The Portland daily press., 1881-05-27

was but he had misforchin as led to his
retirement"
"Ah!' said the man in the rabbit-skn
waistcoat, what was that?'
"He died." said the red-nosed man
''scarlet fever. Leicester Buried in the
parish churchyard Well-afore he died,
mind you-he had ghost of his own-his
partner, Joseph Turk. Reg lar, after busi-
ness hours, it was Joseph's habit to get as
drunk as he llnowed how to, and simutane-
Gus, as man might say, my brother took
him home at closin' time. But one night,
Bill he doesn't turn up. Joseph he starts
alone, and quite natural he falls into a clay
pit and kills hisself. Well, theer's a in
quest, theirs Bill to give evidence, theer's
buryin', and you'd ha' thought as it was
done with, wouldn't you? My brother Bill
he was a soft 'artod feelin' sort o. man, an
he took on a good deal over his pardners
death. Slit by hisself on the night after
the buryin, thinkin' about poor Joseph, all of
a sudden he feels a creepy sort Of chill come
over him, an his eyes is drored round like
to one side, an there he sees him in pair
O cord trousers and velvetin jacket and
billycock at, with yeller handkerchief with
blue spots on it round his neck, which was
his regular wear. Well, you might ha'
knocked my brother Bill down with his ia
ther; he was that crumpled up at it. "Will-
YUM" says the ghost a-speakin holler in
his chest like WY didn't you fetch me 'ome,'
he says, that fatal night? My brother Bill
says nothing, he was that knocked over.
'Willy-um,' says the ghost agaid, it's my
INTENT he says, for to haunt you regular
he says, 'every night at ~ And
with that he vanishes. Well, he comes
| next night an next nigat an next night
and my brother Bill gets that weak am
skeered he didn't think he'd last long. So
he comes to me an he tells me all about it.
why, Bill says it's forchin for YOU
what dye mean, he says. why says
exhibit him. 1 says to any scientific sperit-
ulist as wants to see a real bonerfdy ghost,
| says. Theirs mine O. money in it.
Well, Bill he takes my advice, an he might
offence at it an left off visitin' of him."
81 can see, Mr.. Bolko," said the seedy
man in seedy black, s.that you're skeptic."
"a what?'' asked the red-noseb man.
San unbeliever, said the other.
"Am I?' said the red-nosed man. "P'raps
1 am" He hen took up his pot and nod
ded round. "My respects, gentlemen"
Then, having emptied the vessel of its con-
tents he arose and said with hoarse solemnity,
"Them as doubts my tale can do it. Maybe
have my doubts about it. Never mind.
But there's moral in it, which is this If
any Snowman has ghost in the family as
can at all be relied upon to turn up reg lar,
there's pot 90 money in it. Good after
loon, gentlemen" The skeptic departed
and the five believers remained behind.
"Comin'back," said the man in the rab-
bit-skin waistcoat, ''to wot we wos a-talkin'
about-it's my belief, look you, as Sol. Var
ley's haunted"
The man in seedv black said that it stood
to reason.
'Look 'ere,' said the rabbit-skin waist
coat, "When did he begin to sit an stare at
nothin' for a hour at time, an talk when
there was nobody to talk to? Why, when
his CELL died When else? Why, not at ALL
''Of course not" said the sword swallow
d" AM as for them," said the rabbit-skin
waistcoat, g as talks about a CELL like that
havin' bolted along of Sol's man jim, why,
its madness, amt it? Now, arsts anybody
ere; Would she ha' looked at Sol's man
Jim? Would she ha' spoken a civil word to
him 'cept as young lady might? 1 put it
to you, gents, is it likely?" Nobody thought
it likely in the least, every well, then.
If you want wrong talk about a young wom-
an. it's alays cheap enough in the partes-
sion an out of it. But to talk about
| young lady like that boltin' with cove like
| SoPs man jim, AN Sol pretendn' of her to
be dead, why it's enough to turn a mans
! drink hacid on his stomach to listen to it,
| amt it?"
"Now, I'll tell you something" said the
man IN the battered white hat. s'Pve sat
quiet an I've heard all sides. didn't say
nothing while Bolko was 'ere,' cause don't
want none of lis chaff, which he's too ready
with Gentlemen all, I've seen her!'
The four gathered near him with solemn
faces.
''Last night as ever was, seen her." he
said again. 81 was leadin' out the 'oss for
exercise-near midnight it was-an' parst
round by SoPs Vaughn. AM, strike me
dead. but I seen her face, as white as chalk
lookin' in at SoPs winder, an her glides
down from it without so much as touchin'
foot on the ground, an passed me with no
more noise than a bat I'D make. amt ca
sy frightened, but was frightened then,
But looked arter her an seen her melt
regular melt away" The mans face, voice,
gesture, were enough to stamp his narrative
with strong reality. His hearers looked
from one to the other, awe-struck, and, in
spite of the broad daylight gathered closer
Before another word was spoken they drew
their heads apart, and resumed their pipes
and beer with transparent effort to seem
uncOncerned.
Solomon Marley stood at the door, looking
with haggard eyes from face to face. His
countenance was pale and drawn, and
though his lips moved no sound came from
them. He lurched little, like drunken
man, and set his hand to his forehead. Next,
looking vacantly about him, he turned away
and sought the street. The five men arose
and peeled after him through the bow win
dow.
HE amt long for this world,' said one.
"Poor old Solp'
NO. said another; ''he's had his call,
poor Sol has-evident.'
Solomon Varley crossed the green slowly,
with downward eyes and head, noticing no
man, though most looks were turned to him
with sympathy or curiosity. He reached the
house on wheels, which, like himself,
looked less prosperous and tidy than of old,
though but two months had gone by since it
shone in all the splendor of new paint, and
Sol himself went upright and happy. Mrs.
Marley sat there in a black dress, sewing,
and looked up sadly but kindly as her hus-
band entered. Sol closed the little door,
and took down a nautical looking jacket
which hung behind it. From the pocket of
this garment he drew a soied letter, which
he bore to the window and read over. 1t
had no date, and was written in sprawling
hand.
Sir it ran, "this is ritten with great
grief to tell YOU that your daughter is dead.
Befour she died she told me to rite to you;
but l cannot rite, and friend rites this for
ME. She told me to say that she found out
befour it was too late that the man she ran
away with was a villain, and left him. 1 am
to say again, befOur it was too late. Wen
you see James he will tell you the same,
that she left him befour it was too late. She
woold have come home to you, but she was
ashaymed. She is dead, and she thought
yon woold like to know it, because it woold
ease your mind. Yours truly,