The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-05-11

seemed to be of a different mind, an
the wind got its way. Mr.. Soper ha
put down his whip, and clapped hi
hand upon this coveted property, an
bad he kept it there the victory ha.
been his; but the wind was not to b
bafHed like. that it made feignet
attack On the apron, which was wei
buttoned down, and would have resist
ed all efforts at dislodgement, but Mr.
Soper, forgetting this, fell into tn
snare, and left his hat unguarded fo
a moment, only for one moment, bu
that was enough. With scream o
triumph, the wind caught it, anr
! whisked it off into the darkness, anc
there he sat, bareheaded to the beat
ing Of the pitiless rain. There wa.
no help for it, that he knew at once
for the hat must be miles away by this
time, so he tied his handkerchief over
his head, though it was very soon wet
through, and drove doggedly on. The
rain got down his neck, and through
the handkerchief, and under the hand
kerchief, and his eyes, so that he could
scarcely see, and into his ears, so that
it seEt a cold shiver all through him
there was one particular cold and
penetrating drop that made him shake
his head, as it went on its voyage OF
discovery into the inner cavities of his
ear-and all this time that brute of a
horse was lodging, first one side and
then on the other, aud the very hedge
rows as well as he could sees them in
the darkness, seemed, blown as they
were with the wind, to be setting 10
one another IN q ghostly fashion; and
it was altogether the most uncomfort-
able drive that Mr.. Soper had ever
had. But the only thing 10 be done
was to whip his horse and keep him in
as straight a line..as possible.
tom Soper I"
He pulled up suddenly, all in q
tremble, and looked over his shoulder,
to find 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 then
he pecred into the darkness, right and
left, and thea. with an angry shake of
his shoulders, muttered, ssBah twas
only fancy. What fool 1 am! Get
On, old horse" And, with a lash of
his whip, away lie went again, splash.
ing through the mud.
Tom Soper!"
There was no mistake this time,
yet, though he turned round very
sharply ,she could see no one; and
hen his hair fairly stood on end, ex-
,ept that portion that was held down
oy the handkerchief.
"Who's that ?" said he.
"You can't see me-" said the mys-
.erious voice, $50 sssno use looking"
"Who are you?" asked Tom Soper.
"The Ghost of the Last Will and |
Testament of Lady Dudgeon."
Good Lord /" exclaimed the un-
lappy man, and sat plump down on
he wet cushion; for lie had stood up.
'eu must understand, when he looked |
Iround. ...,
eyes. Tom, tits all true what the
Professor said {; you can't destroy any
hing You thought you had destroy
d me, didn't you, when you threw
ne on the fire, and watched the smoke
% curling up the chimney? But you
lidn't destroy me, yon only killed me.
ny body, the black scinder, was bur-
ed in the dust-bin; my spirit,
hat smoke you watched, went up the
Kinney and joined the clouds. Rath-
+ mixed company up there, Tom, 1
All assure you-all sorts of low for
cries and lies and lies-so that l am
lad to get down again; and now, at
his present moment, Tom, am snug,
r ensconcd, in the shape of drop of
Tater, in your right ear-no! it's no
sc, you can't get at me with your
nger-and there 1 mean to remain
ntil l evaporise." |
"Shall you be long evaporising, sir?'
sked Tom, humbly.
Eyes, some time = l am such big
rop, you see. But, don't you make
ny mistake, you have not got rid of
,e when l do. ! mean to take lodg-
lgs there, so that l can run up-or
should say, run down-whenever I
ke, and find myself at home. I mean
, haunt you, Tom" - - /
'Good Lord !" said Tom, for the b.
,cond time. "was ever man haunted ;
ith the ghost of a last will and testa-
lent before - ---. 5..-..
Perhaps not. And, what is more, .
lere is the ghost of the codicil some =,
here about Pll take lodgings in ,
our other ear for him, for I shall be :
Ire to meet him in my ramblings
broad"
Heaven defend mel" said Tom, J,
for I am an old man, and very re- ,
entant.'
.tAh, Tom how could you do such :
thing? Robbing that poor girl of
er money, not to mention the five
lndred pounds left to the clergyman
the codicil. How could you find it
your conscience to rob that good
an and that innocent girl, eh ?"
''I had no conscience then," said
ON, whimpering, "but it has grown t
pom me since, and Pm very sorry 8
i'd I'll build another literary and i
ientific institution if you'll leave off v
aunting me-" /
Literary and scientific institution :! o
ubbish T. '"4 or t
"I'll leave all my money to the poor e
hen die. Z" O
"It won't do Tom, it won't do. You i
ust set the wrong right" 6
"Give up the money!" said Tom, t
great fear. s+ '''i'
"Weil, 1 might ask you to do that a
ith perfect justice, and to pay inter i
t for the time you have had it; but I
won't do that, for q reason best n