The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-11-08


Coward Come now, George,
that's too bad" he cried
"Well, 1 think it cowardly," re-
sponded the young lady, pursing her
pretty mouth. "I don't believe in
ghosts any more than uncle does and
| want to sleep there, only he will not
let me-"
"I should think not" said Tom,
with quick approval. "But what
kind of ghost is itp What is the
story?"
why, they say years and years ago
the heiress Of this large estate-for it
was a large estate then-was one night
cruelty murdered in that room by her
cousin, who, on her death, inherited
the property ever since which period
the lady's ghost, attired in white, pays
the apartment visit regularly at II
o'clock midnight" and as Lenore ended
there was tremor in her voice.
"BoshP' laughed Tom, contempt
uously. "Why, Lenny, you look alb
solutely palel'
"They will not even pass the door
after dark" remarked George, with a
toss of the head. "But don't you quiz
them, Master Tom, for you, also, are too
frightened to face it'll What coward
iceF' with little shrug. 81 declare,
if any man loved me and found he
was coward, I'd never, never marry
himl"
Perhaps it was accident, perhaps it
was intentional, but Georgie's dark
eyes rested on Tom as she spoke.
"There goes papap cried Rosie, at
the instant starting up, as tall,
elderly man passed along the terrace in
front of the house. LET us tell him
Tom has come"
"Let us all go to him." said Tom.
They rose and the sisters went on
before; but Tom somehow managed
to drop little behind with his cousin
$50, George" he said, "you
wouldn't marry a man who was a
coward. 1 hope you meant that for
me, because you might marry me if l
were not. Oh, dear COZ, you know
how 1 love youl I'd face all the
ghosts in Christendom if you would
only say you would by my wifeP'
"Yet you will not face a probable
one, Tom," she laughed.
"I will without demur, if you would
only say yes George" he whispered,
earnestly. "Ghosts wouldn't frighten
mep'
"Pd like to have that proved. am
not so certain" she rejoined, saucily,
as they came up to the rest.
"Well, Tom," exclaimed Mr.. Harri-
son, "these stupid girls tell me they
want you to sleep in the haunted
room, for our old house is respectable
enough to possess one"
$50 hear, sir, and will willingly
test its ghostly character, if you have
no objection"
"None in the least, my boy, only I'll
make this proyiso-I'll have no fire.
arms used. Should anything appear it
will not be supernatural-in which L
no more believe than that the moon is
made Of green cheese"
So it was agreed that Tom should
sleep there.
81 hope he will see nothing" said
his sisters.
81 hope he WILL" said George, "and
prove his courage"
81 shan't sleep a wink tonight" +"
remarked Rosie, as they saw Tom dis
appear down the long corridor.
81 don't think shall much," agreed
Georgia, very thoughtfully.
The next morning Toms appearance
at the breakfast-table was anxiously
expected. When he came his express
sion was certainly more serious.
"Well," smiled Mr.. Harrison, "what
did you see, Tom? Giles Scroggins'
ghost or anything elseP"
81 can't quite say, sir" answered
his SON. "I certainly thought once 1
saw something; but was so dead
tired that my half-dazed brain may
have played me trick. Consequently,
l would rather say nothing until I've
had another nights experience"
"Sleep there again!" calculated the
girls, George loudest.
Assuredly"
Toms account but half satisfied his
feminine hearers.
am sure -he has seen something"
said Lenore, when they were alone.
"I'm certain of itp' coincided Geor-
gle. "But he is going to show how
brave he is. Why can't the silly fel-
low confess and have done with it.?"
Tom had seen something. About mid
night, in the farthest corner of the
room, he had beheld a shadowy female
form, draped in grayisA-white, occa-
sionally waving its arms, while faint
sighs burst from the lips.
He had felt startled, alarmed He
had tried to think it the moonLg ght;
but glancing at the window he saw
there was none. 50 he had laid and
looked half frightened, and Ahalf
ashamed of being so.
Abruptly, however, remembering
GeOrgie's words, he cared for nothing
else; and being partially dressed,