The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-06-03
ALMOST A GHOST STORY.

Dld you ever see d ghost! WAS the
aWell, 1 came deuced near it, can
tell you," said young Howard.
"How near?' cried the company, draw
ing their chairs to the fire.
at was in that desolate, God-forsaken
part of New jersey" said Howard, "near
Barnegat Shoals. What with the nature
of the soil there, its barrenness and ster
ility, the Jagged, repelling grimness of
the rocks, and the wild, desolate infinity
of the waters, there's something about
Barnegat that breeds an affinity with
ghosts and specters. There had been a
wreck ola coasting schooner in the vicin-
ity, and, although the news didn't make
much of a sensation in the newspapers,
it brought despair and desolation to one
heart at least, that of the young mates
mother. He was an old schoolmate and
warm friend of my own, and l volun-
teered to 60 down and see if the body
could be found and brought home.
"When l reached there the whole
aspect of the place struck me as forbid
dinghy wild and lonely; and when, to-
ward the close OF stormy day, poor old
Jacks body was washed ashore, stark
and stiff, and distorted almost beyond
reco ynition, wasn't able to lend the fel-
lows down there helping hand. l was
seized with nervous chill, and went in
doors to the brandy flask. Propped up
with an artificial courage, / went out
again and found them hauling their
helpless burden to fisherman hut close
by. They had flung it in an old tar
paulin blanket, and / couldn't help pro-
testing inwardly against the rude way in
which they bumped it along through the
breakers and over the rocks.
81 thought OF that tender, womanly
heart at home in the East, and the gentle
reverence that hedged about even her
every thought and feeling about Jack,
and I determined there and then that he
should be taken home to her in some
shape that wouldn't appal or horrify
her.
"They laughed at me when spoke of
O coffin, but nevertheless l resolved upon
getting one, if such thing could be had
for love or money. Not that coffin is
absolutely requisite in all cases. 1t
wouldn't have mattered pin to either
Jack or myself il, tied up in the old tar
paulin, with weight heavy as destiny
itself, we were forced to the bottom of
the sea. But to woman, conven-
tioDal woman, victim to circumstance
and custom, coffin was the only thing
that could render the affair respectable,
or indeed bearable.
81 passed sleepless night, and went
of before daylight in search of an old
man that bore queer reputation about
there for appropriating what came in
shore, and rendering it useful or orna-
mental with rude knack he had in the
carpenter line. The boys told me there
was little of everything in his old rook-
cry, and they hadn't the least doubt
could find even coffin there, or some
thing that might be modelled into one.
at was good league to his dwelling,
and I reached there with forcbOding
that my journey was not for nothing;
but, upon broaching the subject to him,
he stated his readiness at once to comply
with my demands.
"But, what will you do for material p
/ asked.
ale smiled grimly, and, opening O
door that led up to sort of loft, he beck
oped me to follow him. In that loft
there was wood readily adapted to build
a shin, a house, a theater, anything and
everything that might be desired. No,
common wood, mark you, but wreckers
material, panels of French walnut, ex
ouisitely carved in bas-relief, bits of pre-
cious ebony, of sandal wood, of box, and
some of that delicate white pine that
exhales delicious perfume. The boys
had said that he was clever in the Cal
penter line. was inspired with q sort
of trust in his capacity, and his willing
ness to undertake the job was only
equaled byhis determination to be paio
well for doing it.
"Don't you fret, young man. said th'
old skeleton. I'll fix it for you in
shape that'll suit. I'll have 1t M
scrumptious as nut; that is, If yer.
able to bear the heft Of the expense. III
costly, yer know, to hev things pious ant
nice down this way; we can't alters affort
it; then the sea bein' handy, it's a temp
tation TO save time and money; but IL th,
expense amt counted in
Never mind the expense, pard,'
exclaimed. You do the thing up nicel
for me and I'll see you through; but
must be done at once; the body is almos
beyond saving now, and want the coli
by tomorrow night. 1t must be read