
cred from their fright by this time
| and they ran to meet Jenny as she
| came up the hill.
Jennie, don't; you will have every
nun in the convent out?" pleaded Kit
tie.
But Jennie was in Mysteries now
and they might as we'll have talked t.
the wind. She laughed, and cried, anG
screamed by turns. Still, 1 couldn',
think that she had really heard any
thing, and 1 was more anxious nov
than ever to see for myself, SO Will,
the girls fused over Jenny stole w
to the north window, and, tall as 1 am
had to throw my ball of yarn away
over my head in order to have it reacl
the window, and waited. There was {
little tug at my yarn, and then, in deep
sepulchral tones, I heard the name
j. Sidney Orr
Gould you get anyone to substan
tiate this story, Emily? laughed Sid
ney.
II could procure at least 40 affida
'its," she said, looking the picture O.
truth.
How got away from there neve,
knew. knew nothing more until
found myself sitting on the academ,
steps. Then they told me some of the
other girls went to the ruins after
had been carried away, and that two
or three others had tainted, too, ant
Jennie Grant was still hysterical, ant
that they had to tell one of the sisters
and Jennie was in the dormitory now
under her care. We all went into tn,
eception-room then and the girls
(you know, there always are good GIRL
who never get into scrapes in school
1~Y q