Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-09-29

What had done to him? How was to
get rid of this accursed lunatic ghost? BY
what spell and charm could lay him for
ever in the BED Sea?.
The full misery Of the thing was yet to
come.
The spectre, in the afternoon, seemed to
have left me. I even forgot its existence
and dined comfortably. At eight I met
my Eleanor, and persuaded her, not thing
ing Of what might happen, to look at some
new furniture in what was going to be our
joint house. She came. Nothing happen
ed until we went into the garden. AS |
led her up and down the walk, her hand in
mine, she suddenly stopped with cry.
ALFRED. who has been walking along
the sand"-there was al edging of red
sand to the gravel--swith bare feet?"
! [ looked. There were footprint
gaunt oot-prints-parallel with my own.
7 knew at once what was going to happen,
and I tremblad.
"Nothing, Nelly; nobody. Who should
walk in bare feet except a carpenter? Let
us go in.''
"Alfred!" she said, ssee, they are fall
| ing still, the foot-prints-as we walk. Take
me away"
It was pleasant The accused ghost was
setting his long feet beside mine, keeping
step, SO that at every football OF mine there
was q new footprint of his. / bore my
/ girl half fainting into the house.
"What was it, Alfred? I am afraid.
And see, see! Oh Alfred-Alfred -
| With cry Of fright she fell fainting into
my arms. Between us and the window
| stood that awful figure in it's long white
grave clothes, pointing its long, bony
I fingers at me, but saying no word.
| took Eleanor home. I implored her to
| keep silence as to what she had seen. I
| soothed and pacifed her I assured her
| that it was fancy-that it was q trick of
| the imagination-th it was some school
| boy deyiltry-anything to keep her quiet.
And thus I left her, and returned, misera-
bic and naddened, to battle with this de-
mon who had fastened himself upon me-
He was sitting in ny chair, with his
abominable head, as usual, in his hand.
II allow you to go away with the girl"
he said, "because do not wish to do her
any HARM But she shall never marry you,
remember that-Wretch ?" He rose from
the chair and approached me with threat
ening gestures-"Wretch Was it not
enough TO interfere between me and her.
You try to murder the happiness of an
other innocent girl Can you ruthlessly
---,7
''Good heavens ~ I cried, almost beside
myself with 1age. "What havel done to
you, devil or lunatic, that you should per-
secute me in this way?''
she asks me what he has done Think
Of Madagascar, villain Of the deepest dye.
Think Of San Frau, pirate and crimp.
Think of Liverpool docks and Polly. Joe
Kirby-Joe Kirby, you were always as
brazen a liar as ever stepped, but did not
think you would brazen it out to me-"
A thought struck me.
"You call me joe Kirby. I am not Joe
Kirby at all. I never heard Of any Joe
Kirby"
He laughed.
eff you are not Joe Kirby he said. Il
will eat my hat-I mean, Of course"
''Come, this is trining. I say that you
mistake me for some one else. What makes
you think me Joe Kirby -
because you are.''
''Nonsense. How long since you saw
Joe Kirby ?''
"Ten years"
"}Fhat was he like when you left him ?"
e'Much the same as Observation-Disclosures
look, reddish hair, stumpy figure, fat
cheeks, just like yourself
Had this devil Of Joe Kirby any
mark 90
''Tattoo marks like mine, on the right
arm. l did him-I mean Joe. He did
me-"
I drew up my shirt and showed him my
| arms, white and free from any tattoo mark
| at all.
He was stupefed.
ssWell-I In-no-I'm dashed. And you
amt Joe Kirby at all ? Lord Lord
what q fool you must have taken me
for"
81 did"
"And me to go and let out all the little
secrets. Mate, you hold your tongue about
that Yokohama business"
81 never thought much Of ghosts,''
said Now, [ shall think still less of
them"
go on" he said, ''go on, let me have
it,
"Why couldn't you ask, before you came
laundering into the house with your infer
nal long white sheet Why couldn't you
put the question before you began ?''
why, indeed p he echoed. 'Look
here, mate, Pm sorry for this little mistake.
! am indeed. And frightening the young
lady and all What shall do now to make
things square again -
"Do What can you do but 60 right
away ?"
He began to disappear. seemed to
breathe more freely. Then the shape.
which had almost disappeared, started into
sight again with {. suddenness which
| brought back the horror which first seized
me.
Zone word, sir,'' he said. "I'm afraid I
haven come well out Of this affair." Now,
s'pose-I only say s'pose--I can put you on
to good thing. It may be a wreck lying
in four Or iye fathom Turks Island way
1t may be a buried treasure; it may be
only a pot of money; it may be coins, or
it may be statues !; but if [ should hear Of
it; and was to come and tell you, it might
go some way to getting into your good
opinion again"
No." I replied. 81 want nothing, ex-
cept the assurance that 1 shall never see