The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-02-07


Come, Gomez he said, nervously,
at last, :" this is too bad! Aman comes
out to be cheerful, you know; besides,
you fellows live in the village, and you
won't have time to get up any fancies
going home"
But as you don't believe in ghosts
1t doesn't matter" said Timothy Lane;
81 do, though, and | am glad I haven't
got your walk tonight, for the church
yard is an uncommon lonely place to
walk through after dark"
"There's no more the matter with
that than with other places" he an
swered, with confidence he did notfeel;
{. its Just the idea. But IN thankful to
say | am not superstitious like you,
Timothy"
He drank off his last drop of grog,
and rose to his feet, adding just to re-
assure HIMSELF
"Besides. I've been through it often
enough without seeing anything, and
can't see that there's any difference
between tonight and other nights"
f" None whatever" replied Timothy
Lane, with significant glance at one
of his companions, as if TO draw atten-
ton to Mr.. Pepperton's discomposure;
"why should there beP"
"That's just what lsay-why should
there bep Still, / can't say but what
it is more cheerfuller to have COM
panion these dark nights
"Of course it's more cheerfuller to
have companion" returned Timothy,
"not only dark nights, but at all times.
am sociable myself, and quite under
stand what you mean. It's a pity you
don't live in the village, Mr.. Pepper
ton, and then you'd have plenty of
company"
g So should, l daresay, and very
little money" answered Mr.. Pepper
ton, laughing, as he tugged on his
great coat, and set his face determin-
eddy toward the door.
"You don't mean we should rob you
going home, do your" inquired limo
thy, who seemed vastly amused about
something.
Well, not exactly; but you'd take
up my time, / expect, and times mon
ey. Whew! what dark nightr' he
added, as he opened the door, and
looked down the village street. g
don't believe / shall be able to see my
way"
" Your eyes will get accustomed to
it after you have been out few min
ntes," observed the landlord, encour-
agingly ''Good night, Mr.. Pepper
ton, good night, and pleasant walk. "
This sounded like sarcasm to the old
farmer, as he went shivering along the
path, keeping his eye fearfully on the
tall shadow of the old church. Hither-
to he had never had any feeling of this
sort, for after three editions of grog a
man is generally very valiant, but to-
night, somehow, the stimulant had not
taken its usual effect, and he felt nerv-
GUS and unstrung.
"However, since it had to be done,
it were better done quickly" he said to
himself, and quickened his pace.
The wind whistled drearily in the tree
tops, and there was not so much as a
light in the rectory windows to give a
feeling of company.
Rnt he could see his way perfectly
now, and he could also see the grave
stones cleaning palely against the
sombre background of sky and yew.
He made few timid steps forward,
and then stopped short, shuddering. 1t
had suddenly occurred to him that this
was the anniversary of the first Mrs.
Pepperton's death, and he should have
presently to pass her grave.
If she were disposed to "walk," as
it was called in the village, what an
opportunity! Now, he had had great
regard for the first Mrs. Pepperton, and
from some points of view, he thought
her superior to the second, but, under
the circumstances, he did not wish to
see her again, and devoutly hoped that
if it had occurred to her to walk" to
think better of it.
At this moment the clock struck
eleven, driving the blood to his heart,
and making him shudder in his shoes.
And then he remembered again that
this was the very hour the first Mrs.
Pepperton had left this sorrowful world
or a better, and his legs began to
knock together with fright.
"Come, Josiah Pepperton, he said
to himself at last, in a disparaging
tone, &C never saw man make such
a fool of himself as you are doing at
this present moment. Where are your
principles, should like to know, and
what motive could the first Mrs. Pep
perton have for molesting you, consid-
ering that you treated her well when
she was alive, and buried her comfort
able after her her deathp Get along
home with you for a miserable coward,
and don't let me hear anything of this
sort again in hurry, or-or-"
He was searching for threat that
he would impose on himself when he
turned round the church, and came full
in sight of his first wife's grave. He
had decided in his own mind that he
would pass on, and not look that way,
but some magnetic attraction drew his
glance in that quarter, and there,
crouching down close to the headstone,
was snow-white figure, with awful
eyes that turned on him with stony in
tentness, and seemed to defy him to
advance.
Mr.. Pepperton stood like one stunned
for minute, and then he went down
on his knees, and murmured, hoarsely,
through his CHI altering teeth:
"My dear Maria, l am sure you mean
this kindly, you were always such a
| good-hearted woman when you were
| alive Rut 7 can't haar II ooc,4 =.