The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-09-16

could be opened instantaneously If the
proposed ghost were disposed to be vio-
lent, or use language unfit for " ears
polite. we made ourselves as comforta-
BILE in the hall as the circumstances of
no bed and an indefinite ghost would
allow.
Ten o'clock-no ghost. Eleven-not
sound. Eleven-thirty-" Ned, you're
snoring"
"Oh, no; 1 wos thinking how"
Suddenly there was crash somewhere
in the house.
''By Georger gasped Ned, ''we're
in for it, boys, and don't you forget il =
don't know how long we waited but
then it began again first sneeze, then
a kissing sound, then pail rolling down
stairs, followed by an assortment Of
dust-pans and fire-irons.
This was first t-class. After the storm
ceased Butter-Scotch, in committee
OF one. proposed that we should alter
The verdict TO "ghosts emphahcally,
and 60 home. II was entertaining, but,
to tell the truth, he was sleepy.
In a few minutes there was another
crash, and we saw something white on
the stairs, slowly and solemnly approach
ing As it neared the bottom, it raised
an arm; low moan came from it, and
a rasping sound of by no means cheer
full character.
Butter-Scotch made for the door, and
in his excitement pushed agaiust 1t in
stead of pulling, 50 he couldn't get ont.
The ghost. seeing our fright, uttered
shrek. and came swiftly toward us.
This wns too much for flesh and blood
TO bear, and Butter-Scotch yelled,
" Murder thieves fire = frantic with
horror, and we all three pulled and
pushed, beside ourselves with fear.
Just as the ghost had nearly reached
us, Ned pulled the door open, and there
was a crash and a rush, and before I
knew what had happened the door was
shut to with a bang. and | was left in
darkness in the hall, with the knowl-
edge that the beastly ghost was where
1t could touch me if it wanted to. A
second of silence, and then n voice
hissed, "Cowards !" | indorsed that
opinion heartily, but the others were
greater towards than | was ! wouldn't
have kicked the light ont of the lantern,
or shut the door on them.
There was yawn, and then the thing
said, ooh, my -
| plucked up my spirits n little. The
ghost had sense enough to be sleepy,
and | thought l could stand little talk,
if it would only keep hands off. Possi-
bly, it wanted to find the door, for it
came straight toward me. But the knob
wasn't where the phantom thought it
ought to he, and the seeking hand rested
Tor about two seconds on my nose. The
touch gave me courages it was warm,
soft and pleasant rs wOman's. /
stretched out my arms and grasped the
phantom. Ii shrieked and started, but
was strong. and the ghost was solid. so
t didn't get away. / didn't feel afraid
# it then: on the contrary, it seemed
lfraid Of me.
'Dear ghost, sweet ghost, Isaid, 81
Won't hurt You"
ne answer came tra.SAlslsAAssIs, ~s.I
ow "What are you saying7 Who
ent You ?"
"Why, my darling ghost, said, "the
ady that's going to be Mrs. Butter
scotch.
"How do you know she is E"
''Oh. l know well enough. You must
be smart ghost not TO know that. -
She doesn't love him"
"Oh, yes she does. My sweet little
phantom, you're entirely mistaken.
Come, I'll see if 1 can't light the lantern,
il that insane BOBBY hasn't smashed it
all to pieces in getting out. F"
LET me 90, please, the ghost begged,
in a very polite manner, and as it spoke
the words sounded to me very much as
from human voice disguised, and yet |
couldn't see for the life of me how any
thing human could have got into the
house after we came in, or how anything
human could have made such IN ever
lasting row, and rsttled its bones so I'M
p 'easantly. But the ghosts hands had
flesh on them. My curiosity was
aroused. so l said "No, l cannot let
you GO"
"it's wrong, huggiug me, when you
love another"
Whom do / love -
Mrs. Butter Scotch, of course.
know all about it.
You do, Ell? Then l suppose you
know how it happened ?"
Yes, of course / do.
Do you know why / stopped ?"
Because you hadn't money enough
to ask her to marry YOU.
You're perfectly right, my dear lit
tie ghost, but neither you nor | know
whether she'd have married me even if ]
had happened TO have plenty of money.
L wish you'd tell me tn 1t.
"l won't do anything of the kind.
I'm perfectly supri sed Mt myself for talk
ing to a mortl so long Goodbye.
man. Go back to the Humphreys and
tell them what you hnve seen. If the
old man buys this house won't make 1t
hot for bimi Goodbye, mortal"
But / wouldn't let go of the ghosts
arm
"Please let me go now," the phantom
beseeched.
"Can 1 trust you? Is a ghosts word
good for anything?"
With great dignity it answered:
&c Yes; | never lie.
''All right. If you'll promise to meet
me tomorrow evening under the old
apple tree on Mr. Humphreys place at
10 o'clock, I'll let you go" And as |
released my hold the ghost seemed to
vanish away, and | opened the door and
went out. Ny senses were dazed IN the
open air; the evening had been so
strange. so almost suspicious, that /
could not fathom it all at once. Besides,
1 had allowed the ghost to go before it
had given the promise to meet me again.
/ remembered my stupidity with regret,
but somehow / felt the ghost would
consider the promises as having been
given, and be at the trysting. place. At
the house they had given me up for
lost, and were discussing all manner of
plans for my rescue, and Ned was on the
point of coming for me alone, as Mr..
Steele could not be persuaded to enter
that house again until daylight. How
ever, the thing was settled, and Mr.
Humphreys accepted our report unques-
tionably, but with great regret, and the
next morning Mabel was informed of the
result At last the evening came, and
we were Oh the piazza. Mabel had. re-
tired with headache, and the rest of us
smoked our cigars and followed our own
thoughts in silence. As it neared 10 /
arose leisurely and strolled off to the old
apple tree. L had been there but few
minutes when l saw white figure APP
preaching as if from the adjoining place,
and it came straight to me and stopped
at my side.
l;fted nv hat OGood evaninoy - I