The true northerner., 1872-10-25

Il
il no disgrace to say that we ran OFT in
a perfect panic, never stopping till we
were back at the tavern.
We had seen ghost. And by the
next day everybody knew it, and talked
Of nothing else.
And when Sunday came, the con.
gregation in the church kept casting
| furitive glances out into the church
yard, and at noon little groups were TO
be seen examining the places where the
specter had appeared
Good Mr.. Gran ger was scandalized; and
all the deacons-especially old Deacon
Grover-denounced the "spook as
"mockery, or device of Satan"
But only the next night, as the worthy
| deacon was going to call on his pastor,
| the spook suddenly rose from the path
| in front of him, and waved him back.
At first the old man-if we may credit
his account-had withstood it, abjuring
it, in the name of Heaven, to give place.
But it wouldn't bulge. And the deacon
had in the end fled back to his dwelling
in as great fright as we had fled from
the church-yard.
general hubbub throughout the parish.
Everybody was on the lookout; and
during the next fortnight more than a
dozen persons had got glimpse Of the
spook. The most absurd and ridicu.
lous accounts were current respecting
il. The church.yard seemed 10 be the
favorite resort-Friday nights at least.
Indeed, so rampant grew the stories
as to endanger the faith and spiritual
welfare of the church; so at least Par
son Granger thought. And after con-
sultation with his deacons, it was de-
cided that, as Gods servant, it was
their duty to confront and appease the
spirit, if it were a good one; or by vir
tue of their piety and parochial office,
to drive it off, if, as most suspected, it
was a foul one. And, as the spook was
nearly nocturnal in its habits, and
must be met on its own ground, they
agreed to 90 to the church.yard the
next Friday evening, and there con
front" it.
Zeke and heard of this decision, and
resolved to be of the party. Or as they
might (very properly object to such an
unsanctified addition rs ourselves, we
concluded to follow them, unknown,
and watch the proceedings from some
safe covert. l really don't think we
would have cared TO so there alone, but
with so many good Christians ahead
there would be little risk for in case
of any sudden manifestations, we
Judged we could get oil as fast as any of
them.
well rec all that Friday evening.
Zeke and ! were on the lookout, and
at eight o'clock saw Mr.. Granger and
his deacons sally forth from the par.
sonage, and take their way 10 the
church-yard.
The moon had not risen and we fol
lowed them unobserved as far rs the
gate, where we concealed ourselves in q
clump of raspberry bushes, in such a
way as TO command view of what
went on in the yard through the chinks
in the fence. But the spook was in no
hurry and for long time its would be
interviewers had nothing better to do
than to sit on the tombstones and pace
up and down the walk through the CEN
ter of the yard.
An hour or two passed; but mean
while tAe moon rose, making ii little
lighter.
"Call rather too early" whispered
Zeke.
May not appear at ALL" said l.
Another hour passed. We were be.
ginning to wish ourselves at home, when
a sudden exclamation from Mr.. Gran.
,.o,, oo,,,a 10 o,tr aaps
"There there I is whispered
Zeke, pointing to a distant corner OF
the yard.
Sure enough, Just emerging from
some low cedars which bordered one of
the lots, was the form in white. For a
moment it paused, as if uncertain, then
glided straight toward the intruding
party.
Pause, spirit y cried Granger, ner.
vously: "whether good or evil, stand
still and answer us y
And, with solemn gestures, the spook
came straight for the speaker, extending
its arms as if to clasp him. Mr.. Gran.
ger shrank back upon the nearest
deacon, who shrank in turn behind his
fellow. In short, they all shrank and
by way Of shrinking little faster
turned and ran. In trice, and be
fore we could get up out of the briers
they were scampering out at the gate
with the spook not two rods behinG
them.
We crouched down and watched witt
sort of curious fascination.
At the gate the figure stopped mo
ment, threw hasty glance around
then darted on after the fugitive dea
cons, who were pounding along dowr
the frozen road, trying to keep up will
their pastor. But as it sprang ava,
something white luttered in the moon
light, and fell TO the ground-some
thing that looked like pocket hand
! kerch ief.
A sudden suspicion shot into m,
head. And as the phantom dsap
peared beyond the church, boundeC
out and secured the-yes, it was
handkerchief.
In a .jiffy we were out of the briers,a ,anC
viding behind couple of headstones
We hadn't long to wait, either, for in
few minutes the spook came back
shaking with suppressed emotion. w,
waited till she was abreast of us, ther
rose up in our turn. The ghost jumped
back.
''Oho! old lady - cried Zeke. lean