American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-01
A GHOST STORY.

He had sat for hours in the snug, brown
cofiee-room of the Four Swans, Norman
room or a cup of C. flee. All in vain had
the honest old waiter hustled in and out
stirring the fire and flickiRg crumbs from
the table. He had only brought himself
to the conclusion that this strange guest
was "a queer Sort" especially for a
Christmas Eve.
In fact, they of the -Four Swans were
not much used to strangers of any sort.
They had quiet, steady-gO connection
in Norman itself. Three or four trade
clubs held their meetings there, and the
six or seven bedrooms of the establish
ment were Kept in just the state of order
and comfort which suited the individuali-
" OF the six or seven I" commercial gen.
tlemcn' who, when on Norham business.
had patronized the Four Swans for the
last twenty or thirty years. If ever a
stranger appeared, it was generally with
some such Introduction as this: s.Land-
lord. Mr.. Dash, of Blank, told me YOU
would give me good quarters for a day, or
for week. as the case might be. In
deed, the Four Swans, had, as it were,
hidden itself from all chance corners, tor
It Was situated in quiet corner of a very
quiet street, down which nobody would
think of turning unless he knew some
thing of it beforehand; and altogether,
with Its interior OF brown panneling, its
wealth of quaint and grotesque orna-
ments. its red-tiled verandah, and its COM
municstive confidential old servants, the
-Four Swans was an excellent type of
those honest, hOmely hotels which are
fast being '@improved'' from the face of
the earth.
The gentleman in the coffee-roOm did
not notice that he had done an odd thing
Dy coming in without word, and re-
naming without an order. Perhaps he
had other things to think about. He was
tall, middle-aged man, with a good G. cal
OF hair upon his face; and, though he
was Enthusiastically well dressed, he had
that indefinite air which most nen carry
who at any period of their lives have
knocked about in ships and colonies,
in canvas suits and corduroys.
He had come in about five o'clock, and
six O'Clock struck, and seven, and it was
within two minutes of eight, when an old
Norman tOwnsman came in to look over
the papers. To the intense satisfaction of
the waiter, that effectually reused the
stranger. But SO slowly-like the awak-
ening from long, enchanted sleep. And
so it I'D been an enchanted sleep haunted
by dream of five-and-twenty years ago.
- want to stay here for the night, wait
err" he said, abruptly. ''Any comforta-
BILE sort OF bedroom will suit me. And
bring me some tea and toast"
The waiter was alert. '.There's little
private room off here, sir" he saiG, throw
ing open the door. ssI'Il set your tray
there; it's more retired like than this.''
The gentlemen followed as invited. 1t
was square closet, with two or three
stuffed chairs, polished round table,
and dull oif-painring over the
nlantel. That was all that would strike
any strange eye. But the gentleman
walked straight to panel beside the fire
Place, and peered at it. Under the slow
discoloratiOn and many washings of
long time, there was still visible slight
dashing pen-and-iuk sketch of an old
man, with a long nose and google specta-
cles.
Dear me. sir, you've got quick eyes
to find that out directly" said the chatty
old waiter. "Clever, isn't it? A young
daredevil he was that did it, and that was
a portrait Of the London detective that
had come Gown to take him off to prison.
here room, sir, and a rare lot of ham and
eggs he did get through, sir, and never
minded bit that the policeman was a.
watching of him.
The gentleman said not one word.
He's aueerer than ever" cOnfided the
waiter to the old cook, AS he received the
tea and toast from her hands. .. began
to tell him about young ROgerson, but he
did not listen bit, did not even ask if he
"ho VI IL idhIHS
4 meal to a ghost, that it is"
You might do better than poke up old
stories about as bad a young scamp as
ever lived to disgrace honest family"
retOrted the old cook, who was sharp i'm
he's temper; land as to ghosts, there's
plenty o'ghosts everywhere, for them as
has sense to see 'em, Peter, but l don't
think you need be afeared.''
Meanwhile another Norman tradesman |
had dropped into the coffee-rOOm, and |
Peter, in the intervals of his attendance,
came out and chatted with them in cheer |
fui equality. wherein the sole line of So
cial distinction lay in his remaining stand |
ing while-they were seated.
Real Christmas weather this,'' said |
Mr.. Johnston.
''But Norham's very dull" answered
Mr.. Lee.
"They're a dead-and-alive set of peo-
Die, now, the Norhamtes," said Mr.. |
Johnston. who was one himself, and would |
blow nobody else to abuse them. >. 1t
ised to be different in my young days. |
cmember it quite CAV, what with oxen
casting to be given in charity, and the
,uddings boiling for the same, and every
,ody that was anyways connected with
he Church-and everybody seemed to be
n those days-invited to tea in the Town
all. And used'nt there to be fine CAROL
inging through the streets And rare
christmas sermons he used to preach,