Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-08-13

ing. As it neared the bottom, it raised
an arm a 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 against it in
stead of pulling, SO he couldn't get out.
The ghost, seeing our fright, uttered a
shrek, and came swiftly toward us.
This was too much for flesh and blood
to bear, and Butter-Scotch yelled, "Mur-
and we all three pulled and pushed, be-
side ourselves with fear.
Just as the ghost had nearly reached
us, Ned pulled the door open, and there
was q crash and rush, and before /
knew what had happened, the door was
shut to with bang, and ] was left in
darkness in the hall, with the knowledge
that the beastly ghost was where it could
touch me if it wanted to. A second of
silence, and then voice hissed, "Cow-
ards !" Endorsed that opinion heartily,
but the others were greater towards than
l was wouldn't have kicked the light
out of the lantern, or shut the door on
them.
There was yawn, and then the thing
said, "Oh, myr'
1 plucked up my spirits little. The
ghost had sense enough TO be sleepy,
and thought could stand a little talk,
F., if it would only keep hands off. Posi-
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 be, and the seeking hand
rested for about two seconds on my
nose. The touch gave me courage; it
was warm, soft, and pleasant as a
woman's. l stretched out my arms,
and grasped the phantom. 1t shrieked
and started, but L was strong, and the
ghost was solid, so it didn't get away.
l didn't feel afraid of it then on the
contrary, it seemed afraid of me.
''Dear ghost, sweet ghost" l said,
81 won't hurt you"
The answer came trembling and low !:
"What are you saying? Who sent
you ?"
"Why, my darling ghost" 1 said,
''the lady that's going to be Mrs. But
ter-Scotch."
"How do you know she is ?"
"Oh, know well enough. You must
be smart ghost not to know that p
"She doesn't love him.
"Oh, yes, she does. My sweet little
phantom, you're entirely mistaken.
Come, I'll see if / can't light the Ian
tern, if that insane BOBBY hasn't
smashed it all to pieces in getting
out"
"Let me go, please" the ghost
begged, in very polite manner; and as
\ - xuo,.d, cor,nIaI 10 mo x-ar.ry
much as from human voice disguised,
how anything human could have got
into the house after we came in, or how
anything human could have made such
an everlasting row, and ratified its bones
so unpleasaatly. But the ghosts hands
had flesh on them. My curiosity was
aroused, so said, "No, / can't let you
CO."
cts wrong-hugging me, when You
love another"
"Whom do I love?"
"Mrs. Butter-Scotch, of course. I
know all about it.
"You do, eh? Then I suppose you
know how it all happened?"
" Yes, of course / do"
"Do you know why I 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 l know
whether she'd have married me even if
L had happened to have plenty of
money. / wish you'd tell me that"
81 won't do anything of the kind.
I'm perfectly surprised at myself for
talking to a mortal so long. Go back to
the Humphreyses, and tell them what
you have seen. If the old man buys
this house, won't make it hot for him !!
Good-by, mortal"
But I wouldn't let go of the ghosts
arm.
"Please let go of me now," the phan-
tom beseeched.
A bright idea came to me. I said ::
"Can trust you? Is a ghosts word
for anything?"
With great dignity it answered {:
Yes / never lie"
"All right. If you'll promise to meet
me tomorrow evening under the old
apple-tree on Mr.. Humphreys place at
ten o'clock, I'll let you CO." And as 1
released my hold the ghost seemed to
vanish away, and l opened the door and
went ont. My 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,
l had allowed the ghost to go before it
had given the promise to meet me again.
[ remembered my stupidity with regret,
but fomehow 1 felt the ghost would con-
slider the promise 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 un-
questionably, but with great regret, and
the next morning Mabel was informed
of the result. At last the evening came,
and we were on the piazza. Mabel had
retired with headache, and the rest of
us smoked our cigars and followed our
own thoughts in silence. AS it neared
ten, l arose leisurely, and strolled off to
the old apple-tree. / had been there
but few minutes when saw white
figure approaching as if from the ad-
joining place, and it came straight to
me and stopped at my side.
lifted my hat. "Good evening"" /