Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-04-19

Shaw was deaf to rumors pursuing the
even tenor of his way, more regardful OF
wagon tongues than human tongues, NOV
ing more among wagon bodies than hu-
man bodies. No man could bring charge
against the character of Halman Shaw
abe was good enough sort of a man in
his way, and made good work" So said
the Buck brothers, for whom he built
heavy log wagons.
In the course of events the wife Of
Mr.. Burt, the pastor, went into decline,
and his son Will, a mischievOus blade Of
sixteen, was despatched to Mr.. Shaw's
shop from time to time to procure tar for
an ingredient in the domestic medicine
which the invalid lady made to remedy
her disease. Will, upon the occasion of
one of these errands, found Halman Shaw
alone. The old man had become famil-
lar with the boy; he admired his intelli-
gence and INDUCED his good -natured, off
hand behavior. viii, encouraged by
Mr. Shaw's familiarity, had several times
referred to the deserted house as Spook
Hall, and Hobgoblin Roost. Rolling
over upon the work bench in front of the
wheelwright, he said:
What do you think saw in your old
rat castle, last night, when I was going
to bed?"
"a ghost, of course" returned Shaw,
pleasantly,
GA ghost sure enough. Tell me why
you don't rent it, and I'll tell you what
he said"
"I'll wager this tar you was frighten-
ed ont of your senses, jumped into bed
and covered up your head"
a specter all in white, head white;
it beekoned me from the east window"
continued VIII, seriously.
Mr. Shaw looked at the boy inquiring-
ly.
q drew on me coat, went softly out
at the back door, crept between the pales
Of the fence, and FASTENED to obey the
summons of the airy creatuIe on the sec
ond floor"
"And what did he say?" asked Shaw.
"Let me into your secret and I will
diyu1ce mine"
"Here's your tar, you rocuc-eo."
"Theu you will not tell me ?"
al know and my son knows, and that's
enough to know"
" I must reveal my secret to you, or I
shall have that intangible fomale appear
ing before me every night, and that would
not be so pleasant; such sights make a
fellow feel shaky, spite of his courage"
"Go on, and conclude as soon as pos
sible;" and Shaw shove his plane vigor-
ousIy"
Well, then, I said, In the name of
God, what do you want?" The white
figure raised her arms and placed her
hands upon my head, OhOugh I could
feel no weight and she said in a voice
so low 1 could scarcely hear it. Hail
William Burt, blessed art thou among
boys; go to Halman Shaw and tell him
his son Mckenzie must marry Becky"
Before the sentence was finished, Hal
man Shaw dropped his plane, and looked
wildly ct the boy, calculated, My God!
William Burt, what do you mean ?"
"Oh you do see know something
about Nineveh."
Fudge" said the old man, recover
ing and addressing himself to the piece
of wood before him.
Skeptical still See here, said VIII,
drawing from his pocket neatly written
note, This which the apparition gave
Inc at parting, will prove that you know
and your son knows, but that is not
enough to know. Listen, Il am sorry
to disappoint you, dear Mac, but love
another better than you, and 1 feel that
it would be injustice both to you and my
self to marry you according to arrange
ment, tomorrow night. Please pardon
me for deferring till so late an hour, and
think of me kindly if you can. I ask no
more. BECKY" ."
There, how Is that, Mr. Shawl"
Strange" muttered the old man,
walking up and down excitedly. Then
confronting the boy, he said, .'Give me
that paper"
"Oh, no; am not to let this go out
of my hands Who knows what might
happen? It is coming on dark now the
divil might catch me and pour this tar
all over ne before I get home, and tar is
an awful thing to burn, you know"
Devil take all the ministers sons
get out of my shop, boy No. come here,
viii, and he whispered in his ear, "say
nothing about this to anybody, and you
shall hear all about my old house soon"
Will had not been gone half an hour
when Mac Shaw entered his fathers pres
ence. He detected his agitation, when
Mr.. Shaw inquired:
"HOw long has John Ware been
dead2"