The Worthington advance., 1882-08-31
A RUSSIAN GHOST STORY.

A RUSSIAN GHOST STORY.
One Of the Odd Little Tales That
Please Russian Readers.
Translated for the Philadelphia Times.
"You had much better stay all night.
My house is old and plain, but there is
plenty Of room in it, a whole wing, in
fact, for my guests, old fashioned, but
comfortable. What do you say?"
The host, a bachelor of forty, turned
with this question to young woman sit
ting near him, holding in her hand
glass Of cherry brandy. Beyond her her
husband was leaning back in an arm
chair, watching the smoke from his cigar
as it curled slowly to the ceiling. In an
other armchair sat stout neighboring
landholder, a man with bald head,
gray whiskers and a decidedly military
air, before whom on the table stood
half-empticd glass of wine. The hour
was eleven at night, the little party had
just finished a late supper.
'Yes! 1 should like to stay. 1 really
feel too lazy to take the trouble to 90
home, and she took sip from her glass;
"but cannot only speak for myself, |
count but half"
"And yet you contrived to swallow q
whole glass of something tolerably
strong" said her husband"
SIS that meant for a joker"
"Not at all! Drink my health az much
as you please, ,'!only recollect that it is time
to go home."
'But why do you 20 home at all, Mix
ail'tsc}?' askc! the host; "why not stay
till mornino9'
II must be at home tomorrow. Ihaye
business in town and shall be obliged to
ratch the $50 train in the morning, and
the distance from here to the station is
much greater than from my house, A
he spoke, a'purple light shonc into the
room, rendering visible through the glass
doors the white columns Of the balcony
outside.
'There is a storm coming" exclaimed
tho stout neighhor, crossing himself de-
vonty.
"OIa: don't say that," calculated the
lady; lit WAS clear when looked out
thunder"
''IoY will soon here it, and look how
black the sky is now"
IL sec; YES, we shall have a Storm"
IN il few minutes the thunder made
itself audible. One would think troop
OF horsclnen were gallopiig over the
wooden bridge close by.
lit is com,ning up very FAST" said Ser.
Gci, the host, who stood ut the balcony
door,"
Come away" exclaimed Madame
Nika'ltsch; come away, 10! Shut the
windows and that balcony door,"
Are you afraid of lightning:'
Not afraid, exactly, but when storm
Is very near it is not pleasant, by any
means"
"Much better say openly that Won arc
nfra'd," remarked her husband, with a
g! think it will be impossible for us to
so home tonight. Our carriage is an
open one and the horses might take
fright, too. l accept your invitation.
Mr.. Serge'-that is, we accept it, We will
Till the storm is over" added ar;ka;..
itsch, lit may not he long,"
"You are always so Obstinate In.
deed, I cannot go home tonight. Whv
not do as ! please? We can get away very
carly in the morning"
BE ob'iging,". said sergei; ''you will
not refuse me, l know, and there viii
oe nothing to prevent your going in the
morning as early as you please"
~ am agreed. l ought to go home,
bnt the weather seems to be on The ofhe,
er side of my wife. Either one / could
withstand, but united they are too strong
for me. l submit"
AS he spoke the storm came in earnest
Tho glass doors trcmblcd as the furious
ram dashed against them.
"Coloncl, you will stay?"
"With pleasure, Sergei; I always en-
"S sleeping in other peoples houses.
At home it is so dull and tame, and 60
"'uerent anywhere else. Atyour house,
somehow or other, always sleep well.
ENJOY other peoples wine, too, more
ti;an my own;" and he took q sip from
:EXcnse me for minute" said Mix
a'''tsch. II will go and speak to nv
coachman about having our carriage
really very early" and he 1T the room.
This vii! be the first night spent by
me away from home for a very lon.
t'me," said Madame Mikailitsch.
bnt am sure YOU will have no cause
TO repent it. l will do all can to make
1t agreeable to YOU"
For my. part" said the colonel, IL
can only sleep we'll in strange place
everything new and strange around; l
ENJOY 1t so much. At home lie awake
Tor hours. Formerly Il found poetry
very usefnl. but it seems to have lost its
Poetry! don't read it; merely re-
peat It from memory. The way IS to
say it to yourself three times from be.
ginning to end, if it is something toler.
ably long, and you will gradually fail
Thcreupon Mikailitsch returned
A furious rain! l have been looking
outdown stairs. We shall have no dust
TOR the next two days and how fine for
our vegetables, Colonel!
capital"
\ loud peal of thunder resoundod
through the sky; the dishes which woro
still standing on the table. ratified Re.
member that the host was a bachelor
Madame Mikailitsch turned ,sl;cht}v
spoke. ' o'''
"shall I summon a servant to show
yom yn AL the rooms you are going to occu-
II could not sleep in this storm" said
"Nor do feel the slightest inclination
tor, tor sleep, but perhaps we are keeping
4, mo; ! am always up much later than
onel?' '''o co''
1T is immaterial to me. ALWAYS en-
joI myself in other peoples houses.
asleep or awake" ''
A. Well, since none of my guests are in
me h"mor to sleep, we may as we'll sit
mere mere: "t least while the STORM lasts, and
:mase ourselves with conversation. that
~, II the thunder will allow US to- hcar
Si%' eIe'',a otnefs rs voices. Take another glass
o,out Un' no.. no! l. have had two already. But
guests, which 1 have never seem en- 6ften %
rs have been in your house? Does % n"
one .s;r, occupy it and is it pretty?'
THAT wing is generally kept locked 4
but when any friend does me the , fsvo,,
to stay all night it is, of course, opened.
IN nrQtflnaCo I ;r>l< 1s4N0s SSAs~A