Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-01-28

Pepperton had left this sorrowia
world for BETTER and hla legs began
to knock together with fright,
"Come, Josiah Pepperton.' he sale
to himself at last 10 a dlsparagine
, tone, II never saw aman make such ar
asa of himself M you are doing at th'
present moment Where are YOU
principals ] should like to know, ant
what motive could the first Mrs. Pep
perton have for molcstlng you, oon'
sidcring that You treated her wei
when she was alive, and buried he'
comfortably after her death &c,
along home with you for u miserable
coward, and don't let me hear any
thing more OF this sort IN hurry, ol
-or-'
Hc was searching fora threat that
would impose on himself when he
turned around the church aud came ia
full sight Of his wifciS grave. lie had
decided in his own mind that he
would pass on, aud not look that way
but some magnetic attraction drew his
attention that way and there, crouch
ing down close to the headstoue, was
Il suow-white figure, with awful eyes
that turned on him with stony intent
ness, and seemed to defy him to ad.
vance.
Mr.. Pepperton stood like one stun.
ned for a minute, and lher went
down on bis knees, and murmured
hoarsely, through his chalieriug teeth
"My dear Maria, | am sure you
mean this kindly, you were always
such n good.hcartcl woman when you
were alive. But can't bear it-l
can't indeed. AN very grieved it |
have hurt yonr feelings by giving you
a successor--but on my honor rs a
man, l never cared for poor Mary Ann
as ! cared for you aud you know
l planted some flowers on your grave
last summer, winch shows that you
were always in my thoughts. But
my poor nerves cant stand this Sort
of thing, and it you are going to take
to walking, the sooner l lay beside
you the be,ter-tor there will be moth
ing to live for
A hollow groan answered him and
poor Pepperton went on irantlcally.
"Pray don't take my representa-
tions in this spirit mean, don't take
this tone about them," he substituted
quickly, feeling that any reference to
spirits in such company might be con-
sidered personal and rude. 81 don't
mean any harm, and of course, l
should be delighted to sec you at any
time if it weren't for my nerves being
upset. Is there anything could do
to make you rest more quiet? Don't
hesitate TO speak. Even if it took
all my savings to make you lie com
Portable, 1 won't hesitate, Maria-l
wouldn't indeed"
Another groau, little fainter, but
still more narrowing, was the only re-
sponse, and poor Pepperton felt as IT
his brain was giving away. Seen
from that distance the ghost was ter.
rible enough, and quite as much as
his reason could stand, but
when she began to raise herself slow.
ly from the ground, still keeping he'
pale dim eyes fixed on him, and show
ing disposition 10 advance, the bor-
ror of the situation generally, and
the fear least she should take him into
her cold embrace and claim him for
owni overcame him utterly, and he
fell on his face in dead swoon.
When he returned to consciousness,
Timothy Lane and another young
man were leaning ove him, and poo'
Pepperton said with Il gasp ashe piled
himself together:
"l've had terrible experience
terrible experien ce, Timothy; the first
Mrs. Peppertou -eh ?-hulloa and
he showed a disposition to collapse
again as he pointed toward the grave,
only that they held him fast, aud burst
out laughing in most reassurlne
manner.
"That is what you took for ghost
| is 1t 2" said Timothy when he could
command his voice. "Why that is
Barnaby's white COW, she is always
getting through the hedge and stray
ing into the church yard
Pepperton sat upright, and now
that he had companions, and found
courage to examine the thing more
carefully, it certainly lost good deal
of its ghostly appearance.
But he did not seem entirely con-
vinced, and Timothy saw that this lit.
tie ioke-.he had been the author Of