The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-08-09
HOW CHOKER CAME BACK.

The only true ghost story know is the
story of Choker's ghost. That is posi-
tive fact, we'll attested. All the neigh
bors know what happened. All the
neighbors saw ali that was to be seen. All
the neighbors saw how it began; and as
it is the story of Choker's ghost, it could
not have begun until Choker died.
"Old Choker" he had been called for
good many years-bcfore he was &C.
tually old, should suppose, but he was
4 very queer fellow, man without rela-
lives or friends, and vino seemed to want
none.
He was mysterious man, too. He
had wooden leg, and no one knew how
he came by it. He had black patch
over one eye, and no one could tell why
he wore it. He had a rusty brown WIG,
and there was no man intimate enough
to know whether he had adopted it be-
cause he was bald or because he was gray.
He had deposit in the bank, and no one
knew how he earned the money.
He came stranger to Grabtown, and
bought house and little farm there, Civ
ing his name as Guy Choker. That was
all that any one knew about him, except
hat he had the best crops to be seen for
miles around. He never went to church
and never chatted with neighbor. No
one knew ar. thing against him; as they
knew moth ,g, they suspected great
deal; and when at last he was found dead
one morning, all the bottled-up curiosity
popped out, as champagne does when it's
uncorked.
Everybody went to see him where he
lay. Everybody attended the inquest,
and everybody went to the funeral. I;
was decided that he died of apoplexy
There were no relatives to see to him, bu.
there would probably be money left to
pay for his funeral, 80 there was nc
trouble about that.
! The clergyman said doubtful sort OF
good word for him, and he was dead; nc
one contradicted it. And Peggy Kinder
who said she wasn't AFRAID Of anything
was put into the house 10 take care of il
She knew old Choker very we'll, having
done washing for him for five yesrs.
That night, the weather being chilly
spring weather, she made up good fiji
in the kitchen, and slept on an old lounge
there.
Once in the night she woke up and
thought she heard the clump, clump
clump OF wooden leg overhead, but
though she felt chill run up her back.
bone at the thought, she made up hel
mind that it was all nonsense, and went
to sleep again.
At six she was up and had put more
coal on the fire, and was filling the ket.
tie, when positively-no fancy about il
this time-she did hear that clump
clump, again across the room up stairs
.::an dozen times, then down the stairs
The sound of Choker's wooden leg, aud
nothing else; and as she turned about
shaking and trembling, she saw Chokel
himself at the door, in his big lowered
dressing gown, with the black patel
over his eye, and the brown wig on.
Lord have mercy on usw criec
Peggy.
Then as Choker nodded chcerfully ant
said
breakfast ready YETI" she grew be
wildered.
"Ive been having q .horrid dream
sir" she said, getting away from his fig
ure, though, as she spoke; land it's "
natural as life. dreamed that you wer,
! ~~~>s~s> "AA, s~AN SAAot ~ was ~ uACuT8l ina
you skeer me-"
"Do II" said Choker; why, bless yc
we must all die"
eyes. sir" said Peggy.
"Only all of us won't stay buried
said Choker, putting his finger to BIZ
nose.
And then Peggy never waited even TO
her bonnet, bolted out of the house. an1
came tumbiing into her daughters hal
an hour after, shaking with fright, ant
yowing she had seen Choker's ghost. Tn,
daughter was nearly as much frightened
as the mother, and the news spread, bu
nobody believed it.
At last every one said it was ridiculous
and that Peggy must have been drinking
and at last the undertaken himself, &C
companied by the coroner-two men ner
vous on the subject Of ghosts, and beside
who had thorough knowledge of Chok
er's death and burial-went to the hous
together, accompanied by train Of ad