The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-08-30
WITH A GHOST.
IAN the Year Round,l

rOunu one ana new cemetery nun
dred yards distance from the house.
10 this house and to this man the
ghost came.
And IN this wise:
Itwasin August. was sitting, after
dinner, trying 10 get sentimental over
my approaching marriage, and plcturing
to myseit Eleanor in the easv chair on.
posite me. The Hight was fading, but as
my eyes followed the lines mechanic
ally, and my thoughts were elsewhere,
that mattered little. Outside the house
there was a stiffness Xtraordinary-no
stirring OF the leaves; no breath in the
ar; no voices from my own Kitchen; no
sounds from the houses on either side,
when were locked up, their tenants be-
ing at the seaside; not even the distant
bark of dog or the distant roll OF a car
rlage TO snow that there was another
living person in the world besides my
sell. Then curious feeling came over
me; suddenly realized that lie may 90
on III Invisible, intangible forms; l
looked round me with shudder; | ex-
pected something. Tne room became,
without warning, distinctly darker, the
air grew chill; l telt cold deWs stand
upon my forenead. Remember that up
70 this moment there was no reason at
dlA-nOH6 WudbGf0l-lOE 6b L
became unaccountably afraid. turned
to the window Tor relief, and there
there [ saw IT for the first time.
II WAS standing outside the window,
a dark shadow, clearly outlined against
The sky; cOlorless, and yet It's draper
les were like white graVe-clolh
shapeless, and yet, somehow, human IN
appearance. Aud it had a lace. Deep
sunken and lustrous eyes, bright with
phosphoric splendor, showed me hollow
cheeks, lips that trembled as il with pas
sion, and frOWning forehead. When
turned he raised his hand and shook IL
at me beneath its linen folds, and then,
with that Singular movement remarked
w all who nave cOnYersed and are fa-
nilllar with ghosts-a movement in
wuich the shape neither giIdes nor
walks, but changes place-Lhe spectel
stood Within the room, facing me.
was ashamed to say that was fright
ened.
$50" said he, with an angry glance
II have found you Az last"
Imade no reply. What was there tc
say?
Il have found you at last, have Ii
Now l have you, what shall l do tt
youW
could only look hopelessly. He
pushed one arm outside Inc cerements
which covered lt-a long, lean arm
marked with tattoo representing 9
ship in full sail, surmounted by skull
and cross-bones. He shook his fist eX
citedly in my face. l noticed that tle
az as not stirred by his movements
1t was odd, too, that l recovered my
courage as soon as he began to threaten.
dis gestures became more threaten
ing. He repeated twenty times running
the question with which he first accOsted
me: Now have found you, what shall
l do with youw 1t seemed, indeed, as
# he could say nothing more.
Come" l cried at IaSt, this is fool
ing. Wat do you mean by coming tC
my house ike a madman? Leave of
asking wnat you will do with me. i
you are a ghost out OF his senses, say so;
something else. Can't you swear, man
Can't you relieve nature in The usual
mannerp
He groaned and wrung his hands.
Il can't" he said. sit isn't allowed
L wish l could. What shall do with
you? WHAT shall do with youY
You have asked me that hundred
times already. Bah! you are a ghos t.
Ghosts can do nothing. | used 10 be-
lieve that they did not exist. Now !
see that they DO. But look nere."
! took the poker from the fireplace and
passed it through him. Then l cut him
down like guardsman at Waterloo
Then l sliced ham in two like soldier
at an assault at arms. AT each pass o.
the weapon he ducked, recolled, and
cried aloud.
"See, you eau not resist. l do what ]
n
turn"
He raised his hand and struck at my
face. IL was as il cold wind blew upol
my cheek. could not repress sAud
der. The old sAiVer came across he
He saw it at once, and Sprang at my
throat. 10 my surprise, what was be
fore as breath of cold air became tan
gible. lJeLt his cold grasp with his long
| pony fingers at my throat. HIS face
close to mine, was filled with an eager
longing for revenge. His Iurid eyes
glared in mine. His teeth glisLened il
the twilight. 1t was but Tor a moment
that was AFRAID. Then l rallied my
! courage, sprang upright, and looked my
spectral enemy III the face. AS looked
tue Langibility of his fingers weakened,
the tlguLness OF mis- grasp relapsed, ana
mis- look changed from one of triumph tC
that OF Daftled rage. Tnen he fell bacB
sullenly and threw himself into an easy
chair, glarlng round the room.
81 never allow any one but myself"
said, ito occupy that chair. 1t Is mine
Please take another"
He changed chairs Immediately.
"WiIl this dOW
1t was one next to mine. | begged
him to take one on the other side OF The
fire pace, which he did at once. Tnen
L sat down and surveyed the situation.
l was alone, save an old woman, my
temporary taetotum, in the Kitchen, The
people i'll the houses round were now all
away for their holidays. L had ghost
presumably lunatic of a dangerous
kind, under my root. 1t was imp0sslbl
to get rid Of nim, unless he cnose to yo
You can not push, KICK, or throw ghosl
out OF window or door; you can mol
lock HIM in one room while you 20 to
sleep in another; you can not shut your.
self up in your bedroom and dely him;
above all, you never know what tricks
he may be at. Thinking Of these things
l became conscious of another access Oi
Lerror-sAghter this time. My guest,
however, perceived it, and in a tWinkling
was on me again, with his skeleton flu
gers round my throat. shook hlm off;
that is, regaineApy presence of mind,
and he covered Be yk TO his seat, where
he sat, his head on his arm, and his long
White clothes cllnging to his limbs, a
signt never to be forgotten.
"Pray tell me what il MEANS" said.