The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-06-23

uucOullOTtuDle series OF OruealS as L
have ever heard devised. So that
evening at dinner, just as soup was be.
ing removed, and before any of the
guests had time to draw an artificial
courage from vine, Ruth Cumleigh
remarked quietly: Papa, it's tonight
the ghost pays his yearly visit to
Gravehill Cburchyard."
"My dear child, how can you say
such foolish things?"
"Mademoiselle believes in ghosts,
zen?" inquired Rigolt, displaying his
white teeth on the other side of the
table.
ain undoubted ghosts, Monsieur
Rigolt, and this one has frightened
several people to death. I'm sure it
makes ones flesh creep to think of it.
Don't you believe in ghosts?"
Rigolt's handsome face at once be-
came serious.
"Zere are more zings in heaven and
earth zan we dream of, as your Sake
spirre says, mademoiselle; l cannot
deny vat / know. nozing about; but |
care not for ghosts-I mock myself of
zem-for vat can zey do to me?"
"The answer of sensible and brave
man, Mossheer Rigolt," exclaimed Mr..
Cumleigh with approval, and the 9th.
er city men, their wives and mobile in
cumbrances, concurred. But Ruth
calculated, smilingly, as if skeptical: /:
"Well would you dare to stand
in Gravehill Churchyard alone at mid
night, Monsieur Rigolt?"
My friend made one of his inimita-
BILE French bows, and asked whether
Miss Ruth would favor him with her
company; but she answered that the
test of POGO catrGnteism in these cases
consisted in being quite solitary. Ac-
cordingly it was understood that the
Frenchman should set out for Grave
hill unattended at halfpast II; and
/ am bound to own that the prospect
of this excursion did not interfere in
the least with Rigolt's good humor or
appetite. He ate, chatted and joked
as usual, took rather less wine if any
thing than his wont, and at the ap.
pointed time, Notwithstanding the dis.
suasions of Mr.. Cumleigh, who begged
him not to consider the whims Of a
spoiled child, he donned his hat and
overcoat and sailed forth. 1t was
especially noticed that he did not bake
a stick or umbrella.
AS soon as he was gone Ruth hast.
ened to her room, and in ten minutes
reappeared, having changed her dress
and put on thick shawl and bonnet.
l was in waiting to give her my arm,
and together we walked out, going at
a fast pace to reach the churchyard
before midnight.
1t was about five minutes to twelve
when we arrived, and, looking through
a crevice in the low wall that sur
rounded the churchyard, we perceived
the Frenchman sitting unconcernedly
astride tombstone. There was no
rain, no moon was beaming, and tall,
very funereal, shadows were cast into
the depths of the buttresses; and on
one side of the spire, which rose
straight and high in the clear air,
Rigolt's face stood full in the moon
light, and we could see that his indif.
ference was perfect. Humming a tune
he drew cigar-case from his pocket
and struck fusee on the tombstone.
"Manly, but profane," whispered
Ruth, clinging to my arm.
1t was at that very moment when
midnight changed from the steeple,
and, precisely to the hour, towering
white apparition glided from the gloom
of the church porch and walked
straight toward Rigolt. Not to alarm
anybody, it may be stated this appa-
rition was nothing but gardeners
boy, who was great ally of Ruth in
these adventures, and who played his
part by the customary means Of a
sheet and pole with a phosphorized
mangel. wurzel at the top. This gar.
dener's boy then advanced but the
instant he began to be seen stalking
among the tombs, Rigolt raised a
bright, joyous laugh-without a quaver
in it-jumped from his grave, and
walked to meet him. The ghost was
not prepared for this move, and re,
ceded; Rigolt followed The ghost
thoroughly, mystifed, broke ground
then, seeing the Frenchman continue
to approach, turned tail and ran.
Hereupon Rigolt's merry voice rang
out in reiterated peals, and he called
out, with wonderful intrepidity and
archness:
"Come, don't be afraid of me, my
good ghost /; l am only man. Accept
ceegarre !"
Ruth was abashed as we made our
way home. There was no doubt Rigolt