Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-25

hole, and try 1or brlet space to forget
our sorrow." Quad.
SimOns' Ghost.
BY DEPOT CLOCK.
"She's DUE" said Simons, as he pcered
out of the window into the darkness.
He had no sooner said these words,
when the train came putting in, its head.
light forming shining gold1ng rings in
the fog.
There was the usual hustle, and pres
emily two men came into,the depot bear
ing long. narrow box between them.
This they placed upon the table, and
withdrew. The whistle sounded, the
conductor shouted Gall aboard r' and the
train moved ont, without leaving sin
gle passenger.
A few minutes later Simons made his
appearance, with lantern in hand,
the rain-drops dripping from his great
shaggy coat and slouched hat. Placing
the lantern in one corner of the room, he
hung up his drenched garments, and,
then, turning, eyed the hox upon the ia
BILE suspiciously.
"Billed for Denver! I'll be hanged if
like the look O. that!' said Simods, un-
easily to himself.
"What's that, Simons?" asked Jim De-
land, our newsboy, who had just come in.
You here, Jim9" said he, his visage
becoming considerably brighter; II am
glad of it. You see, the ticket agent has
gone away, and I've got to stay here till
the halt-past one train, to see this con-
founded box aboard"
whats in lt?'
"Why, corpse, to be sure. Stay and
help me watch it."
Couldn't see itv' replied Jim. 1--we
got large family to look after, and can t
be out nights; besides, / haven't no fancy
a-sittin' up with dead folks. Look out,
Simon, that ghost don't rise out o. that
ERE box. I'd be afeard, 1 should, you
bet'' and with this parting injunction,
Jim turned and strobe away, whistling
It was dreary night indeed! Out
side the rain poured necessarily, and TIE
wind howled like whole pack of de-
mons let loose. Simon crept close to the
fire, shivering with the cold or something
else, perhaps fear.
II wish it was one O'clock" said he,
glancing fearfully over his shoulder at
the long, narrow box upon the table. II
wonder who is in that ere box-a man
Or woman? 1t must be woman, for it
amt hardly long enough for man. I'd
jest like to know whether she was young
or old. What car they be ascending her
out West to be buried for?''
Just then the wind came sweeping
around one corner of the depot, bowling
and moaning like something human.
Simons sprang out of his chair in fear.
"It can't be she's come to life again.
he muttered.
The wall died away, and all was quiet
oHce more. Simons' fears gradually sub
sided, and his head dropped lower and
lowe, till at last he was sound asleep.
1t seemed lonesome to me. As the
hours dragged on, I kept nay eye on the
narrow box, and fell to wondering, like
him, who was in it; who 1t was that
was taking this last journey over the
road. Was she young2 and I fell to
picturing a sunny haired, blue eyed las
sic, who had gone home thus early-be-
fore sorrow and age had coma to rob her
of the soft peach-bloom in her cheeks,
before the light had been quenched in
the bright eyes, or the sunny hair had
lost its first lustre.
After a time I grew weary of these
speculations, and, like Simon, began to
nod Suddenly I was aroused by light
step on the depot floor. Looking up,
beheld figure, entirely in white, making
its way toward the table. 1t mounted it,
and seated itself squarely upon the long,
narrow box.
Presently I gave warning, and struck
twelve. As 1 did so, Simon awoke with
a start, and, turning abruptly, faced the
whlte-robed figure seated on the box.
His hair rose suddenly upon ends, his
teeth chartered so that you could have
heard them all over the room.
The figure on the box slowly rose and
stretched out shadowy arm in his di-
rectlon. Simons became paralyzed with
fear; he shrank into the taEthest
corner and brandished his arms frantic
ally. The figure dismounted from the
table and advanced slowly toward him.
"Lord save mel he yelled. "Git out
O. this, glt out O. this, say! amt new
er done ye any harm. You needn't be
a-gittin' out O. that box to haunt me. I
hain't none O. your relations. O, Lord,
save mew
The figure never paused, but drew near
er and nearer, and Simon shrank farther
and farther into the corner. At last,
just as one shadowy arm was outstretch-
ed to grasp him, with hollow groan of
despair, he darted from under it and