The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-09-09

raised his hand and shook it at me, Deneatn
! its linen folds, and then, with that singular
movement remarked by all who nave con
versed and are familiar with ghosts'-a move
ment which the shape neither gliucs MOI
walks, but changes place-the Spectre $1,000
within the room, facing me am ashamed
to say that was frightened
so" he said, with al angry glance,
! have found you AT last,
I made no reply. What was there to say
al have found YOU at last, have /: Now
have YOU, what shall do to you?"
| could only look hopelessly. He pushed
one arm outside the cerements which covered
| it--a long, lean arm, marked with tattoo
representing ship in full sail, surmOunted
| by q skull and cross bones. | noticed that
the air was not stirred by his movements. II
was odd, too, that | recovered my courage as
soon as he began to threaten.
His gestures became more threatening lie
repeated twenty times running the question
with which he first accostcd me: Now
have found you, what shall | do with YOU
1t seemed, indeed, as if he could say nothing
more.
"Come," | cried at last "this IS fooling
What do you mean by coming to my house
like mailman? Leave of 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 yon swear,
man? Can't you relieve nature IN the usual
manner"
He groaned and wrung his hands
81 can't" he said 1t isn't allowed. |
wish | could. What shall do with you:
What shall do with yOu:"
"You have asked me that a hundred times
already Bah. You are a ghost. Ghosts
can do nothing. / used TO believe that they
did not exist Now see that they do, But
look here
| took the poker from the fireplace ana
passed it through him. Then cut him down
like guardsman at Waterloo. Then sliced
him in two like a soldier at an assaulted
arms. At each pass of the weapon he duck.
ed, recoiled, and cried aloud
.'See. YOU cannot resist. | do what like
with you What can you do in rcturn?'
He raised his hand and struck at my face.
1t was rs if a cold wind blew upon my cheek.
| could not repress a shudder. The old shlv-
er came across me- He saw It and at once
sprang at my throat. TO my surprise what
was before as a breath Of cold air became tan
gible. | felt his cold grasp with his long
bony fingers at my throat. His face, close to
mine, was filled with an eager longing tor re
venge. His lurid eyes glarcd in mine. HIS
teeth glistened in the twilight. 1t was but
for & moment that was afraid Then l raj
lied my courage, sprang upright and looked
my spectral enemy in the face. AS looked
the tanglbility Of his fingers weakened, the
tightness of his grasp relaxed, and his look
changed from one of triumph to that OF BAT
fed rage. Then he fell back sullenly and
threw himself into an casy-chaT, glering
round the room.
Ia
{ to occupy that chair. II is mine. Please
lake another"
He changed chairs Immediately.
Will this dO?'
1t was one next to nine. begged HIM TO.
AXE one on the other side Of the fireplace,
which he did at once Then | sat down and
the situation.
! was alone, save an old woman, my TEN.
)orary faCtotum in the kitchen. The people
n the houses round were now all away Tor,
heir holidays. ] had ghost, presumably a.
unatlc of a dangerous kind, under my root.
1t was impossible to get rid of him, unless
ne chose to 20. You cannot push, Kick, or
throw n ghost out of window or door; you
cannot lock him in one room while you go to-
sleep in another; you cannot shut yourself
up in your bedroom and defy him; above all,
you never know what tricks he may be at
OF these things, became conscious
If another access of terror-sightcr this time
My guest, however, perceived 1t, and in n
wlnkilng he was on me again, with bis skel
ton fingers round my throat. shook him
,H; that is, regained my presence of mind,
md he covered back to his seat, where he
vat, his head on his arm, and his long white
clothes ciinging to his limbs, a sight never to
)e forgotten.
"Pray tell me what it means" | said
at means that il you were afraid of me, !
would throttle you like adOg. 1t means that
am sitting here waiting for the moment
When you will realize who aud what am
he injuries you have done me, the wicked.
less of your life, the loneliness of your posi-
ion, and your presence with another world
Ia! ha! see it coming! Your nerves won't
tanu me another quarter OF an hour and then
shall SEIZE you by the windpipe, and
queeze, squeeze, the life.blood out of you"
Presently he went on again:
You will have to 20 to bed soon. You
annot sit ap all night"
How long can you stay hereE
AS long rs please. Ho! no! no! | can
'e with you, now have found you, morning,
loon and night When you are quietly in
our bed, shall be sitting by the bedside,
Waiting for a moments weakness Wher
ou are at your Office IN the city, | shall be at
our elbow, waiting 10 find you off your
uard At dinner | shall be behind you. You
VII not escape me. Sooner or later you will
C afraid The time will come. shall wait
shall wait"
Pray explain" | said blandly. You
will wait until am afraidY
Precisely. We ghosts cannot hurt pco.
lie unless they are afraid of us. Our power
$ only over the cowardly and supers,itous-
hat is, over nearly all mankind. Once a
nan has the pluck TO stand up to us, we are
,owerless"
/" My good friend replied, "let us enjoy
ach others society wIthou, mutual confes
ions. grant all that you have said 1t is
'ery curious and Interesting Not, perhaps,
quite 50 horrible as | might have expected,
lad known you were coming, but still-by
he way, you hail from the cemetery close
w"
al do. All villain and traitor, who put
ne there? | do; and rs | was taking an
vening invisible stroll, ! happened to look ,
n at your window and saw the man had
expected and most hoped to see. Hal ha, I