The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-09-09
WITH A GHOST.


in business; new suburban villa; /,
bright, sunshiny country; neighbors al
around one; and cemetery hundred
yards distance from the house.
To this house and to this man the ghost
came.
1t was in August. 1 was sitting, after
dinner, trying to get sentimental over
my approaching marriage, and picturing
to myself Eleanor in the easy chair oppo-
site me. The light was fading, but as my
eyes followed the lines mechanically, and
nay thoughts were elsewhere that mat
tered little. Outside the house there was
a stiffness extraordinary-no stirring OF
the leaves; no breath in the air; no voice
from my own kitchen; no sounds from
the houses on either side, which were
locked up, their tenants being ut the sea-
side; not even the distant bark of dog
or the distant roll of carriage to show
that there was another living person in
the world beside myself. Then curious
feeling came over me: suddenly reall-
Zed that life may go on in invisible, IN
tangible forms: / looked around me with
3 shudder; expected something. The
room became, without warning, distinct
" darker; the air grew chill; l felt cold
dews stand upon my forehead. Remem-
Der that up to this moment there was no
reason at all none whatever for alarm.
Yet became unaccountably afraid. l
turned TO the window for relief, and there
there l saw it for the first time.
1t was standing outside the window, a
dark shadow, clearly outlined against the
sky; colorless, and yet its drsperies were
like white grave-clothes; shapeless, and
yet somehow human in appearance. And
it had face. Deep sunken and lustrous
eyes, bright with phosphoric splendor,
showed me hollow cheeks, lips that trem-
bled MS if with passion, and a trownlng
forehead, When turned he raised his
hand and shook it at me beneath its linen
folds, and then, with that singular move
ment remarked by all who have CONVEX
sed and are familiar with ghosts,--a
movement IN which the shape neither
gldes nor walks, but changes place.
the spectre stood within the room, facing
me, l am ashamed TO say that was
frightened.
go" he said, with an angry glance, 81
have found you at last >
made no reply. What was there to
say?
tl have found you At last, have IL
Now have you, what shall l do with
your"
| could only look hopelessly. He
pushed one arm outside the cerements
which covered ia long, lean arm,
marked with TATTOO representing a ship
in full sail, surmounted by skull and
cross. bones. lie shook his fist eXcitedly
in rny face. l noticed that the air WAS
not stirred by his movements. 1t was
odd, too, that | recovered my courage as
soon as he began to threaten.
Ills gestures became threatening. he
repeated twenty times running the ques
ton with which he first accosted me-:
Now have found you, what shall | do
with your 1t seemed, indeed, as if he
could say nothing more.
Come" ] cried at last, "this is foolIng.
Whist do you mean by coming to my
house like mailman? Leave of asking
what you will do with me. If You are II
ghost out of his,senses, say so; If not, vary
the monotony by saying something else.
Can't you swear, man2 Can't you re-
lievc nature i'll the usual manner?'
He groaned and wrung his hands.
al can't" he said. 1T isn't allowed. |
wish | could. What shall do with you ?
What shall do with your
"Iou have asked me that hundred
times already. Bah! you are a ghost.
Ghosts can do nothing. used to believe
they do. But look here"
took the poker from the fireplace and
passed it through him. Then cut him
down hike guardsman ut Waterloo.
Then | sliced him III two likes soldier at
nm assaulted arms. At each pass OF the
weapon he ducked recoiled, AMI cried
aloud:
"See, YOU cannot resist. | do what |
like with you. What can you do in re-
turn?"
He raised his hand and struck ut my
face. IL WAS as if n cold wind blew upon
my cheek. could not repress shudder.
The old SILVER came across me. He saw
il at once, and sprang ut my throat. To
my surprise, what was before Ms breath
of cold air became tangible. | felt his
cold grasp with his long, boDy fingers ut
my throat. His face, c.ose TO mine, was
filled with an eager, longing for revenge.
HIS lurid eyes glared in mine. His :eeth
glistened in the twilight. 1t was but for
n moment that | was afraid. Then raj.
lied my courage, sprang upright, and
locked my spectral enemy in the face.
As looked the tangibility of his fingers
weakened, the tightness Of his grasp re-
Taxed, and his look changed from one of
triumph to that of batlled rage. Then he
fell back suddenly and threw himself into
an easy chair, glaring round the room.
81 never allow any one but myself" L
said, ito occupy that chair. 1t is mine.
Please take another.
He changed chars Immediately.
will this do?"
1t was one next to mine. l begged
him TO take one on the other side OF the
fireplace, which he did ut once. Then |
sat down and surveyed the situation.
| WAS alone, save an old woman, nv
to nporary iactotum, in TIE kitchen The
people in the houses round were now all
away for their holidays. l had ghost,
presumably n Iunatic of u dangerous kind,
under my roof 1t was impossible to get
of him, unless he chose to go. You can
not push, kick, or throw a ghost out OF
window or door; you cannot lock him in
one room while you go to sleep in an
other; YOU cannot shut yourself up in
your bedroom and defy him; above all,
YOU never know what tricks he may be-
ut. Thinking of these things, | became
conscious of another access of terror
sHghter this time My guest, however,
perceived it, and IN n twnkling WAS on
me again, with his skeleton fingers round
nv throat. | shook him CIT; that IL, |
resained my presence OF mind, and ne
covered back 10 his seat, where he sat,
his head on his arm, and his long white
clothes cllnging TO his Limits, sight never
TO be forgotten.
"Prsv tell me what il means, l said
alt means that If YOU We're afraid oil