The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-06-21

I "Nonsense" replied my sister Hattie.
with 4 little, nervous laugh. ITS only
the wind, or a mouse stirring there"
Hattie glanced apprehensively over
her shoulder in the direction indicated.
quite white and startled.
How foolish it was of US to think Of
staying two whole nights in this great
old house alone! I wish Cousin Jack
We're here, for if a ghost were really to
make its appearance what should we
= ever do"
II ain not so much afraid Of ghosts
troubling us as l am of robbers. Thank
heaven. all the doors are locked, and no
pne car get in without Our hearing
them said l.
During the absence Of u parents,
who had gone to visit a sick relative
living in 4 neighboring town. my sister
Hattie and I had volunteered to stay ut
home and take charge of affairs until
their return. The only person besides
Yourselves in the housed great. ramb-
Ding old structure. with many chimneys
HIND gables and weather-stained porches
Hwas a female domestic. who slept in
p remote chamber on the first floor. We
went up to our room early in the even
fng, for we felt a little timid in spite Of
kthe often expressed assertion that we
were notta bit afraid.
The silver was kept in a small safe
n my mothers apartments, which COM
m%unicated with ours and could not be
reached otherwise without going
through a long hall, the door Of which
was both locked and bolted on the in.
side. The noise that had 50 startled us
was unlike anything I had ever before
heard-a kind Of stealthy. uncertain
.ustling. as if made unintentionally
and entirely against the will of what
ever or whoever it was that oc~casioted
i.
Naturally courageous, and accus-
toned to acting as well as thinking for
myself, I arose, locked the door,
dropped the shade, and took a look
iround the room. No sign of either
ghost or robber was to be seen.
"a brave pair we arc, l must say"
laid I. taking a volume Of ScotEs
boems from the table and beginning to
cad aloud from the Lay Of the Last
Minstrel" but l had scarcely read
three lines before the same low,
TRANCE rustling sound was heard
gain.
Hattie quickly turned and looked in
uiringly at the big closet in the cor
Ter. the door Of which stood partly
pen. A large. old fashioned oak chest
lFas in n corner. and above it hung
resses. skirts. wraps and ladies' ap-
|arels of all kinds.
ut must surely be a mouse. Grace,
or there can't be anything else in the
loset," said Hattie. in a frightened
Ehisper.
! got up and flung the closet door
tide open and gave the skirts q vigor-
ns shake. l ever mounted the old
hest and took a prolonged survey of
be upper shelves. moving bonnet
oxcs and shawlS and everything
fithin my reach. but mouse there was
ane, nor any indication that one had
Eer been there.
ut is very odd" observed Hattie. in
low tone, noting ~an1iously the result
my search. II wonder is there truly
Re any such things as SPIRITS?
"Of course not. We are only q little
errous, for there is really nothing
PRE-" and I gave the skirts another
bake by way OF adding point to my
ords.
Hattie said Ito more and I resumed
y scat. firmly determined not to again
low my fears to get the better of my
asop.
Hattie, after a while. said she would
to bed, and I might have Scott and
e ghost all to myself. But it was
Their lonely sitting up all alone, so l
ought the wisest thing I could do
as to follow her example-but not
It'll I had again made sure that the
Por was locked and had placed a
AIDED lamp on the stand at the head
the bed.
1t must have been near eleven O'Clock
ben I was awakened, not by a sound,
+ I did not hear any, but by some.
ing that seemed like a shadow pass,
g between Inc and the light.
! sprang up without disturbing Hat.
!, and looked everywhere about the
ON for some sign of the mysterious
essence, or whatever it was that had
nnpieasantly awakened me; but
" nothing.
drew up the shade and looked out
the lawn. Absolute silence reignet
erywhere. With a sigh Of relief
lew down the shade again and re
rned to bed; but l could not sleep
d lay for more than hour gazing alb
ntly at the faint ray of light tina
immered across the carpet ant
fled, wan and shadow-like, on tn
IL.
Presently l saw the lid Of the oil
k chest slowly rise, and two fierc
hck eyes. framed in 4 matted mas
long, jet-Diack hair, pecred eau
usly forth. My heart stood still: til
bod seemed freezing in my veins
il I felt for 4 moment as If I shoul,
/ Of sheer terror.