River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-01-26

I
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 wo-
mans. | stretched out my arms and
grasped the phantom. Itshrieked and
started, but / was strong, and the ghost
was solid, so it didn't get away. 1 didn't
feel afraid of it then on the contrary
ii seemed afraid me.
"Dear ghost, sweet ghost" said, 81
won't hurt YOU
The answer came tremblingly and
low: = " What are you saying? Who
sent your
Why, my darling ghost" l said,
"the lady that's going to be Mrs. But
ter-Scotch."
How do you know she is p
"Oh, / 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, I'll see fl can't light the LIANT
ern, if that insane BOBBY hasn't smash
ed 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 we came Ill, or
how anything human could have made
such an everlasting row, and ratified its
bones so unpleasantly. But the ghosts
hands had flesh on them. My curisoity
was aroused, so / said: "No, | cannot
let you CO."
cts wrong, hugging me, when you
love another"
"Whom do / lover"
Mrs. Butter-Scotch, of course. |
know all about it.
You do, Ell? Then / suppose you
knew how it happened2"
Yes, of course do"
Do you know why / 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
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.
Pm 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 Goodbye, mortal"
But | wouldn't let 60 of the ghosts
arm.
"Please let me go now," the phan-
tom beseeched.
A bright idea came to me. / said
"Can trust you? Is ghosts word
good for anythingf'
With great dignity it answered: eyes;
/ never lie."
CAN 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
released my hold the ghost seemed to
vanish 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
could not fathom it all at once. Be-
sides, l had allowed the ghost to go be-
fore it had given the promise to meet
me again. / remembered my stupid
ty with regret, but somehow felt the
ghost would consider the promises as
having been given, and be at the tryst-
ing. 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 per-
suaded to enter that house again until
daylight. However, the thing was set
tied and Mr.. Humphreys accepted cur
report unquestionably, but with great
regret, and the next morning Mabel
was informed ofthe 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 APP
pie tree. l had been there but few
minutes when saw white figure APP
preaching as if from the adjoining
place, and it came straight to me and
stopped at my side.
lifted my hat. "Good evening"" l
said.
The phantom responded with neat
little ghostly courtesy. mortal, | never
tell lie" it said.
"Wi!l you shake hands? Truly a
ghosts word can be believed"
The phantom gave me its hand, but
after / had held it decent length of
time, tried to regain possession of it.
"Does the old gentleman believes"
asked the ghost.
eyes, 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, don't
see how you're going to fix it. Haven't
you any relatives to come and help you
to be gay?"
mo, none."
''That's bad. l know the dust-pan
and fre-iron busin ess 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 a1y one to play WITH"
The ghost sighed.
whats that for?" l inquired.
"Don't you like being ghost?"
"No, not Bit"
"Dear mel Would you like to be an
ordinary common mortal person.
eyes"
"Myl And get maaried?"
eyes, guess SOL don't know"
"Well, Pm very fond of you, dear lit
tie ghost"
II don't believe you. You're fond of
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 for
me now"
Chow do you know"
"Oh, / know it very we'll"
you're wrong. Why don't you go
and ask herr"
"I'm 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 her?''
"On the contrary, it's because love
her so much that want to make be-
lieve you're Miss Mabel"
The ghost submitted with good
grace, but forgot her assumed ghostli.
ness. James" said she, and the voice
carried me back two years, and my
darling was revealed to me.
mabel, Mabel, said, "what is this?
H. - l,,r 80