Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-12-13


and back.
The early hours of the watch-meeting
passed agreeably. We had all gath
cred about the Westinghouse stove,
for the night was cloudy and bleak,
and after the usual hymn and opening
exercises, we amused ourselves by re-
lating our good resolves" for the New
Year. Many of these were admirable
and some very humorous. Mr.. Smith,
the little shoemaker of the place,
whose wife wSs very large and strong
and active, rose to say, with a twinkle
in his eye, that he had sadly neglected
his duty for the past twelve months,
but had now firmly resolved to beat
Mrs. Smith more frequently during
the year to come, to which Mrs. Smith
responded with a breezy laugh, "Id
like to see you begin.'
At about IL o'clock one of the
boys, who had been to the outer door,
returned to say that it was showing
fast and thick, and indeed, we could
family hear the icy flakes driving
against the window-panes. One of the
young ladies was playing, on the or
gan, the accompaniment to hymn
which many of the older people We're
singing.
Young Mr.. Reeves sat near me, with
quiet smile on his face, pOndering,
as l fancied, something which he
meant to say after the music. Sud
denly l felt him start, and glanced at
his face. His eyes We're bent on some
object, but he turned at once.
Don't lookw he whispered to me. 81
have seen that ghost. 1t is outside.
looking in at the opposite window.
Wait bit, then cast your eye in that
direction"
l did so, and saw as distinctly as 1
ever saw anything. long. white aw-
full face looking in. Much to my con-
sternation, it moved, and appeared to
nod several times.
Don't seem to notice it"' Mr.
Reeves whispered. "Sit quiet a mo-
ment. When the people move back
from the organ, we will steal out and
see what we can discover"
Recovering myself in moment. l
stepped quietly to the door, and few
moments later was joined by Mr..
Reeves in the dark entry.
We took our hats. and then. without
waiting to put on our overcoats. opened
the door carefully. Snow was falling
fast and drove in our faces: several
inches had fallen; but we dashed out,
doubled the corner of the house and
hurried toward the window
n great. dim. indistinct object was
standing there which appeared to melt
away suddenly, with but the softest
possible sound. 1t disappeared round
the other corner of the house. With
out speaking. we ran after it.
We could hardly see anything on ac-
count of the driving snow and dark
ness. yet we again discerned. dimly,
the great. indistinct object moving to-
ward the highway.
| confess | felt shivery sensation,
for the spectral appearance made
hardly an audible sound; but dashed
on. side by side with Mr.. Reeves.
We We're good runners, and made II
dash to catch the thing. In the road.
II few hundred feet from the church.
we came so near at one time that |
reached out my hand in hope to lay
hold of the apparition. but it glided
away only the faster and did not sue
ceed
And now we both heard kind of
regular mutiled noise. as of great feet
falling softly; and these audible evil
dences of physical substance stimulat-
ed us to continue the chase.
"Run il down." Mr.. Reeves said. In
a low voice. and l settled myself to
keep pace with him.
The snow hindered us little but not
wlthstanding our efforts the efiigy
drew away from us. We had lost sight
of 1t when we ran past the house of
Mr.. Mulhall, the storekeeper. but in
the very moment of passing, we heard
the large door of the stable creaking.
SO strange that we both stopped short
and turned back.
Entering The yard. we approached
the stable door. but found 1t closed.
There were slight noises inside. how
ever, and soon match CLEANED
through the crack of the door. ana
lantern was lighted.
TO our astenlshment. WE now per-
cciyed that the person inside was
Dives Tranchard, clad In white gar
ment and white can. and that he was
untying what looked like snowy bags
from the feet of Mulhalls old white
mare. Having taken of these mutIlers.
lrves next proceeded To- withdraw
large. white, honnetllke structure
from the mares head
When these singular trappngs werc
removed, he put the beast In her stall.
stripped off his own wslte garment
und cap. aud made the whole outfit
Into "a bundle. Then he extlnguIShed
the lantern. left the stable by u side
door. aud went to the house, which h.