The Georgetown news., 1856-02-28


sician. Those who dropped in thought the
miner had fallen into the hands of good Sa-
marltans. But when poor Zed, in the
weakness and nervousness of disease, watch
ed his grim nurses, he could think of moth
ing but the stories of the ogres that had
frightened his young fancy when he lolled
with his playfellows in the shadow of his
fathers hay-stacks.
At length Zed began to recover and to
talk. His attendants looked at each other
significantly. | suppose they were con-
graduating each other in their own smile
less way-fooliSh Zed imagined they were
grimacing with disappointment at not hav-
ing his gold. But events often take an I'M
expected turn. Zed died as soon as he be-
gan to recover.
The sisters looked sorrowful at the loss
of their boarder, and made loud lamenta-
tions and long shroud for him. While
they hastily stitched at the white robe, they
whispered and looked oft at the sheeted
corpse. Were they afraid the dead man
would arise and accuse them of guilt? Did
the silence frighten them? Or did they sad
ly miss his voice?
A few hours after the undertaken hustled
in, quickly disposed poor Zed in pine cof-
fin, nailed it tight with a few hard strokes,
and slid it into his black wagon with three
or four others. The driver cracked his
whip and jolted away on quick trot to-
wards the dismal valley of graves.
"Who have you there?" shouted the dig
ger, as he leaned for moment on his spade
watching the new arrival.
''I'm sure don't know That's none of
my business, was the grumbling reply.
"Well, dump 'em out quick" said the
waiting worker
Thump! thump! thump! There they all
lay on the ground, waiting to be hidden
under the sod. The men lighted their pipes
anew, and a half uttered joke was upon
their lips, when a low moan, distinctly
heard, cut short the words and left them
gazing at each other in shock of fear
They listened intently. A louder groan
succeeded, and then weak voice begged:
''Let me out! let me outY''
Words fairly uttered brought the bystan-
ders to their wits. Singing out the coffin
whence the sound proceeded, they were not
long in prying off the top. Up rose Zed
Wheeler-slowly enough. The rough tum-
BILE of the box had aroused him. He was
bewildered at finding himself so nearly bu-
ried alive, and the workmen could not yet
be assured that the tall, white-robed, ca
dayerous figure before them was true
spectre, and indeed, Zed was not quite sure
himself. The driver was careful not to
turn his back towards the doubtful appari-
tion till he beheld it sitting upon the coffin
in the black wagon, recounting yeritable
history, with his last recollections Off heavy
drowsiness, and the voices of his ogre nur-
ses discussing the hasty disposal Of his body
and appropriation Of his gold.
AS the wagon ratified into the city, the
citizens stared in amazement to behold a
ghost in the hearse, and not few, in super
stitious fear, made clear passage before it.
The guilty sisters were greedily weighing
gold when Zed's spectre appeared to them
Shrieks, confusion and arrest followed; but
as their victim gathered up his gold and
took passage in the first ship for New Y ork
they were released for want of evidence that
they had administered narcotic poison tc
their guest.
The ghost of San Francisco can be seer
any day on some of the Berkshire hills
stalking over the broad acres, and leaving
tracks too life-like to have been made by
boots more spiritual than those of Zed
Wheeler. Ballous Pictorial.