Year: 1873


shades of evening were falling, we found
even these were not able to lend an all
of romance to the place. 1t was the
most unromantic, unghostly looking
house possible, being, in fact, nothing
more nor less than perky villa, of the
kind usually abutting ON the main thor
oughfare of suburb.


Chester had the key, and between lis
we had brought material for mild SYM
postum. We did not want to give warn
ing to the aborigines of our nocturnal
visit, by purchasing articles on the spot,
so we brought down everything
candles-with us, and we had every rea-
son to believe we entered the house un-
perceived by any one.


" Brush" was the first to make an in
spection of the basement, and we did the
same with the whole mansion, peering
into every hole and corner capable of
containing the ghost of deceased
mouse. 1t did not take us long; for the



dry articles of furniture left behind by
the last family who had skedaddled-all
the heavier movables, in fact. We light
ed candles, therefore, in the front parlor,
closed the shutters and drew the cur
tains, so as not to attract attention from
outside, and then paused to deliberate
on the plan of proceeding.


We had no notion so we agreed to sit
where we were, in the front parlor, and
if the ghost did not put in an appear
ance there, try another etage afterward.
We We're quite prepared to "make a
night of it, Or any number of nights,
for the matter of that.


Brown, Jones and Robinson, who as
sumed the humble position of " supers"
on this occasion, lighted pipes, and after
duly gaining permission, devoted them
selves to the unspiritual amusement of
three-penny loo. "Brush" coiled him
self up on the hearth rug, having no
doubt exercised his imagination SO far
as to fancy there was good fire in front
of him. We-that is, Tom Chester and
myself-as the chief actors of the occa-
sion, devoted ourselves to semi-spiritual
conversation, so as to keep ourselves en-
rapport with any ghost who might wish
to communicate with us.


We had purposely left open the doors
of both the front and back parlors COM
municating with the passage or entrance
hall, and also the folding doors between
the two rooms, so that we might hear
any noises about the house, and also
place no material obstacle in the way of
the ghosts entrance, if he thought proper
to pay us his respects.


OF course the stairs creaked, and the
boards in the floor and cupboard doors
creaked in the usual way, and, as they
did SO, drew our eyes ever and anon to
the door in expectation of seeing some
thing. There We're noises like things
tumbling down in the kitchen, and the
equally lucid explanation of rats, etc
Gradually the Saturday night brawlers
in the cockney village grew quiet, and as
the church clock struck twelve, Chester
enunciated, in his most sepulchral tone,
the words:


"'Tis now the very wtchng time of night,


When graveyards yawn--"


81 wouldn't continue the quotation"
I said; "it is suggestive, to say the
least"


The trio, tired of their loo, began to
look insufferably bored; and Brown, or
Jones, or Robinson was in the act of
making up the following practical re-
mark: "Last up train gone; we're in
for the night now," when-how shall 1
describe what occurred? The first thing
that struck us all simultaneously was
the sensation of an intensely cold
draught of air-so we should have
termed it under ordinary circumstances
rather, let me say, violent cold
wind, which chilled us all to the mar
row, making our flesh creep and our
teeth chatter.


Unlike ordinary drafts, however, this
came with sufficient force to blow wide
the door of the back parlor, which had
previously stood half, or perhaps three
quarters open, with a bang. 1t was a
deep house, though, and the back parlor
door was, therefore, quite out in the
darkness SO after preliminary start,
to which none of us need have been
ashamed to plead guilty, we sat straining
our eyes into the gloom to see what was
coming next.


One of the trio very feebly remarked
that the ghost must be the spirit of
departed Esquimaux, and had brought
the north wind with him.


1t may safely be said that none of the
party was in the least degree frightened
up to this point Tom Chester's remark
was to the purpose


Somebody has quietly opened a
door down stairs, and let in that draft.
Well soon find out. Hi, 'Brush!"


No need to call Brush He was
wide awake directly the back door
opened; but, to our astonishment, in
stead of rushino at the door. he bolted