Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-07-17

work there all the summer, her informant said
IL was Sunday night Tho clock in Mrs Bar
ker's kitchen had just struck twelve; and yoi
would most naturally have supposed that slum
ber lad come to all inmates of tho cottage, a
least three hours ago.
But such was not the case
There was very soft and subdued flicker o
lamplight in the kitchen, and two persons wer,
sitting there, talking very busily.
" / don't see how l am to overcome youl
mothers prejudice" said Robert Carter, for ht
was one OF tile occupants of the room, to Lucindi
who was tho other. 81 am sure she would thinl
better OF me II she knew me better but she re
solved to know as little as possible, and l aanno
think of any way to get the start of her."
" We'll have to wait patiently" answered
Lucinda. Yon know I'll wait till doomsday be
fore I'll marry any one else, Robert"
" | wonder what she would say il she knew
was here y he asked, and l am rather inclined
to think ho kissed her by way of putting an in
terrogatisn point to his question.
T." Oh, my" cried Lucinda, with little shver
don't know, | don't dare to think. She't
turn You out of doors, and lock me up every Sun
day night, suppose. I'd be AZ scared to SEQ hei
come popping in here AZ she IL afraid of seeing
ghosts
" IL she afraid of ghosts p asked Robert.
81 expect you'd think 30, if you lived witt
her" answered Lucinda. "She's always expect
ing to see one, but never has succeeded i'll doing
30 yet. | tell her there isn't such n thing as
ghost but sho knows there is, and don't know
but she'd rather be glad to see one for the sake
OF proving tho truth Of her belief"
Pretty soon the clock struck ono.
"Hark said Lucinda, suddenly. 81 thought
heard step. Good gracious Some one Ii
coming down stairs. It's mother; she II find you
here. Crawl INTO this closet, quick and III get
into some corner, and manage to slip out when
she comes in"
"I've got plan" whispered Robert. ''You
crawl into the closet Yourself"
And before Lucinda knew what she was doing,
b 10 had pushed her into the little four -by-fouI
the door did not swing quite to, she could see
what was gong on in the kitchen.
Robert seized one of the sheets which were
hanging on the clothes.rack, from Saturday
ironing, and gave it a twist about his body just
as the kitchen door oponed and Mrs. Barker
came cropping her way in without a light
"doodness sakes alive, she exclaimed, catch
ing sight OF tho lamp burning dimly; "if that
careless girl didn't so to bed an leave the lam
burnin'. It's maHsy we amt burnt up. Oh,
Lor!'
This last exclamation was caused by the appa-
rition which glided slowly across the room in
front of her.
"Oh. my soul. What'll do ?" she gaspet, in
an awful fright. "Who-who are you1 Are
you James Z"
II am," was the RESPONSE, in sepplchral
tones.
"what--what do you want?' asked Mrs. Bar
ker, family.
~ can't rest" WAS .the answer, from the
ghostly visitant. II keep thuking of poor Lu-
cinda-"
SIS she going to die ?" quored Mrs Barker,
who was wishing she dared run, or call her
daughter.
NO." answered the voice from the other
world as Mrs Barker believed. " But you are
breaking her heart. cant rest for that"
"Oould-do you think yon could rest if let
her marry Robert Carter ~ asked Mrs. Barker,
an IN pat hart has ,pl,o ha
belonged.
For respectable spirit to be skylarking in this
fashion, at dead of night, she considered highly
improper.
The idea OF having him turn up in this way
was rather uncomfortable
II he couldn't rest and had taken to wander
ing about on that account, he might be always
coming, and the sooner he could rest the better
for him and her.
So reasoned Mrs. Barker in her terrible fright.
Eyes, could rest if you would do that, was
the reply.
"Well will I'll tell Lucindy no Tonight"
said Mrs Barker, "if it'll make you comforta-
tle"
"De surc YOU do" responded her ghosily hus-
band. 81 mu t go remember your promise.
In an instant the white figure had disappeared
and all was darkness.
Mrs. Barker always assorted that it vanished
into thin air.
Lucinda's opinion on the subject is that some
one blew the lamp out suddenly, and thus caiis-
ed the ghost to disappear.
But that is immaterial.
Mrs. Barker states further that sho heard q
noise among tho kettles, and then sound AZ
il some one crossed the floor, but saw nothing.
She had barely strength to drag her trembling
limbs up stairs to Lucincda's door.
When Lucinda let her in, she was half dead
with fright.
She told her story. and asserted that she had
recognized her dead husbands features the
minute she saw the ghost and his voice the
moment she heard it,
Lucinda gave it as her opinion that her
mother had been dreaming.
"Tel me I'm fool" )" exclaimed Mrs Barker,
scornfully, ~ know it was ghost, and you
needn't try to argy me out of 1t. Hain't got
eyes n ears, an didn't see it just dissolve in
to nothin, an didn't he tell me he couldn't
rest 2"
Lucinda and her husband keep their own coun-