Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-01-16

binary man would have dismissed as
commonplace. Above all things, he
saw, in this curious suggestion OF
ghusfIy p~resences in the house, posi-
biIities too great to be thought of light
Ii. three or four times that evening.
While he sat deep in thought, he
changed the whole plan OF that wonder
full first act of his-set ing ghostly IF
fccts. Ii~n.elight. gduzes. and other
things which should MIKE for illusion.
In All probability. he .iad no distinct
belief in the matter: he merely regard
ed All he had heard as mere sugges-
ton. GO be used for HIS Own purposes.
Night drew on. and the lights gradu-
ally went OUT in the house; but stiil
Mr. Taggatt sat brooding over the last
lighted haIf-tnch OF candle IN the cam
diestick and planning surprising effects.
Mrs, Taggett had long since gone TO
bed, and the last outside business which
appealed to Mr.. Taggatt's waking
senses. was the Ginning Of a clock
somewhere outside. giving forth the
hour of,3. Mr.. Taggett woke from his
species OF half-doze and started to his
feet. The thought that had come 10
him in that dreadful silence OF the
place had sent a sort OF cold chill down
his spine; but he did o think of that.
In the cause of art and realism he was
brave.
III I could see for myself what the
place looks like" he muttered. THE
lights streaming in from moon and
stars outside through h windows: the
night wind rustling through broken
windows and rotten shutters. the rats
scuttIing behind the wainscot, the fur
niture taking on dim shapes in the
semi-darkness. I viii! I win" Mr..
Taggett clapped himself on the breast.
'sThen let the critics howl-let them
rave. I shall be able to say: This is
no effort of the mere Imagination! All
this have / seen-and felt-and
heard!'"
Now. Mr., Taggett felt bound in all
things he did to act the part. whatever
IL might be. to the life. In eating the
most simple meal he set about IL with a
flourish as though he presided at a
state banquet: poured out table bee
with the air of one filling golden COB
lets with rich wines: ard spread his
legs and his elbows TO the best advant-
age. The mere putting on OF his
clothes was a business which he per
formed with an indescribable air: and
he went to bed in the attitude Of a a
who expected 20 be reused from sium-
Der thirty seconds later with the lime
Tight fuiI on him. the dagger OF a hired
assassin at his throat, and a battle all
over the stage In prospect. Thus, on
this occasion. knowing that he had. in O
sense. to play the ghost. he determined
49, 49, - a g. -.x~&&s~~- Rn~-.
There was an old press In the corner
OF the press which had about
1t a suggestion of household linen. He
went to it and cautiously pulled II open.
There he found some carefully-foIded
sheets. taking out one OF them, he
shook il out to its full length. and then
drew It about him. He put it on. in
the fashion of those extraordinary
cl0aks. of no known shape. are some
times worn on the stage; with n end
thrown over his left shoulder and a
long TAN trailing behind. Thus equip
ped. he felt that he could meet any re-
spectacle ghost that happened to be
about. and look Ii in the face without
shame or confusion.
Lastly, as a precautionary measure.
end in order that he might glide along
in that silent fashion. most In favor
with the ghostly fraternity, he slipped
of his shoes. and stood ia his stocking
feet.
Now am I rea fy. \ have a thought
that I shall zee such things this night
as few men have ever seen. But ! care
not: / 60 forth In the sacred cause OF
art: and I know that his win bear
good fruit In the future. / am studying
az FIRST hand"
Mfr. Anthony Taggett crept dow.
staIra. stopping. with a quaking heart.
whenever a board creaked or whenever
he stumbled against any article OK fur
niture fiji the darkness. But all was
still as the grave. At last he gained
n lower foor, and was making for the
door which gave on to The garden with
greater confidence. when he became
aware Of a light bobbing along slowly
towards him. In an agony of dread.
he drew back fiat against the wall. with
a Eervent prayer on his lips that what
ever was coming might pass him by
and not see him.
But II was not to be: the light came
on. and behind II he saw the figure OF
the woman called Jemina, whom he
had seen ABOUT the mouse Defore. MT.
Taggett fully anticipated o scream. a
Cropping Of the light, a rousing OF the
house: he braced himself to be pre-
pared for anything
But Instead OF that. Jemirna stopped,
calmly. in front OF him. and slowly
waved the candle about. to take him In
from all points OF view: murmured, as
if 10 herself. THAT there Taggett
MANI calmly took a corner OF the
eheet between her finger and thumb.
Inc remarked, In the same tone. And
OF the 'ouse's best sheets!" With
that. she dropped the corner OF the
sheet and went bobbing along again,
updfsturbsd, to bel
"a most singular female" muttered
Mr.. Taggett, looking after her. IT won
der what shed do IL the house caught
fire!ss
He softly drew back the bolts OF the
big outer door and felt the cold night
wind blowing upon him. He had no
suspicion that there was n special
way into that u~nlnhaoited second
house; he had determined TO get out
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