Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-04-28

snfIe, anu lett MS nat unguafded for me
ment, only for one moment, but that wa
enough. With scream of triumph, th
wind caught it, and whisked it off into tn
darkness, and there he sat, bareheaded I
the beating of the pitiless rain. There wa
no help for it, that he knew at once, for th
hat must be miles away by this time, SO b
tied his handkerchief over his head, thougl
1t was very soon wet through, and drov
doggedly en- The rain got down his neck
and through the handkerchief, and unde
the handkerchief, and his eyes, 90 that b
could scarcely see. and into his ears, 8
that it sent cold shiver all through him
there was one particular cold and penetrat
ing drop that made him shake his head, q
1t went on its voyage of discovery into tn
inner cavities of his ear and all this tim
that brute Of horse was dodging, first o,
side and then on the other, and the yer,
hedgegrows as well as he could see b u
In the darkness, seemed, blown as the,
were with the wind, to be setting to on,
another in ghostly fashion; and it wa,
altogether the most uncomfortable driv,
that Mr.. Soper had ever had. But tn,
only thing to be done was to whip his hors.
and Keep him in as straight line as pos
sible.
tom Soperr'
He pnlled up suddenly, all in tremble
and looked over his shoulder, expecting tC
Ind some one in the spare seat of his gig
for the voice that called him seemed Close
to his ear, but no one was there; and ther
he peered into the darkness, right and left
and then, With an angry shake of hi.
shoulders. muttered, '.Bahl twas only fan
cy. What fool ami Get on, old horse. >
And, with lash of his whip. away he went
again, splashing through the mud.
tom Soper"
There was no mistake this time, vet,
though he turned round very sharply be
could see no one; and then his hair fairly
stood on end, except that portion that was
held down by the handkerchief
''Who's that?" said he.
"iou can't see me-" said the mysterious
voice. $50 it's no use looking"
''Who are your" asked Tom Soper.
''The Ghost of the Last Will and Testa-
ment of Lady Dudgeon.'
''Good Lordl" exclaimed the unhappy
man, and sat plump down on the wei cush-
ion; for he had stood up, you must UNDER
stand. when he looked around.
Yes, Tom It's all true what the Profess
sor said; yon can't destroy anything. You
thought Jou had destroyed me, didn't YOU,
when you threw me on the fire, and watch
ed the smoke go curling up the chimney?
But you didn't destroy me, you only killed
me. My body, the black cinder, was bur-
led In the dust-bin; my spirit, that smoke
you Satched, went mp the chimney and
joined the clouds Rather mixed company
up there, Tom, can assure you-aI sorts
of low forgeries and lies-so that am glad
to get down again; and now, at this pres
ent moment, Tom, I am snugly ensconed.
In the shape of drop of water, in your
right ear-noi it's no use, you can't get at
me with your hnger-and there mean to
remain until evaporise.''
'.Shall you be long evaporising, sir?" ask
ed Tom, humbly.
Yes. some timei 1 am such a big drop.
yeu see But, don't you make any mis-
take, you have not got rid of me when /
do. mean to take lodgings there, SO that
can run up-or. should say, run down
whenever like, and find myself at home.
mean to haunt you, Tom"
Good Lordf' said Tom, for the second
time, was ever man haunted with the
ghost OF last will and testament before?"
ferhaps not And, what lis more, there
isths ghost ofthe codicil somewhere about
I'll take lodgings in your other ear for him.
Tor shall be sure to meet him in my ram
bings abroad"
Heaven defend mer' said Tom, 'for l
am AN old man, and very repentant."
AN, Iom, Tom! how could you do such
thingF Robbing that poor girl of her
money, not to mention the five hundred
pounds LEFT to the clergyman in the codicil.
DO" could you find it in your conscience
to rob that good man and that innocent girl.
eh?"
81 had no conscience then" said Tom.
whimpering. ''but it has grown upon me
since, and I'm very sorry; and I'll build
another literary and scientific institution
if you'll leave Of haunting me-"
Literary and scientific institution! Rub-
bishl'
"I1l leave all my money to the poor
'It won't do, Tom, it won't do. You must
set the wrong right"
''Give up the money!" sain Tom, in great
fear.
well, ! might ask you to do that with
perfect justice, and to paw interest for the
time you have had it; but I won't do that.
for reason best known to myself"
"You don't mean that have not l,no In
live?" he was more frightened now than
ever.
s.Never mind what / mean," said the
voice, 'oniy when people have come to
your age they shouldn't get wet through.
Ii you had not burnt the will. you would
no. nave nao the money! and If You had
not had the money; you would not have
built the literary snd scientific institution;
and If you had not built the literary and
scientific institution, you would not have
been here tonight; and if you had not
been here tonight, you would not have
got wet through; and if you had not GOT
wet through, you would not have
ahemr'
What shall dol oh, what shall dor
said Tom. 81 am 80 very sory.' ~
'You must do this" said the ghost "and
very fast. You must make
your viii at once-the very first thing to-
morrow morning."
$50 pressing as that?" murmured Tom
Soper.
Sand, in the first place, You must leave
that five hundred pounds to the clergyman;
he has sixteen children already, and will
be very glad of the money" -
"Yes, yes" said Tom Soper: "IU do
that, and leave the rest to Fanny Cham
pion."
'.No such thing! Leave half TO Fanny
Champion, and the other half to Jerry
Simpson"
"Mr. jerry Simpson, and what has he
done?"
''When Fanny was living with the old
lady, Jerry fell in love with her, but was
too proud, or .co modest or too something
or other-you wocld think too foolish-to
say anything to her, as she was then look
ed upon IS an heiress But, since the alter,
ed state of circumstances, Jerry has spoken
out, and they have got themselves engaged
to one another, but cannot marry Just yet
for want of means Row, If you leave all
the monsy to Fanny Jerry's spirit viii be
mp in arms again, and no one can say what
viii follow; but you leave it between them,
and it viii make thi-Igs right"
I viii will But would il be hon
est to depart from the terms of the
the = - n -.
'srhe b,tcs win Bail how can ron
talk of honesty and the burnt will in the
same BREATH Do as bid you; and if You
do not, 90 much the worse. But / can't
stay, I'm going fast Here the voice be-.
came very faint. "Tm evaporating, Tom,
or Id stay with great deal of pleasure.