Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-07-22
PLAYING the GHOST.

~ toll you what 1t Ia, Lucndy, don't want
nothln' to do with them Carters, an ~ to givin'
my consent to your margin ono o 'em, that IL
completely out Of tho question. They allus was
shifless, good or-nothln'-se I'm willin to
admit Robert has got more snap in him than all
the rest. but won't listen to your marryn him,
and that settles it."
Mrs. Barker!s decision generally settled what
ever came mp for her to pass judgmen. on in the
sffairs Of the Barker family.
She expected that her daughter would acqui-
,scs in this matter ~ ahe had become accus-
toned to In others. ta
But LucindA was girl With . will Of her own.
She wasn't always to be dictated TO without in
quiring whether there was Justice In the dictate
giycn.
In this instance she felt thas she had right
to hearing, and that she had right also to
form an opinion on the subject under discussion
since she WAS the person moat closely interest,"
ed.
y think you arc wrong In using Robert ~ you
sss IL. sns, ,anS c sn'':s oa s0.y
knowledge that he is respectable, steady and
hard-working, but for all that, won't let him
come here II you an help 1t, and you persist in
treating him - II he had done some awful
thing, just because he belongs to family that
has some worthless people in it"
"Of course you'll stick up for him." said Mrs.
Barker, with An injured mir. You know that
don't approve Of him, an you're bound to be
contrary; you won't try to see that I'm lookin'
to-"
"But he isn't to blame for what other people
have done-' began. Lucinda, with flashing
eyes.
"Oh, no." put in her mother, 81 don't blame
him for that, but I know the family, an its IN
the blood o. all the Cartera to be mean aud
shif'less. don't s'pose you'd like to set me
down and see you rnshin' right over procipics
'thout 40 much .s liftin' my little finger to
save You, do you2 Well It's just the same In
this case. II WAS to let you marry Robert
Carter, you'd repent it."
You don't know that" answered Lucinda.
Everybody but you says he's .. likely young
sure those who work with him and aee most Of
him ought TO know. / never heard any one say
that the Cartera were bad and dishonest.'
Well, they allus WAS shifless, an that
amounts to the same thing" said Mrs. Barker.
Now you could do the best Of any girl II You
want 80 much like your father. He allns WAS
set in his way know Green's son Joel would
be awful pleased il ho thought he could get
you"
.sTiere 1t is," cried Lucinda, with angry
cheeks. ''That's why Robert Carter isn't good
enough for me. Joel Green's got money, and
Robert Garter hAsn't But Robert has got some
thing that Joel Green hasn't and that all his
money CAL . Uuy, Auu LnALH DRAINS. D0IOre Il
marry that fool"
''Jest zee here, Lucindy," said her mother,
turning around deliberately" il you see Robert
Carter twixt this an Sunday tell him II he comes
inside this house agin, III ret tho dog on him !;
Mrs. Barker turned round feeling that she had
got tho start of her rebellious daughter IN one
way.
And Lucinds, with eyes full Of anger, went
out to cool her flushed face and Try to get rid OF
m hRr
A day or two after that, Mrs. Barker was re-
joicsd to hear that Robert Carter had gone OF
to work in 4 neighboring town; he was going to
work there all the summer, her informant snid.
It was Sunday night. The clock in Mrs. Bar
kor'n kitchen had Just struck twelve; and you
would most naturally have supposed that slum-
Der had come to all inmates of the cottage, at
least three hours ago
But such was not tho ease.
Tnere was very soft and subdued flicker OF
lAmplight in the kitchen, and two persons were
sitting there, talking very busy.
l don't sec how am to overcome your
mothers presadioe. y said Robert Carter, foT he
who was the other. ~ am sure she would think
better Of me IL she knew me better, but she re-
solved to know ~ little as possible, and cannot
think of any way to get the start Of her."
t Well have to wait patiently, answered
Lucinda You know I'll wait till doomsday be-
fore I'll marry any one else, Robert"
az wonder what she would say il she knew
was here ?' he asked, and am rather inclinee
to think he kissed her by way OF putting an in
terrogatisn point to his question.
