Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-02-20
a GHOST STORY.

i. had sat for two hours in the snug,
: coffee-room of the Four Swans,
: am, and had ordered nothing, not
la bedroom or q cup of coffee. All
HI in had the honest old waiter hustled
ID out, stirring the fire and Ticking
bs from the table. He had only
ght himself to the conclusion that
=: strange guest was queer sort, "
tally for Christmas Eve.
fact, they Of the Four Swans were
much used to strangers of any sort.
had quiet, steady-going connec-
Z in Norman itself. Three or four
~, clubs held their meetings there,
he six or seven bedrooms of the es-
E shment were kept in just the state Of
!, / and comfort which suited the indi-
Atty Of the six or seven Commercial
emen who, when on Norham bust
had petr0nized the -Four Swans for
asst twenty or thirty years. If ever a
ger appeared, it was generally with
such mkT0duction as this: Gland
Mr. Dash of Blank, told Inc you
d give a. good quarters for day or
= week, . the case might be. In
the -Four Swans had, as it were,
en- itself from all chance corners, for
p ; situated ina quiet corner of a very
t street, down which nobody would
K of turning unless he knew some
= Of It beforehand; and altogether,
s its interior Of brown paneling, it's
th Ofquaint and grotesque ornaments,
d-tiled verandah, and its communi-
: e, confide1&ial old servants, the'Four
Is was an excellent type of those hon
homely hostels which are fast being
proved" from the face of the earth.
le gentleman in the coffee-room did
notice that he had done an odd thing
-ceming 81 without a word, and re-
ming Witho0t an order. Perhaps he
other thiuksto think about. He was
u, middleaeed man, witha good deal
air upon hin Ace; and, though he was
listakably VII dressed, he had that
sdnite air which most men carry who
my period q heir lives have knock
about in lbs and colonies, in can
suits and durOys.
lie had cone - about five o'clock, and
O'clock eff1l6 and seven, and it was
min two ninntes of eight, when an
Norh4zn t0N1sman came III to look
( the papers To the intense satisfac-
lof ~ Waiter, that effectually reused
stranger But so slowly-liko the
kening from long, enchanted sleep.
- Il had been, an enchanted sleep
nted by q dream Of five and-twenty
IS ago.
{ want to stay here for the night,
ter" he said, abruptly. "Any com
able sort of bedroom will suit me.
] bring me some tea and toast"
he waiter was alert. "There's little
rate room OF here, sir, he said, throw
open a door. ''Tll set your tray
re-; it's more retired-like than this"
he gentleman followed as invited. 1t
, square closet, with two or three
fed chairs, q polished round table, and
oil oil-painting over the mantle. That
] al that would strike any strange eye.
the gentlen19e walked straight to a
lei beside hfreplace, and peered at
Under g. Alow discoloration and
ny washin1Na long time, there was
vlslDle y ut dashing peA-and-ink
Itch Of ~ nan, with long nose and
,gle spoet
Dear msI you've got quick eyes
ind tAae ~ lrectly," said the chatty
waiteE liver, isn't it2 A young
-ue!lA - that didit, and that was
,oftraat London detective that
] come So : u -. take him off to prison.
$ last uez j. orham he ate in this
e room a rare lot of ham and
IS ne dg rough, sir, and never
ndea the policeman was a
Inc gem laid not one word.
he 3 81 nan ever" confided the
Tier 70 cook. as he received the
; ana TO- IN her hands. II began
tell MN young Rogerson. but he
not liseena b1t, did not even ask if he
S hanged q enything. It's like TAKING
neal to : 1h6UG that it is"
You might dobetter than poke unoId
'ries about . bad young scamp as ever
ed to disgrace ! honest family retort.
the old cook, who was sharn in he,
nper; sand a. to ghosts, there's plenty
ghosts everyWhere, for them as bas
1se to zee EN-, Peter, but don't think
I need be afcared. "
Meanwhile another Norham tradesmar
q dropped into the cotfee-room. ant
ter, u the Intervals of his attendance
me 81 nnd chatted with them in {
eel 1ality, wherein the sole line
soca Inction lay in his remaining
anaine they were seated.
:, YEA S has weather this" said Mr.
.hq. A u very dull" answered
Iney ad -and-alive set of PEG
8 :, ~ Norhamites," said MIR
nn1s was one himself, anC
). "a. n.eody else to abuse them
!. e. g 3 INHERENT in nv Young DAYS
lems e quite gay, what with the
.en - ngto be given in charity an(
g g. billing for the same anf
~ ii nat was anyways connected
l,n Ech-and everybody seemed
g y - days-invited to tea in tn,