The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-04-17

INV DiSh u"u HuONSoS oh'y i' ""o ~oo"'
ovcrqro,un people in general, one day
when Ellen Belmont teased her about
being so light and slender.
well, we reached sBertram's Sorrow,
and drove up an avenue of ghostly pop
lars to the great hall door.
"'Let's tell each other terrible stories
of all sorts of horrors proposed Bob
Arnold, $50 as to work up our feelings
to the right pitch of fear.when the ghost
makes its appearance. I'll begin
"And he did, by telling a terrible mut
der tale, where the victim appeared after
death, with her severed head under hel
arm. Clint White followed with anothel
quite as bad; and then Ellen Belmont
started in with tale of blood, while
poor Dode grew paler and paler,and had
a hard time 10 keep from shivering, as
could easily see
"Dick watched her, too; and though
she never said word or made sound
could easily tell how badly he felt te
have her alarmed, because he tried his
best to change the subject.
"Presently we heard latch lifted out
side, and a regular though rather sof
foots,ep began to move across the fool
Of an adjoining room.
".Listen 7 cried Ellen Belmont in {
voice of terror; aud as the steps drew
near she jumped up,overturning the DO,
that supported her end Of the plank, ant
bringing US all to the floor at once
81 don't know which OF US knocked
the candles down. but when we scram
bled on our feet we were in darkness, ,ex
cept from the glimmer of the expiring
brush, and the footsteps sounded plainly
outside the door. e.
"There was a moments pause; the
door swung open; something walked in
crossed the floor with soft but audible
footsteps, and paused in the opposite
corner Of the room.
"The light on the hearth was nothing
but dying glow, that did not. spread .
ray outside its walls. We could onl,
feel that something moved before us
without being able to tell its size OF
form. Il RFk&
at made a shutting sound for mo
ment and then retired, dragging, as i
seemed to my ears, some one over th'
floor with IL.
81 knew 1t wasn't Ellen Belmont, fol
she uttered a yell close beside my ear
and tainted, with an awful thump, right
on the ground at nv feet,
81 was trying to lift her when l heard
some one scraping a match, and then
light, feeble at first, but gradually grow
ing brighter as the wick of the candle
took the blaze, shone over the scene.
must say. it made me feel rather queer
for minute, for it sho we'd our Dode
with Dicks arm tight around her waist
and she holding the candle in her hand
81 guessed It out to myself that wner
she was frightened she ran straight tc
the man she loved for shelter, and ht
had caught her in his arms.
81 heard him whisper to her, i deserv,
twice as much as | have endured for be
lieving what she said; l might hav,
known the truth; but l know it now
darling, never again to be deceived
"You see, Ellen had told him tina
Dode said he hadn't the spirit of nous,
in him, or sense enough to keep himsel
warm, when poor Dode just worshippet
him and thought him hero; and wher
she talked that way to Ellen she only
meant to defend herself by declarins
that some large folks could be lubbers
etc.
eve, Ehen both candles we're lighted
and the alarm had subsidized so as to al
low the gentlemen's courage to aris,
above it, a search was made. = Y
ELLEN Belmont came to when sh,
found Dick did not 60 near her, and sh,
joined in it.
"'Who can say they doubt the exist
ence Of spirits again p she cried in tragi
tones. Il could plainly discern the oct
lines of tall figure, clothed in white, a
it darted by me, and the touch of its ic,
robe made me insepsible.' E
sit required both Clinton and Rober
to sustain her, but Dick never ono,
looked iu ber direction; he was otherwis
engaged.
"'It wasn't ghost! I'm sure of that
cried Dode,w had been using her can
die effectively in the corner. sJemima'
bologna is gone, and no ghost ever il
this world carried off bologna
"That made US all laugh and gave u
courage, too; we followed the retreatin,
footsteps through the open doors, an
came upon great Newfoundland do
curled up on a mat outside, discussin
the big sausage.
ave called out the old people an
pointed to the solution of our ghostl
experience, "
"They showed no surprise, and admit
ted that old Pompey could open ever.
latch in the house. ~
"'Maybe it is his step we hear aroun
Of nights said the old woman. i a
ways said be was knowing beast, an
would get under cover when it rains,
he could and you know James she col
tinued, shat it was mostly Of wet night
we heard the spirits tramping throug
the great house,
"That was explanation enough for M
Mary Ann. l was quite willing to los
the bologna for the sake OF it, more pa
ticularly as Dode and Dick we're so haI
py, and Ellen Belmont looked as if st
could bite nail in two.
III told Dode afterward that believe
she just pretended to be scared, and ra
straight into the arms of Dick on pa
pose You can ask her about it, II
she is your mother now. Dorinda W,
her right name, and your fathers nan
is Richard Hartley, Esq, attorney
law; but we used to call him Dick
those days. g. h-.e,af.iha
~A Nevada journal states that :
certain candidate has lost thirteen vot
) through making a rash promise to
e wife. He had promised that in the eve
of his election he would buy her ses
+ skin cloak and pair of navy blue stoc