"Oh, N.Y." cried Lucinda, with little shiver
~ don't know, 1 don't dare to think. she't
turn you out OF doors, and lock mo up every Sun
day night, suppose. I'd be az scared to zee he
come popping in hero as she is afraid OF seeing
ghosts
81 expect you'd think 80, If yon lived wltl
her." answered Lucinda She's always expect
ing TO see one, but never has succeeded in DOM
NO vet. I tell her there isn't such thing ~
ghost, but she knows there IL, and don't know
but she'd rather bs glad to see one for the SAX
Of proving the truth Of her belief
Pretty soon the clock struck one.
"Hark, said Lucinda, suddenly. II though
heard step. Good gracious! Some one
co ming down stairs. It's mother; she'll find yo'
here. Crawl into this closet, quick, and III sc
into somo corner, and manage to slip out whe
eve got plan." whispered Robert 'Yo
crawl into the closet yourself" )"
And before Lucinda knew what she WAS doip1
lie had pushed her into the little four.by-fou
room where the pots and kettles were kept; a
the door did not swing quite to, she could Sc
what was gong on in the kitchen.
Robert seized one Of the sheets which wer
hanging on tho clothesrsck. from Saturday
o ironing, and gave It = twist about his body l!'
as the kitchen door opened and Mrs. Barke
came cropping her way in without light.
"Ooodness sakes alive, she exclaimed, catct
ing sight Of the lamp burning dimly; III tn
careless girl didn't go to bod an leave the Ian
bnrnin'. It's massy we amt burnt up VI
Lori"
This last exclamation was caused by the app
rtion which glided slowly across tho room
"Oh, my soul. WhstI do2" she gasped.
an awful fright "Who-who arc you? A
you James I"
II am," WAS the response, in sepulchr
tones: , A. n,
~ can't rest" was the answer, from Il
ghostly vi-'tant. II keep thinking OF poor Ii
cinda." n,..
no" answered the voice from the 9th
world, an Mrs. Barker believed. " But You 3
breaking her heart. can't rest ior that
.'Co,iId do you think you could rest II l
her marry Robert CsrterT' asked Mrs. Bark
anxious to get her former spouse back where
For respectable spirit to be skylarking in Z
fashion, at dead Of night, she considered h'g'
The idea of having him turn up in this v
was rather uncomfortable,
II he couldn't rest, and had taken to wand
ing about that account, he might be alw'
coming, and the sooner he could rest the bet
for him and her.
40 reasoned Mrs Barker in her terrible frig
.Ycs, could rest il you would do that,
"Weli, will I'll tell Lucindy 80 to-nigi
said Mrs. Barker, "f it'll make you com'o'
fe."
"Bo sure YOU do" responded her ghosty b
band. "I mu tG,; remember your proml+
In an instant the white figure had disappea
and all WAS darkness. ,.-,,,
Mrs. Barker always asserted that 1t wants
into thin air. ,,.
Lucnda's opinion on the subject is that ht
one blew the lamp ont suddenly ana 'hos cS
ed the ghost to disappear.
But that is immaterial.
Mrs, Barker states further that she heal
noise among the kettles. and then sounti
II Aome one crossed the floor, but saw moth
She had barely strength to drag her uemD
limbs up stairs to Lucincdas door.
When Lucinda let her in, she was half q
with fright. .,,
She told her story, and asserted that she
recognized her dead husbands features
minute she saw tho ghost and his voice
moment she heard it.
Lucinda gave it ~ her opinion thaa
mother had been dreaming.
"Tell me I'm . fool" exclaimed Mrs. Bar
rcornfully, ~ know it was ghost, ana
needn't try to argy me ont OF it, Halnt
evea N ears, an didn't see It Just dissolv;
70 nothip,' an didn't he tell me- he con
rest ?"
Luoinds and her husband keep their own o
sal ~ we'll a. Mrs. Barker kept her WORD.
ia aatist1ed with her son-in.law, and thhh'
drove 4 pretty good bargain with her hus
-, .,a hirad him tn re9t eAky IL she