The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-10-05

night. When the day broke dropped
for half an hour into a heavy uncon
sciousness, awaking suddenly and with
a horror upon me- that at first l die
not understand.
L rose and dressed. It followed my
movements saw the spectre nov
only when it came into the sunlight
then it was dimly VISIBLE, but only,
think to myself. I brakefasted ant
went into the city. 1t came with me
It sat beside me in the train; it fol
lowed me through the streets; it wa
with me in my office it came after M
up the steps of my club.
''The thing grew maddening. 1t
forgot it for moment, heard'a Whis
per in my earl am here" If
managed to fix my attention on til,
subject in hand, that accursed voice
began to remind me that was neithe
to sleep nor to work, not to have an.
peace tor the rest of my natural life
"What you have done, I shall do
and worse. shall dog you'll shall
make remorse and despair do for yol
what you did to her and to me. viii
revenge myself-and her."
What had I done to him? How wa
l to get rid of this accursed lunati'
ghost? By what spell and charm coult
l lay him forever in the Red Sea!
The full misery of the thing was ye'
to come.
The spectre, in the afternoon seemed
to have left me. I even forgot its ex
istence, and dined comfortably. At
l met my Eleanor, and persuaded her
not thinking what might happen, t.
look at some new furniture in wha
was going to be our joint house. Sht
came. Nothing happened until W.
went into the garden. AS led her III
and down the walk, her hand in mine
she suddenly stopped with cry.
''AIfred, who has been walking alon2
the sand''-there was an edging of rec
sand to the gravel-'swith bare feet 2
I looked. There were footprints
great gaunt footprints--parallel will
my own. I knew at once what wa
going to happen, and I trembled.
"Nothing, Nelly; nobody. Wht
should walk in bare feet except a car
penter? Let us go in
<@Alfred - she cried, ''see they ar
falling still, the footprints,--as w
walk. Take me in, take me away -
1t was pleasant! The accurset
ghost was setting his long feet besid'
mine, keeping step, SO that every foot
fall of mine there was a new footprin
Of his. bore my girl half faintins
into the house.
''What was it, Alfred? What wa!
it? am afraid. And see-see! ! Oh
Alfred--Alfred -
With cry of freight she fell faint
ing into my arms. Between us ant
the window stood revealed that awfu
figure in it's long white grave:clothes
pointing it's long bony fingers at me
but saying no word.
l took Eleanor home. I implore,
h er to keep silence as to what she ha'
seen. I soothed and pacified her.
assured her that it was fancy-that i
was a trick of imagination-that i
was some schoolboy deviltry-any
thing to keep her quiet. And thus
left her, and returned, miserable ant
maddened, to battle with this demo]
who had fastened himself upon me.
He was sitting in my chair. with hi
abominable head, as usual, in hi
hand.
81 allow you to go away with tn,
girl,' he said, 'because do not Wisl
to do her any harm. But she shall
never marry you-remember that
Wretch !''-he rose from the chair an(
approached me with threatening ges
s'wretch Was it not enough
to interfere between me and her? Yol
try to murder the happiness of anoth
er innocent girl! Can you ruthlessl.
"Good heavens y 1 cried, almost be
side myself with rage. "What have
done to you, devil or lunatic, that yo,
should persecute me in this way?'
''He asks me what he had done
Think of Madagascar, villain of th'
deepest dye. Think of San Fran, pi
rate and crimp. Think of Liverpoo
docks and Polly. Joe Kirby-Joe Kir
by, you were always as brazen a liar a.
ever stepped, but did not think yol
would braZen it out to me-
A thought struck me.
"You call me Joe Kirby. l am no
Joe Kirby at all. I never heard of an,
Joe Kirby
He laughed.
eff you are not Joe Kirby,'' he said
81 will eat my hat-I mean, Of course
-
"Come: this is trifling. l say tha
you mistake me for some one else
What makes you think me Jot
Kirby"
because you arc.'
"Nonsetse. How long since yo'
saw Joe Kirby g
"Ten years.
''What was he like when you lcf
him o.
''Much the same as you,-sanctimo
NOUS look, reddish hail, ,stumpy figure
fat cheeks, just like yourself.'
"Had this devil, of q Joe Kirby an.
marks?''
@'Tattoo marks like mine, Oh th'
right arm. I did him--I mean Joe
He did me-
/ drew up my shirt and showed hin
my arms, white and free from an.
tattoo mark at all.
He was stupefed.
"Well-I'm-no-I' dashed. AN
you amt Joe Kirby at all! Lord
Lord what a fool you must hav
taken me for
II did,
"And me to go and let out all tn
little secrets. Mate, you hold you
tongue about that Yokohama busj
ness.''
II never thought much of ghosts,
I said. ''Now l shall think still les
| of them.''