Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-10-31

before as breath OF cold air became
tangible. felt his cold grasp with his
long, bonY lngers at my throIt. His
face, close to mine, was filled with an
eager longing for revenge. His lurid
eyes glared in mine. His teeth giistened
in the twilight. 1t was but for mo
meut that | was alrsd. Then | rallied
my courage, spraOg rpright, and looked
my spectral enemy In the face. As
.ooAed the tangibilily of his fingers
weakened, the tightuess of his grasp re-
.axrd, aud his look changed from one OF
triumph to that OF ba1l3d rage. Then
he fell back suddenly and threw himself
into an easy chair. glazing round the
room.
Il never allow any one but myself"
said, Ito occupy that chair. 1t is mine.
P.ease take another.
"lle changed chairs immediately"
"Wil this 90 ?"
1t was next to mine. | begged him
TO take one on the other silc OF the fire
place. which he did at once. Then | sat
down and surveyed the situation.
| was alone. save an old woman. my
temporary iacioium, in the kitchen.
The people in the houses round were
now al away loc their holidays. bad
"a ghost, presumably lunaIic of q dan
gerous kind, under my roof. 1t was i'm
possible to get lid OF hIm. unless he chose
to go. You cannot push. kick or throw
ghost out oi wiadow or door; you
cannot lock him in one room while you
so 10 sleep in another; You cannot shut
yourself up 10 Your bedroom and deil
him; above al. You never know wha,
tricks he may be al. Thinking OF ihes,,
things. beclma conscious OF another
access Of terror, slish,er this time My
gues., however, perceived 1t and in "a
twiakiDg was ON me again, with his
skeleton fingers sr)uld M throat. !
saoos him OF; ihl, j., regaincd any
presence Ul miad. aud h9 covered bAcE
10 hi, seat, wheie he So. hi, loag, white
clothes clIn5iny 10 his limbs. 4 sight
never to be forgotten.
Pay tell me what i. means | s1id
Ii means that ii you were afraid OF
me, would thro,ili yol Ike dog. Il
means tha, am sitting here waiting lor
he moment when you will realize who
and bat | am; the ipju7ies you have
done me the wickeduess OF your lite, the
loneliness OF your position, and your
pteSetce with a0o:her world. lla! la !
see i: coming! Your nerves won't stand
me another QIa,,er OF an hour, and tn n
| shall seize YOU by the windpPe. and
squeeze, squeeze, the lile-5!ood out OF
you"
Presently be went on again;
You will have TO 20 to bel soon.
You cannot sit up all night"
How long can You stay here ?'
~, long as Please. Ho, ho, ho. l
csa bc with you, now have found you,
morning. noon and night. When you
are qlietIy in your bed, shall be sitting
by the bedside, waiting tor a moments
weakness, when you are at your office il
the city, | shall be at your elbow, wait
ing to find you OF your guard. At din
uer shall be behind you. Iou cannot
escape me. Sooner or later you will be
AfrsiI. The time will come. | shall
wait. shall wait.
Pay explain" said blandiy. "You
viii waii until am aiTaid p
Precisely. We ghosts cannot hurt
people who are not afraid of Us. Our
power is only over cowsrdly and super
stiious-,hat is. over nearly all mankind.
Oace a man has the pluck TO stand up TO
Us. We are powerless,
My good friend" replied, "let US
enjoy each others society without mutual!
confessions. / grant ali you have said
Il is very curious and Interesting. Not,
perhaps. quite so horrible as | mig ht
have expected, had | known you were
coming, bat slill-by the way. you hail
from the cemetery close by ?"
Il 10. All villain and traitor who
uut me there | do and as was taking
an evening invisible stroll, | happened
20 look in at your wiad0w. and saw the
man had expected and most hoped 10
see. liz! ha! shall make it hot for that
man. So | will, too, he added weakly,
after pause.
imade no reply, but went on Smoking
as il he had been au ordinary visitor.
when was in that country ship,
;rad!ug between RargoOn and Calcutta
there what's the use OF raking up The
Did story p
None, f." replied. "none at all. unless
you ike"
No use talking. What's the good OF
tal! Come to that, remind you what
went on, you krow, at Yohahama. Ia?
What DO you say to that p
81 have nothing to sag to that"
lord! Lord Some men will brazen
ont anythiag! And what about the
Hong Kong business? Who promised
wbat-lell me ihat-il some one walked
he plank. and something was thingum-
bobed-eh?"
"Here was very serious question