Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-09-29
WITH A GHOST.
[Frnm All The Year RnnndN

WILL A GHuSI.
(From All The Year Round).
The situation is this: An unimaginatiye
man of thirty, whose days are spent in
business; new suburban villa, bright.
sunshiny country; neighbors alls around
one; and new cemetery hundred yards
distance from the house
To this house and this man the ghost
came. And in this wise:
It was in August. I was sitting, after
dinner, trying to get sentimental over my
approaching marriage, and picturing to
myself Eleanor in the easy chair opposite
me. The light was fading, but as my eyes
followed the lines mechanically, and my
thoughts were elsewhere, that mattered
little. Outside the house there was still
ness extraordinary-no stirring of the
leaves; no breath in the air; no voice from
my own kitchen; no sounds from the
houses on either side. which were locked
up, their tenants being at the seaside; not
even the distant bark of dog or the dis
was another living person in the world be-
side myself. Then a curious feeling came
over me; suddenly realized that life may
go on in invisible, intangible forms; l
looked around me with shudder; I ex-
pected something. The room became,
without warning, distinctly darker; the
air grew chill; I felt cold dews stand
upon my forehead. Remember, up to this
moment there was no reason at all-none
whatever-for alarm Yet I became I'M
accountably afraid. 1 turned TO the win
dow for relief, and there [ saw it for the
first time.
It was standing outside the window, a
dark. shadow, clearly outlined against the
Sky; colorless, and yet it's draperies were
like white graYe-clothes; shapeless, and
yet somehow, human i'll appearance. And
it had face. Deep sunken and lustrous
eyes, bright with phosphoric splendor,
showed me hollow cheeks, lips that trem-
bled as if with passion, and a frowning
forehead When I turned he raised his
hand and shook it at me beneath its linen
folds and then, with that singular move
ment remarked by all who have conversed
and are familiar with ghosts a move
ment in which the shape neither glides
nor walks, but changes place-the spectre
stood within the room facing me. I am
ashamed to say that [ was frightened.
$780," he said with az angry glance, II
have found you at last.
I made no reply. What was there to
say?
81 have found you at Last, have 1 ?
Now, I have you, what shall do to you?'
I could only look hopelessly. He push
ed one arm outside the cerements which
covered ia long. lean arm, marked with
a tattoo representing ship in full sail.
surmounted by a skull and cross bones.-
He shook his fist excitedly in my face.
noticed that the air was not stirred by his
movements. 1t was odd, too, that I re.
covered my courage as soon as he began te
threaten.
His gestures became more threatening
He repeated twenty times running. The
question with which he first accosted me
s'Now I have found you, what shall I dc
with your" 1t seemed, indeed, as if he
could say nothing more.
ssCome," cried at last, "this is fooling
What do you mean by coming to my house
like mailman? Leave off asking what
you will do with me. If you are a ghost
out of his senses, say so; if not, vary the
monotony by saying something else. Cant
YOU swear, man? Can't you relieve ma
ture in the usual manner"
He groaned and wrung his hands.
81 can't" he said. at isn't allowed.
wish I could. What shall [ do with you!
What shall I do with you?"
'sYou have asked me that a hundred
times already. Bah! you are a ghost
Ghosts can do nothing. I used to believe
they did not exist. Now I see that they
do. But, look here"
I took the poker from the fireplace and
passed it through him. Then I cut him
down like guardsman at. Waterloo. Their
T sliced him in two like soldier at an as
sault of arms. at each pass of the weapon
he ducked, recoiled and cried aloud.
''see, you cannot resist. [ do what like
with you. What can you do in return!'
He raised his hand and struck at m!
face. It was as if cold wind blew upor
my cheek. I could not repress shudder
The old SILVER came across me. He saw
it at once; and sprang at my throat. TX
my surprise, what was before breath O.
cold air became tangible, [ felt his colo
grasp with his long bony fingers at m!
throat. His face close to mine, was tllet
with an eager longing for revenge. Hi
lurid eyes glared in mine. His teeth glis-
tened in the twilight. It was but for
moment was afraid. Then [ rallied m.
courage, sprang upright, and looked m.
spectral enemy in the face. AS [ looked
the tangibility of his fingers weakened, thu
tightness of his grasp relaxed. and hi
look changed from one Of triumph to tina
of baffled rage. Then he fell back sullenl.
and threw himself into an easy chair, glar
ing round the room.