The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-08-18

"Why, my darling ghost" / said,
" the lady that's going to be Mrs. But
ter-Scotch."
Chow do you know she is P'
"Oh, I know we'll enough. You must
be smart ghost not to know that I"
"She doesn't love him."
"Oh, yes she does. My sweet little
phantom, you're entirely mistaken.
Come, I'll see if l 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
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 anything human could have got
into the house after e came in, or how
anything human could have made such
an everlasting row, and ratified its bones
so unpleasantlv. But the ghosts hands
had flesh on them. Ny curiosity was
aroused, so 1 said; "No, cannot let
you CO."
cts wrong-hugging me, when you
love another"
"Whom do love ?"
hlTS. DuUUeE-CCOlCuJ OF course, L
know all about it,"
"You do, eh? Then I suppose you
know how it all happenedY
eyes, of course l 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 know
whether she'd have married me even if
I had happened to have plenty of
money. I wish you'd tell me that"
81 won't do anything of the kind. I'm
perfectly surprised at myself for talking
to mortal so long. Goodbye, man. Go
back to the Humphreys and tell them
what you have seen. If the old man
buys this house won't make it hot for
him Good. bye, mortal"
But 1 wouldn't let go of the ghosts
arm.
"Please let me go now," ihe phantom
beseeched.
A bright idea came to me. said:
"Can I trust you? Is ghosts word
good for anything?"
With great dignity it answered.:
eyes: 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, III let you CO." And as 1 re.
leased my hold the ghost seemed to
vanish away, and l opened the door and
went out. My senses were dazed in the
open air; the evening had been so
strange, so almost suspicious, that /
fath o1I d.
sides, I had allowed the ghost to go be-
meet me again. remembered my
stupidity with regret, but somehow !
felt the ghost would consider the prom
Use as having been given, and be at the
trysting-plac AT the house they had
given me up for lost, and were discuss
ing 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. However, the thing was
settled, and Mr.. Humphreys accepted
our report unquestionably, but with
great regret, and the next morning Ma
bel was informed of the result. At last
the evening came, and we We're on the
piazza. Mabel had retired with head
ache, 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 | saw a white figure ap-
preaching as if from the adjoining
place, and it came straight to me and
stopped at my side.
I lifted my hat. GOOD evening"" l
said.
The phantom responded with a neat
little ghostly courtesy. Mortal, I
never tell lie," it said.
"Will you shake hands? Truly a
ghosts word can be believed"
The phantom gave me its hand, but
after had held it a decent length of
time, tried to regain possession of it.
"Does the old gentleman believer"
asked the ghost.
"Yes; it's all right-he won't buy the
house now. You can remain alone in it
in undisturbed possession"
81 don't want to stay alone in it,"
"Well, my sweet phantom, 1 don't
see how you're going to fix it. Haven't
you any relatives to come and help you
be gay?"
"No, none"
"That's bad. l know the dust-pan
and fire-iron business is jolly, and then
it does sound awfully cheerful to have
pals rolling downstairs; but it's like
playing billiards-gets monotonous il
you haven't any one to play with"
The ghost sighed.
"What's that for?" / inquired. Don't
you like being a ghost p
"No, not a bit.
"Dear me I Would you like to be al
ordinary common mortal person ?"
eyes"
"My? And get married?"
"Yes, I guess SOL don't know"
"Well, I'm very fond of you, deal
little ghost"
81 don't believe you. You're fond o.
somebody else"
"Well, well; you told me that before
and don't deny it; but, my sweet little
phantom, she don't care two cents fol-
me now"
"How do you know"
"Oh, know it very we'll"
You're wrong. Why don't you &c
and ask her."
"Pm not going to insult her."
"Do you call that an insult?"
Yes-from one in my position
Sweet ghost" said, coming nearer
"let's make believe you're my angel,
putting my arms around her, and draw
ing her to me.
"Then you don't love herr"