Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-09-11
Haunted by a Demon.

remarking sadly as he did so, "Give me
ten dollars worth of fresh sword fish. :"
The clerk looked up IN astonishment
at such an unusual demand for sword
fish, and reluctantly admitted that they
were all out of the article At the same
time he mildly suggested that they had
some very nice fresh hallbut and mack
erel, which perhaps would answer the
gentleman's purpose as well.
'Why do you not suggest a jewsharp,
a mOnkey-wrench, box of clothes pins,
a cook stove, Barnum's Albanian, or
anything else that l do not want +?
believe, young man, that asked for ten
dollars '-worth-of- -fresh-sword-
fish % And the excited gentleman en-
phasized each word of the last sentence
with thump of his formidable looking
fist on the counter.
But sir, we have no fresh sword
fish, replied the clerk.
"DO not my ears deceive me? Did l
hear Alright? Did l understand you to
say that you had no fresh sword fish 2"
said he, in tragic tone of voice.
Exactly" was the response.
The pale man walked to the door and
looked up and down the street as if
searching for something, then turned
and beckoned with his long, white fin
ger to the clerk.
The dispenser of aquatical delicacies
began to think that he had first-class
lunatic to deal with, and having heard
that the best way was to indulge their
peculiarities, he cautiously approached
him when he got within reach, the sup
posed lunatie caught him firmly by the
shoulder, and pointing with that long.
CHASTITY finger up the street, exclaimed
in tone that would have done credit to
q ghost, "Young man, gaze for a mo-
ment upon that banner; let your eyes
feast upon its beauties, and your heart
respond to your eyes; that is the glori-
Gus flag of the American Union the
flag inaugurated by the great Washing
ton and his associates, the flag preserved
by the noble Lincoln and his followers ::
and now, as you look upon that flag, re-
ceiving its morning baptism from the
god of day, its brilliant folds undulat-
ing in the breeze, do you see that, about
it, or on it, which tends to designate it
as anything but the representative of
the a0hOie people ? or, in other words,
what do you infer from those names at
the top and bottom of the flag ?''
Il should infer it was the flag of the
Democratic party" said the clerk, look
ing vainly for policeman.
"Now cast your eyes the other way
do you not see the same flag there, but
with different names ? What do you
infer from that ?"
Il should infer that was the Republi
can flag, said the clerk, growing uneasy
Now cast your eyes before you int
the street do you not see those fOul
rails laid side by side as far either way
as the eye can reach ? Do you not in
fer from the arrangement of rails. tina
horse car will pass sometime during
the day ?"
"Certainly-there is one coming now
the best car on the line. finely furnishes
with patent seats and one of the bes
drivers-if you don't happen to have tn
. small change handy, ! will gladly len
you if you wish to 60 up town"
And the clerk eagerly counted out si
nickles and extended them to the straI
ger.
Not so fast, young man, do nc
I wish to 90 up town, nor have | draw
all my differences yet. What would 20
infer from that ?" and he produced
|. huge pocket-book crammed with ban
notes.
: The clerk inferred that he was a banl
robber. a pOst-tradership broker, or
h member of Congress, but he would n'
# say so, as he was young man natura
II ly careful of his health 50 he repliet
!, II should infer you had money"
: Precisely" responded the strange
!. as he led the clerk to seat in the sho
"And now, young man, listen to
N tale of wOe-yes. to tale that WI
Ie cause you to shiver from head to foot
:, to a tale which none but the stronge
N nerves could bear.
" The clerk looked uneasily toward Il
he door. and wondered where all his Gu
C. toners and loafers had gone, as {
is stranger continued;
D. 'Three short months ago weigh
G. :; one hundred and eighty-fve pound
of this morning | can hardly turn t
er scales at one hundred and twenty one.
a "At that time something attracted I
ck attention, for what reason do not kno
=, ~ as there was no popularity about it
% the time, but ever since, four times {
cry day have gazed upon this dem
1T which has haunted me you would
tn call it a demon for you see it every d
ed unmoved. while | shudder at the sie
ay of it it is simply framed inscriPtiO
- in business hours it has been before