American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-09-02

YOUR business hours"
There was little sleep for me that
night. When the day broke dropped
for half an hour into heavy uncon-
seriousness, awaking suddenly and with
a horror upon me that at first | did not
understand.
rose and dressed. 1t followed my
movements. l saw the specter now
only when it came into the sunlight.
Then it was dimly visible, but only, l
think, to myself. l breakfasted and
went into the city. 1t came with me.
l. sat beside me in the train; it followed
me through the streets; it was with me
in my office; it came after me up the
steps of my club.
The thing grew maddening. If 1
forgot it for Il moment, l heard whis-
per in my ear-"I am here" If 1
managed to fix my attention on the sub
ject in hand, that accursed voice began
to remind me that was neither to sleep
nor to work, nor to have any peace for
the rest of my natural life.
"What you have done, 1 shall do
and worse. 1 shall dog you'll shall
haunt you'll shall make remorse and
despair do for you what you did to her
and to me. I will revenge myself-and
her."
What had done to him? How was
to get rid of this accursed lunatic
ghostP By what spell and charm could
l lay him forever in the Red Sea?
The full misery of the thing was yet
to come.
The specter, in the afternoon, seemed
to have left mel even forgot its ex-
istence, and dined comfortably. AT 8 1
met my Eleanor, and persuaded her, not
thinking of what might happen, to look
at some new furniture in what was 60
ing to be our joint house. She came.
Nothing happened until we went into
the garden. As led her up and down
the walk, her hand in mine, she sudden
ly stopped with a cry.
"Alfred, who has been walking along
the sand '-there was an edging of red
sand to the gravel-sswith bare feetp"
1 looked. There were footprints
great gaunt footprints parallel with
my own. knew at once what was 60
ing to happen, and 1 trembled.
"Nothing, Nelly; nobody. Who
should walk in bare feet except the car
penter? Let us go i'm
"Alfred!" she cried, "see, they are
falling still, the footprints-as we walk.
Take me intake me away!"
1t was pleasant! The accursed ghost
was setting his long feet beside mine,
keeping step, so that at every football
of mine there was a new footprint of
his. I bore my girl half fainting into
the house. "a
"What was it, Alfred? What was
it? 1 am afraid. And see-see! Oh!
Alfred-Alfred!"
With cry of fright she fell fainting
into my arms. Between US and the
window stood revealed that awful figure
in its long white grave clothes, pointing
its long bony fingers at me, but saying
no word.
took Eleanor home. 1 implored
her to keep silence as to what she had
seen. soothed and pacified her. 1
assured her that it was fancy-that it
was trick of the imagination-that it
was some schoolboy deviltry-any thing
to keep her quiet. And thus 1 left her,
and returned, miserable and madden
ed, to battle with this demon who had
fastened himself upon me.
He was sitting in my chair, with his
abominable head, as usual, in his hand.
81 allow you to go away with the
girl,n he said, "because do not wish
to do her any harm. But she shall
never marry you-remember that.
Wretch!"- rose from the chair and
approached me with threatening gest-
ures-''wretch! Was it not enough to
interfere between me and her? You
try to murder the happiness of an
other innocent girl! Can you ruthless
ly-.-"
"Good heavens!" cried, almost be
side myself with rage. ''What have 1
done to you, devil or lunatic, that you
should persecute me in this way?''
SHE asks me what he had done!
Think of Madagascar, villain of the
deepest dye. Think of San Fran, 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. 1 am no.
Joe Kirby at all. never heard of any
Joe Kirby"
He laughed.
elf you are not Joe Kirby" he said,
"I will eat my hat Il mean, of
COURSE
"Come, this is trifling. 1 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."
"What was he like when you left
him?"
"Much the same as you-sanctimo-
NOUS look, reddish hair, stumpy figure,
fat cheeks, just like YOURSELF
clad this devil of Joe Kirby any
marks?''
ssTattoo marks like mine, on the
right arm. I did him-I mean Joe.
He did me.