St. Landry democrat., 1878-04-27

the former owner, was seen in his shop
in a great nightcap and with large
carving knife.
GA most formidable and disagreeable
sort of ghost, I must say; but how have
YOU heard this?"
"Ah! there's the secret, although I
can Tot imagine how the story of
mammals former connection with old
Mr.. jerks has not come to your ears.
Now, listen to me. But first solemnly
promise you will not repeat what l am
about to tell you. There, hold your
tongue, and don't interrupt me. You
are SO fond of hearing yourself talk.
Men are SO much given that way. I've
told you half the truth and that is more
than you deserve. Well, the other half,
which you might SO easily have known
if you had not been so stupid, runs thus:
My mamma and MIR. jerks were formerly
near neighbors, and Mr.. jerks fell
violently in love with mamma and
offered her marriage, and mamma re-
fused him and Mr.. jerks went mad, and
one day he presented pistol at his head
and"
"Good gracious!"
Would have killed himself, but
somebody knocked him down, and the
pistol went of, and mamma was stand
ing close by, and-"ss
"Mercy on mel"
"Was nearly killed-with fright.
Then, when Mr.. jerks came to his
senses, he was sorry, and though he
couldn't have mamma for she married
papa, and he lived many years. yet he
made will in mammals favor, leaving
her everything. He told mamma so
positively one day when he was poorly,
taking some Cruel. Then he died; but
though search was made, high and low,
no will could be found, and a rich old
heir-at-Iaw came in for everything.
And there's the reason mamma can not
bear that place. And, please, what is to
be done?"
It was curious story, and I had not
heard a word Of it before. And as to
what was to be done, that was puzzle.
I could move, Of course, but where to,
and with what prospects of doing better,
and where were the costs of removal to
come from? So I said must argue the
point with Mrs. Barton. and this I did,
and having overcome her scruples, it was
agreed the marriage should take place
at once, and that we should all live
together and face the ghost, if need be,
and, which were of more Importance, the
difficulties of the situation.
And so Lucy and I were married, and,
of course, were supremely happy, and it
was not until three writs had been served
upon and four lawyers letters been sent
me, and the gas company had cut off the
gas, and the landlord giving me notice
to quit, that with just little feeling of
apprehension we began to consider what
next.
One night, after rather a long con-
ference OH the state of affairs, when Lucy
had apparently fallen into a deep sleer,
I reused up suddenly, fancying heard a
sound below. Very gently rising SO IS
not to wake my wife I left the room and
looked down stairs into the shop. A
light entered through some apertures at
the top of the shutters, and to my aston
ishment and alarm I saw q figure in
white behind t. e counter, in the act, as
seemed, of opening one of the canisters.
Was it Mr.. Jeaks's ghost? The light
was insufficient to show me more than
the bare outline of the figure and the
slight movement eff the arms. Watched
with rather beating heart, I confess
for minute, and then I thought that
before seeking closer quarters with what
might be an apparition, but which much
more probably was burglar in his shirt
sleeves, I would don some garments; so,
RETAINING from going back into the bed
room and frightening my wife, I went to
an upper room and procured some there.
Then l again descended, and the figure
was gone, I went into the shop-all in
order. So much marvelling, I went to
bed.
When next morning I told the story
my companions were scared.
Let US go-let us get out of the un-
lucky place, 'said my wife psssionately.
Whatever there is, Harry, sell it at an
alarming saclidce,' and then you must
get secretat yship under government,
or judgeship in the colonies, or some
thing of that kind. Mammals sixth
cousins husband is--is-well, / forgot
what he is, but there's some connection
or other between him and member of
parliament, and he must do something
for you, that's what it comes to. So
now, please, we'll 60 as soon as possible"
1t was painful, but it was necessary,
to explain to my dear young wife that
the powers of her mammals distinguished
relative, even should he be willing to
exert them, were probably limited.
Lucy would not believe it. And the
lot 70,