The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-08-09

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, sCow-
ards!" / indorsed that opinion heartily,
but the others we're greater towards than
| 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'
Iplucked up my spirits little. The
ghost had sense enough to be sleepy, and
l thought could stand a little talk, if it
would only keep hands Of Possibly 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
..
my arms, and grasped the phantom. 1t
shrieked aud started, but was strong,
and the ghost was solid, so it didn't get
away. / didn't feel afraid of it then; on
the contrary it seemed afraid of me-
"Dear ghost, sweet ghost" said, 81
won't hurt you"
The answer came trembling and low:
" What are you saying? Who sent
you?"
"Why, my darling ghost" said, "the
lady that's going to be Mrs. Butter
Scotch"
"How do you know she is ?''
ooh, / 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,
Pll see if can't light the lantern, 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 any
thing human could have got into the
house after we came in, or how anything
human could have made such an everlast-
ing row, and ratified its bones so unpleas-
antly. But the ghosts hands had flesh
on them My curiosity was aroused, so I
said, "No, l can't let you 60"
"It's wrong-hugging me when you
love another"
"Whom do | love 90
"Mrs. Butter-Scotch, of course. 1
know all about it,
"You do eh? Then l suppose you
know how it happened ?"
" Yes, of course do"
ado you know why l stopped ?"
because you hadn't money enough to
ask her to marry you"
"You're perfectly right my dear little
ghost; but neither you nor know wheth-
er she'd have married me even if l had
happened to have plenty of money. l
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. 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 l wouldn't let go of the ghosts
arm.
"Please let me go now," the phantom
beseecbed.
A bright idea came to me. l said:
i" Can 1 trust you? Is a ghosts word
good for anything ?'' +
With great dignity it answered: eyes;
/ never he."
Gall right. If you'll promise to meet
me tomorrow evening under the old ap-
ple-tree on Mr.. Humphreys place at ten
o'clock, I'll let you CO." And as re-
leased my hold, the ghost seemed to van
ish 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 l could not
fathom it all at once. Besides, / had al
lowed the ghost to go before it had given
the promise to meet me again. remem-
bered my stupidity with regret, but some
how l felt the ghost would consider the
promise as having been given, and be at
the trysting-place. At the house they
had given me up for lost, and were dis
cussing all manner of plans for my res
cue, 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 set
tied, and Mr.. Humphreys accepted our
report unquestionably, but with great re-
gret, and the next morning Mabel was
informed Of the result. At last the even
ing came, and we were on the piazza
Mabel had retired with headache, and
the rest Of Us smoked our cigars and fol-
lowed our own thoughts in silence. As
it neared ten, arose leisurely, and stroll
al ofF m the old annln-tpoe had haan