The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-03-23
WITH A GHCST

ative man OF 80, whose days are spent il
business bright, sunshiny country,
neighbors all round one; and new CEN
etery 100 yards distant.
To this house and to this man ghost
came, and in this wise:
II was in August. was sitting, after
dinner, trying to get sentimental over
my approaching marriage, and picturin2
to myself Eleanor in the easy chair OPP
posite me. The light was fading, but
as my eyes followed the lines mschani-
cally, and my thoughts were elsewhere,
that mattered little. Outside the house
stirring of the ieaves, no breath in the
air no voices from my own kitchen; no
sounds from the houses on either side,
which were locked up, their tenants be-
ing at the seaside not even the bark of
dog or the distant roll of carriage to
| show that there was another living per-
son in the world beside myself. Then a
/ curious feeling came over me; sudden
| II realized that lie may go on in invisi-
ble, intangible forms I looked round
me with a shudder [ expected some
| thing. The room became, without
warming, distinctly darker the air grew
chill. I felt cold dews stand upon my
| forehead. Remember that up to this
moment there was no reason at atl-none
wilatever-for alarm. Yet became un-
accountably afraid. [ turned to the
window for relief, and there, there saw
| for the first time.
It was standing outside the window, a
dark shadow, clearly outlined against the
sky /; colorless, and yet its draperies were
| like white grave clothes shapeIess, and
yet, somehow, human in appearance.
And it had q face. Deep sunken and
lustrous eyes, bright with phosphorie
splendor, showed me hollow checks, lips
that trembled as if with passion, and a
| frowning forehead. When [ turned he
raised his hand and shook it at me, be-
| meath its linen folds, and then, with that
| singular movement remarked by all who
have conversed and are familiar with
| ghosts a movementin which the shade
neither glides nor walks, but changes place
the specter stood within he room, facing
me. am ashamed to say that I was
| frightened.
$780," he said, with an angry glance,
''I have found you at last"
| made no reply. What was there to
say?
81 have found you at last, have I9
Now [ have you, what shall I do to you?
I could only look hopelessly. He
pushed one arm outside the cerements
which covered it-a long, lean arm,
marked with tattoo representing a ship
under full sail, surmounted by skull and
cross-b bones. He shook his fist excitedly
| in my face L noticed that the air was
not stirred by his movements. It was
odd, too, that [ recovered my courage
as soon as he began to threaten.
| His gestures became more threaten
ing. He repeated twenty times running
| the question with which he first accost-
ed me ''Now found you, what shall
do with you?"
''Come," cried at last, "this is fool
ing. What do you mean by coming to
my house like madman? Leave off
asking what you will do with me. If
you are ghost out of his senses, say SO;
if not, vary the monotony by saying
something else Can't you swear p
He groaned and wrung his hands.
81 can't" he said, sit isn't allowed. I
wish ] could Now what shall 1 do with
you? What shall do with you ?"
s'You have asked me that a hundred
times all eady. Bay you are ghost.
Ghosts can do nothing. used to be-
lieve that they did not exist. Now I see
they do. But look here"
1 took the poker from the fireplace
and passed it through him. Then [ cut
him down like a guardsman from Water
loo. Then I sliced him into two like a
pass of the weapon he ducked, recoiled
and cried aloud.
''See, you cannot resist. I do what /
like with you. What can you do in re-
| turn -
He raised his hand aud struch at my
face It was as if cold wind blew upon
my cheek. 1 could not repress shud-
| der. The old shiyer came across me.
He saw it at once, and sprang at my
| throat. His face, clos: to mine, was
filled with an eager longing for revenge.
His lurid eyes glared in mine. His teeth
| glimmered in the twilight. 1t was but
for moment that 1 was afraid. Then
rallied my courage, sprang upright, ano
looked my spectral enemy in the face
As 1 looked the tangibility of his fingers
weakened, the tightness of his GRASP
relaxed, and his look changed from one
of triumph to that of bafiled rage. TheI
he fell back sullenly and threw himself
into an easy chair glazing round the
room.
'I never allow anyone but myself"
said, ssto occupy that chair. 1t is mine
Please take another"
He changed the chairs Immediately.
sWilI that do 2"
1t was one next to mine. / begget
him to take one on the other side of tn
fireplace, which he did at once. Then
sat down and surveyed the situation.