Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-10-25

cap On-one OF those pointed aiiaifl
that old gentlemen used to wear II
seen him looking out of his bedroom
window IN II many q time.
Good heavens, Mr.. Haythorne !
cried.
You know me, ! sec, he answered
IN hollow, rattllng voice, 'and yot
look astonished.
u thought you too III to leave youl
room, SIR ! answered, I'm glad tC
SEQ you better,
Don't waste time In complimentS,
Mr.. Langley said the old gentleman
u have very little left, and want tC
got back to tho house there before they
know. Can you make q short will fol
mo that will standi'
Yes, sir, said |,
Write this, them said Mr.. Hay
thorne, 'that ] leave everything ! pos
sess to my nephew, Allan Fosicr,-my
sister Ada's only child, ] have made
one will. want to retrieve II by
will of later date. That's my object
You know my wishes. Go to work !!
He fell back in his chair, set tC
work. When the will was written
left my Office moment aud called II
my ncighbor, the hairdrcsscr, and his
apprentice as witnesses. Both knew
Mr., Haythornc well. They stared a!
him, and looked at each other, and
paid their respects in faltcriog voices
The old man seemed to grow weaker
every moment. lie signed his name
in q hand that trcmblcd so that the let
ters were barely legiblc, but We all saw
him sign it, and when all was done he
turned to the hair dresser and sale
family:
Mr.. Farren, you were evidently
terribly startled when you saw me
Will you tell me exactly why?'
well. sir, you've been so i'll, fal
tered Mr.. Farren.
THE truth, Farren,' said the ole
man, stcrnly.
1T might be considered an impertin
ence, or it might be shock to the ner
vous system, Mr.. Haythornc, replied
Mr.. Faren.
Go on said Mr.. Haythorne.
we heard that you were dead, sir
not ten minutes ago replied Mr.. Far
ren.
'Ah they reported that, did they;
l thought as much, said Mr.. Hay
thorne. 'Mr. Farren, Mr.. Dangley
Samuel, take out your watches, sait
the old man, family, 'and tell me the
time
Il make it eight o'clock, said Mr.
Farren.
Eight responded, looking at my
watch.
'I'm always fast said the boy, 'but
Pm five minutes past eight
Remember that, all of you,' said
Mr.. Haythorne. 'Mr. Langly, give
me your arm to my door,
There was a path at the time across
from my side door to his back porch,
and we went that way. 1t had been q
darkish night, but just as opened the
gate the moon shone out.
Goodbye, SIR said Mr.. Hay.
thorne, in peremptory way that could
not be resisted.
l said Goodbye and turned, but ]
hid behind tree to see that he got on
safe and there saw this thing happen :
The porch lay white in the moon
light, and as the old man was about to
open the door some one pulled it from
the inside, and out walked Potter, with
a grin upon his wien face. 1t changed
as he saw the old man, to look OF
abject terror. He shrunk aside, clasped
both hands over his eyes, uttered a
terrible cry, and flew down the path,
stumbling in his confusion, and falling
fiat upon his face upon the petunias. l
looked back again toward old Mr..
He was gone.
The next morning all heard the
news. Old Mr.. Haythorne had
breathed his last at seven o'clock. l
corfess was startled, but that ives no
ghostly arm that leaned on mine when
1 walked up the path with Mr.. Hay
thorne the night tefore, aud could
not agree with my neighbor, the hair
dresser, who declared that it might
have been an appearance.