Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-05
How My GHOST Was LAID,

He fell fiat on the ground before me.
clasped his hands to his forehead, and
uttered horrible groan. Never on the
stage did murdered villain fall so sud-
denly or with such whack.
began to shake all over. I was, in
fact, frightened almost to death. Had
killed him? Had I really killed John
Rogers ? was young enough to think
it possible. did not then feel quite as
sure as do now that ''Men have died
and worms have eaten them, but not for
love" My 18th birthday was just past,
and John Rogers was on y q. He was
not exactly milk-maid; Biddy called
him the "milk gentleman but he
MIXED his mothers COW, and was con-
descending enough to bring it to our
door in tin can every evening. We did
not keep COW. The railway ran at
the foot of our property, and we had had
the pleasure of seeing three Attorneys
inundated on cow.catchers and, as Mrs.
Rogers remarked that though she was
lady tothe backbone, and jest as good as
anybody in that neighborhood, eff not
leetle better, she did not mind letting us
have her extra milk, weg gave up our own
experiments in cow-keeping and were
served by John Rogers. Part of the
bargain understood, though unexpressed
was that the milk-bringing was to be
taken in the light of call A member
of the family received the can, and re-
marked sagely that it was warm, cold,
rainy, or that we needed rain, and asked
how Mrs. Rogers found herself. When
one sovereign obliges another great GER
emory Is required
T think never shall forget the linen
suits, made as well as washed and ironed
by his mamma, in which John Rogers
always appeared his head OF curly red
hair his big blue eyes, very round and
wide open; his long, red hands and
wrists. and the length of stocking, ankle
and shoe string which finished him off.
He generally wore pink in his button
hole. He was romantic, and had a vol
ume of Tennyson and another of Tom
Moore, which he was fond of quoting :;
and SO we come again to the reason of
bis falling fat on the ground at my feet
in that piece of woodland, and which
was called in the neighborhood Peck's
grove.
had not been wandering there arm
in-arm with John Rogers, but I had
habit of taking my book there on sultry
afternoons, and he had fallen into an
other habit of going home that way after
serving the milk. Sometimes he had
book in his pocket and would take it out
and favor me with a selection. Lady
Clara We're de We're was his favorite. [
was not particularly delighted with this
attention, but our supply of milk was
dependent on our civility, and I was
civil and so it had come to this-John
Rogers had proposed to me. There, in
the woodland, he had offered me his
heart and hand, and had said:
ooh, Mr.. Rogers, please don't. II
couldn't possibly think of marrying. I'm
too young. Mamma and papa call me
their little girl
"Never you mind, Celina. Old folks
never kin understand young folks is
growed up, % replied John Rogers. "We
kin wait. We kin keep company year
or two. I'm in hopes grand ther II step
off by that time, and we'll hev the med
der farm. Dunno as we need even ter
mention it jest now"
sob, I don't mean that, Mr.. Rogers"
I said, In terror. "I don't want to
wait. [ mean-I"-here I thought of
the milk. 81 regard you with the great
est respect as a neighbor, but-oh, no,
Mr.. Rogers, don't put your arm around
my waist. I can't allow it; butt
couldn't think of marrying you at any
time"
ebay p cried John Rogers.
He said it so sharply that started.
"Ah, I see that [ am right p cried
John Rogers. "You've been a-trifing
with my feelings. You've led me on to
this to crush me under your heel. You
thort to break country heart for para
time ere you went to teown."
ooh, Mr.. Rogers!' cried, in des-
peration, ''you know I'm not going to
town we always live here"
cts all the same, said John Rogers;
''You held your course without remorse,
To make me trust my modest worth;
And last you fixed vacant stare,
And slew me with your noble birth,
Miss Celina Tompkins. Oh, I know
you"
"Dear me, Tn sure it's very dreadful
of you to say SO, Mr.. Rogers" I said.
"Then you repent?" said John Rog-
ers. 'sYou amt goin' to yield to this
here pride of birth. When folks rela-
lions are ministers and doctors they do
feel sot up by it generally, but
&c However it be it seems to me
IT'S only noble to be good,
Kind hearts more than
Than doctors signs, and simple
Faith more than dominies blood.
You'll cast aside all them there preju-
dices of caste and hev me, whether or
no?"
"Oh, no, Mr.. Rogers" I sobbed;
"oh, no. I'm sure"-the milk rose be-
fore my memory again-"I'm sure no
family could be more respected than
yours; hnt never mean to marry at
all"
"It's final, then?" said John Rogers.
ooh, yes, indeed it is. I'm very sor-
ry, but indeed it is" said I.
Instantly, without warning, Mr.. Rog-
ers threw his book one way and his
milk-kettle the other, and fell fiat before
rne In the road.
Get up, Mr.. Rogers [ cried, when
he had been perfectly motionless for full
five minutes. ooh, get up, get up!"
And to my relief he answered, but
what he said was really terrible: