Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-02-27
THE SERGEANTys GHOST STORY.

n low y JOdAo dS5O Il h1dNCACO LII u DI11lou
colony in America. The Governor was
absent in England on his holiday visit,
and the duties of his Office were tempo
rarily performed by the Chief Justice,
aided by the Prime Minister or Secretary
of State. / was a frequent guest at
Government House, and there became
acquainted with an old soldier, one Ser
geant Monaghan, who performed the
part of orderly or messenger, and some
times waited at table when the Governor
had company. The manners of a colony
are free and easy, and learning that the
old soldier was a thorough believer in
ghosts, and had one ghost story which
he was fond of telling, I invited him to
my room, treated him to a cigar and a
glass of grog, gave him a seat by the
blazing wood fire, and prevailed upon
him to evolve the story once again out
of the coils of his memory. Irepeat it,
as nearly as I can, in his own words:
You see, said Sergeant Monaghan,
"Tim OLoughlin was a delicate and
wake sort of boy. He had love affair
in Ireland that weighed on his mind.
He was kind of cousin of mine, and
served in my regiment as a private.
Perhaps he would have risen to be O
sergeant if he had lived, but, as said,
he was not strong. You may have no
ticed that from the gate of Government
House, where the sentry box stands, you
can see into the burial ground on the
opposite side of the road. Not cheer
full situation for Government House.
But, however, all the best rooms look
into the garden at the back, and the
Governor need not see much of the
battle-ground, except when he goes in
and out. One foggy night, Tim
OLoughlin was stationed as sentry at
Government House.
Z" It was full neon at the time, and
the light upon the white, warm mist
that lay Like an immense blanket over
earth, shone weak and watery-hke. It
It was not very thick fog, and did not
hide objects at the distance of hun
dred yards, but only revealed them to
make them look larger than they really
we're. I was in the guard-room smoking
my pipe, as comfortably as / am now
(either a pipe or cigar, it's all the same
to Sergeant Monaghan, if the baccy's
good), when who should walk in but
Tim OLochlin, with a face of such
wild, blank, dismal terror, as I never
saw before or since on human being. It
was fully an hour before his time to be
relieved of duty, and in leaving his post
he had committed very serious offense.
1 ordered him back to his post, but he
sat down by the fire, and doggedly re-
fused to stir.
"sW What's the matter with you, Tim p
said ]. Are you unwen? And why
did you come off duty? And it's I my
self that'n have to report you
You may report must report;
be shot for it. I have seen him.
Him ?-and who is him p
"tHim Why, Capt, Percival He
came close up to me, and pointed to
man in the burial ground digging grave
next to his own
The Captain had diedabout month
previously, and Tim, who was very much
attached to him-and indeed everybody
in the regiment was-had grieved very
as the Captains 8 servant, and had received
many favors at his hand, and poor Tim
was grateful crater.
"s It's all nonsense, Tim,' said
Go back to your post, and in reporting
you, I'll make the best case out that I
can for you
t'Never + said Tim, if 1 be shot
for it.
"As chance and luck would have it,
the doctor happened to drop in at this
moment, and learning the circumstances
that had induced Tim to leave his post,
questioned him fully on the subject.
But he felt Tins pulse first, and there
came over his face an expression that I
noticed, but that Tim did not, which
said very plainly to me that he did not
like the beat of it. Tim was confident
that he had seen Capt. Percival, and
that the Captain pointed out the grave
which man was digging alongside of
his own, and had distinctly told him
that he was to be buried there as soon
as the grave was ready.
And you saw the man digging the
grave? asked the doctor.
&c Distinctly replied Tim; sand
you can see him too, if you go imme-
diately.'
"' Do you go, sergeant, said the doc
tor to me, and I'll sit with O'Lochlin
till you return. think you had better
detail another sentry in his place. Is
there any brandy to be got But stay
it does not matter. I have flask. And
O'Lochhn, my boy, you must take pull
at it it is medicine, you know, and I
order it.
" Tim was taking a pull at the flask
as I went out I thought it possible
enough that the grave-digger might be
at work, but I did not know what to say
about the Captain, except to think, per-
haps, that Tim had been dreaming, and
fancied he saw things that had no exist