St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1878-05-04

to take the slightest notice of me, |
began to be more at ease. At last |
thought it would be uncivil to ride in
the old gentleman's coach without speak
ing to him, and I also felt inclined, as |
had never before met with real ghost,
to make his acquaintance So I, by way
of opening the conversation, said:
GA splendid night, sir
"The elderly party in the tiewig made
no reply"
"I In hurry to get to town. pre-
sumo? I am very much obliged to you
for the lift
"Still no answer After this we both
sat for some time in silence; the ghost
seemed buried in thought, and l remained
watching him with great interest. At
last, the night being chilly for the time
of year, and the coach having about it
peculiar atmosphere like that of a
vault, began to feel extremely cold.
After awhile the old gentleman grew
quite sociable, and began to talk he COM
plimented me upon my bravery in daring
to stop his carriage. For just one
century he had, once a year, driven
along this road without meeting any one
who had the courage to tide with him;
who had the courage to ride with him
and through me, he would be released
from all further punishment, which was
to last until some brave fellow accom-
panied him in the drive and conversed
with him.
For this release he heartily thanked
me, and said that, for my courage, l
should be lucky to my business specula-
tions and, as you are aware, he turned
out true prophet"
"Did you talk about anything else p
asked Joe.
"Ob, yes. My old friend had as much
curiosity as woman" said uncle Ben,
who, I need not say, was an inveterate
bachelor. eve had conversation
about London. 1t appears that he had
been great beau in his time and be
considered himself an enormous favorite
with the ladies' He wished to know
who was the reigning toast, and was
much disguised when ! told him that
toasts had gone out of fashion,
"Was that all?"
ooh, no. He told me where the best
civet and pomatum were to be bought
and who was the best peruke-maker
and was still more surprised when sale
that no one wore wigs now, except law
yers and coachmen. He asked if travel
ing was as dangerous as ever; though
he confessed that he had not been mucl
troubled lately by the knights of the
f. road. He said that one rode up to stol
him twenty-five years before, but tn
sight OF bis headless driver had 81
frightened him that he put spurs to hi
horse and disappeared as if he had hat
J twenty Bow-street runners at his heels.
odd you not ask what became of hin
on the other nights of the year, when h
| was not out for his drive %
"He said that, in company with tb
f innumerable shades who were condemne'
to occasionally visit the earth for crime
? committed during their past lives, h
3 passed his time lowering round his oil
haunts, longing to become visible to hi
I descendants, and to assist them in time
, of trouble, but unable to do SO. AS W
4 conversed, the time rapidly slippe
away; and at length the lamps of Lo1
, don became visible in the distance. Ate
g thanking the old man for his courtesy,
suggested that I might now slight, as
had great many friends in town that
g should like to visit; but he shook h
: head.
t mo, no. said he; we are at th
mercy of my coachman he has the entil
command during our drive, and he wi
only stop at the place he picked you VI
q See, he is turning the horses round W
8 are about to return
! eff the journey to town seemed shor
q the journey back was still shorter. Tt
, old man told me hundred anecdotes
8 the people of his time. He had been
, staunch Jacobite, and he told me a
y about young Cavalier, and painted til
= March to Finchley in words that di
full justice to Hegarth's picture. Th
! statesmen, wits and soldiers of the lss
: century appeared to stand before me
the flesh, and I never enjoyed driy
better than the one I had with m
ghostly ancestor.
GAS the clock struck one, we pulle
up at the old moss-covered milesto1
where | first stopped the coach. One
more thanking me for the inestimab
faver I had done him, the old gentlema
, signed to the driver to open the carriag
: door, I got out, and, as [ turned roun
! to bid him good'by, | found that til
whole cavalcade, coach, horses, drive
and old gentleman, had vanished int
,, thin air, and was alone"
"Alone ?" exclaimed his hearers
. eyes," said Uncle Ben; "but th
strange thing was that I became insens
, BILE, and knew nothing more until ws
, found r. @ next morning lvinp hpsida til