Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-03-16
NUMBER II.

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ing down drop by drop overs white shirt
front 1t was horrible Those dead eyes
looking into the room-the man standing
there as il no had been q statue cut in
stone.
"There was something so horrible in
his face that for minute o. so was
struck dumb. Where had seen that
shiny black coat and old plug hat Some-
where, it seemed to mo. in my own fam
lily. His features, too, were not those of
. stranger. Then named over TO my
self several indvidusls whom thought
he resemb bled. There must be some ons
yes, there was ons-my wifo's brother
had heard her say that younger broth
or had disappeared under circumstances
that led them to think he had been MUIR
dsrsd. This, then, must be his ghost re-
turned to soc his sister.
"But pooh I" thought I, "there are
no such things as ghosts This must be
some poor traveller who has cut himself by
accident.
AT all events, made up my mind to
address him. l took ono step forward,
and "a l opened my lips to speak, the fig
ure disappeared. There was no waving
OF the curtain now-nothing to show that
there had been ghostly presence behind
it. Outside tho wind made u fearful rack
ct around the corners of tho house and
among the bare limbs of tho elms. Oc-
casonally the slam of a door reached my
ears, telling how the wind WAS using it.
Presently l distinguished the tramp,
tramp, Of q horses feet. Tho stable was
connected with the shed, but, strange to
tell, the sounds were approaching the
kitchen, seemingly but few feet away
from the very door. In second more l
was Mortified to hear horses' hoofs
stamping across tho kitchen floor.
"There is something awful in such
sounds at such an hour for the Hrst time
l felt my hair begin to rise from my
scalp. Looking round, saw the odd
figure once moro at the window. The
sight of that ghastly face and those glaz-
cd eyes watching me so intently drove
me to decide upon acting at once.
"Speak ~ l cried; "are you man or
ghost ?"
There was no response only a side
motion-a slight movement Of the head,
and the spectre had disappeared again.
No sound Of wind this time, but those
hoofs meandering hore and there were
more dreadful, and l concluded ii must
DO some horse-thief who meant to rob
and murder mo at tho same time.
Reaching above tho fireplace, l took
down my double barreled shotgun,
cooked both barrels, and deliberately
pointed it toward the window, resolving
To fire II at tho first glimpse of his ghost
ship or, as moro than half suspected
horse thief. All ut once, there came
terrific gust that shook tho whole house
from foundation 10 chimney. IL made
the old clock stop for tho Grst time in q
dozen years roaring down tho fireplace,
scattering the ashes about the room, and
half binding mo.
Through the cloud Of dust saw the
face again at the window. In another
second my eyes were nearly demolished
by the report Of my gun. Both barrels.
heavily loaded with buckshot, had gone
right through that west window, taking
nearly tho whole sash with il, and send-
ing me Hat on my back by tho force of
the concussion.
What's tho matter, Tom What
ye been shooting at. at this time 'onightP"
were the first words | heard, aitor pick
ing myself up from the loo..
"Thers in their night clothes stood tho
old folks, and right behind them, in the
doorway, the two 5oys-John and Harry.
Grandfather held candle in his hand,
and looked at me with alarm in his face.
The boys were whimpering with the cold.
Ghosts or robbers, amt quite sure
which," l replied
started toward the window. On
looking out. bsheld tho figure stretched
at full length on the ground. The sight
gave me courage.
"That ghost won't want 10 haunt those
parts any longer, l guess" said L. "Hs
has two charges OF buck shot in his body
somewhere-enough to kill even a ghost.
Hold the lantern, grandpa. while take
a close look at him."
After placing the lantern in his hand
l sprang through the window frame, and
was soon bending over the supposed dead
body. What was my astonlshmont and
chagrln to find it neither ghost nor man,
but lot Of straw stuffed into my great
grandfathera old clothes, which had Leen
used to scare crows it had been redress
cd and fastened to nail with long cord
reaching from the boys room down. 1t
all flashed over my mind in an Instant
The boys, knowing my late hours, had
played tho trick on me. returned to
the house, replying to inquiries that the
corpse would lay where it was for the
present. As for John and Harry, they
had no further occasion 10 complain OF
the cold that night, for the warming they
got before they went up stairs again was
enough TO last them until daylight. and
gave theta lesson that they will not
soon forget
Soon after went out in The kitchen,
and found tho old marc standing with
her head over tho sink, patiently waiting
for a drink. Her halter having become
loossned, and the doors from stable to
kitchen open. she had improved the OPP
portunity to go on a tour Of Investigation.
"This, boys, Is the sum total OF my
ghost story about as real, / guess, as
any that happen hereabouts. | never
took much stock in these shrouded ina
ges-there is always some human agency