Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-08-18

whether she'd have married me even if
had happened to have plenty OF
money. I wish you'd tell me that"
Twon'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
himl Good bye, mortal"
But wouldn't let go of the ghosts
arm.
"Please let me go now," the phantom
beseeched.
A bright idea came to me. said.
Scan | trust you? Is a ghosts word
good for anythinges
With great dignity it answered:
Yes: Ineyer 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 CO." And as I re~
leased my hold the ghost seemed to
vanish away, and 1 opened the door and
went out. My senses were dazed in the
open air; the evening had been so
strange, so almost suspicious, that I
could not fathom it all at once. Be-
sides, I had allowed the ghost to go be-
fore it had given the promise to
meet me again. I remembered my
stupidity with regret, but somehow +
felt the ghost would consider the prom
ise as having been given, and be at the
trysting-place. 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 were 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. I had been there but few
minutes when I saw white figure ap-
preaching as if from the adjoining
place, and it came straight to me and
stopped at my side.
| lifted my hat. "Good evening"" I
said.
The phantom responded with neat
little ghostly courtesy. "Mortal, 1
never tell lie," it said.
Will you shake hands? Truly q
ghosts word can be believed"
The phantom gave me it's hand, but
after had held it decent length of
time, tried to regain possession of it.
."Does the old gentleman believer"
asked tie ghost.
I" 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, I 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. 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 if
you haven't any one to play with"
The ghost sighed.
What's that for?" Inquired. s'Don't
you like being ghost ?"
No, not Bit"
"Dear mel Would you like to be an
ordinary common mortal person r.
eyes"
"My? And get marriedr'
"Yes, 1 guess SOL don't know"
"Well, I'm very fond of you, dear
little ghost"
81 don't believe you. You're fond of
somebody else."
We'll, well; you told me that before,
and I don't deny it; but, my sweet little
phantom, she don't care two cents for
me now"
Chow do you know?"
"Oh, I know it very WE'LL"
" You're wrong. Why don't you go
and ask her?"
"Tm not going to insult her."
"Do you call that an insult?
Yes-from one in my position.
Sweet ghost" I 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 her?'
"On the contrary, it's because I love
her SO much that I want to make be-
lieve you're Miss Mabel"
The ghost submitted with a good
grace, but forgot her assumed ghostli-
ness. "James" she said, and the voice
carried me back two years, and my
darling was revealed to me.
"Mabel, Mabel" I said, "what is
this !? Does it mean you love me ?"
eyes"
"But why did you play such prank
on us all?"
II knew you still loved me, but
would never say SO, and, besides, I
wanted q little fun"
sBless you, it was fun, but you might
have been hurt"
"Oh, no." she laughed; "I wasn't
afraid. The others were so brave, and
you were such coward-all brain and
no courage. you know
A month later was clerk on a good
salary, and six months later Mabel and
/ were married. But the secret of our
wooing in the stone house and under
the apple tree was never told, and from
that time forth / had no fear Of ghosts
my own particular precious little
ghost was my shield and my protection.
-Haper's Basar.
--
Lions in africa
A recent traveller in equatorial Africa
says: Lions are one of the dangers
hAtWnan Zanzibar and kha erranf 1ohnn