The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-27
MIR. HAYTHORNE's GHOST.

With whom, withal, should not care to live.
MR.. HAYTHORNEs GHOST.
1.-THE first time ever made will /
made it for ghost. At least that was
the opinion of many people for long
while, and no doubt is yet. Inever told
the story before, but having lately OBJ
served great number of supernatural
incidents recorded in the columns of a
daily paper, it has struck me that may
add something in the same line.
when l first entered into business
for myself, as lawyer in Westerfield, n
young fellow whose beard was just be-
ginning to grow, old Mr.. Haythorne
lived in that place, with a couple of SER
wants. He was an old man of ninety,
but looked no more than sixty. erode
about the country, gave the most recher-
che dinners to his friends. and dressed
elegantly.
at was not thought-bcing miser--
that he had become rich by his own ex-
ertions. He came of n wealthy family,
and legacy after legacy had been left to
him. He had married, but his wife died,
and so did his only daughter. He never
thought of marrying again, but he took
Il nephew to live with him; and every
body believed that he would make him
his heir. But the nephew was no time
server, and did as he pleased; and
somehow or other they had a falling
out.
There was a sneaking fellow named
Potter about the house good deal, a
regular Uriah Heep, perpetually fawn-
ing on old Haythorne, and always so
humble He told lies about young
Allan, think, and made his uncle think
him reprobate; and when the young
man went to London and became an
actor, the uncle was led to believe that
he had gone to the dogs. And now it
was well known that a will had been
made in favor of Potter and that the
nephew was left without penny.
That had been a good many years
before, and Potter was waiting for old
Mr. Haythorne's shoes yet. The nephew
was a man of forty years. 1t doesn't
take long, after all, to change from
young to middle-age in this world, and
Potter was quite grizzled and had lost
most of his teeth. Old Haythorne had
never lost one yet, and his cheeks were
like pippins. For all anyone could see,
Potter might die first, but he had lived at
the Grange for twenty years, and had
all he needed and more than he deserv-
ed, and no doubt thought himself lucky
fellow.
mo one knows what the day may
bring forth. One morning, to the great
surprise of everybody in town, a serv-
ant from the Grange was seen rushing
in hot baste for the surgeon, and soon
the news spread through the village that
old Mr.. HaythOrne was dying. Potter
went away trying to look mournful, and
lots of people were really sorry. l was,
though had never spoken to the old
gentleman, he was such hale, happy,
bright old fellow. The first day he was
worse. The next better, then worse
again. Then they said he might live;
then he was unconscious.
1T was just after this report, late in
the evening, that l sat here, exactly
where l am sitting now, quite alone,
when the door opened and saw old Mr..
Hawthorne. He was in dressing-gown
and slippers and had night-cap on, one
of those pointed affairs that old gentle
men used to wear; I'd seen him looking
out of his bedroom window in it many
| time.
"'Good Heavens, Mr.. Haythorner I
cried.
You know me, see" he answered,
in hollow, rafting voice, 'and you look
| aStOnished.'
Il thought you too ill to leave your
room, SIR I answered. I'm glad to see
you better
Don't waste time in compliments,
Mr.. Langley said the old gentleman. i
have very little left, and want to get
back to the house there before they
know. Can you make short will for
me that will stand|
eyes, SIR said I.
| Write this, them said Mr.. Hay
thorne, that leave everything possess
to my nephew, Allan Foster, my sister
Ada's only child. have made one will.
want to retrieve it by will of later
date. That's my object you know my
wishes. Go to work. Go to work.
"He fell back in his chair. set to
work When the will was written left
NV office moment, and called in my
neighbOr the hairdresser and his appren-
tice as witnesses. Both knew Mr.. Hay
thorne well. They stared at him, and
looked at each other, and paid their re-
spects in faltering voices. The old man
seemed to grow weaker every moment.
| He signed his name in q hand that
| trembled so that the letters were barely
legible, but we all saw him sign it; and
when all was done he turned to the hair
dresser, and said family:
| Mr.. Farren, you were evidently
terribly startled when you saw me. Will
you tell me exactly why?'
We'll, sir, you've been so ILL., falt-
cred Mr. Farren.
The truth, Farren.' said the old
man, sternly.
&" 1T might be considered an-imper-
Thence, or it might be-a shock to the
nervous system, Mr.. Haythorne, replied
MIR. Farren.
$50 on said Mr.. Haythorne.
"'We heard that you were dead, sir,
not ten minutes ago. replied Mr.. Far
rem.
".Ah! they reported that, did theyp !
thought as much said Mr.. Haythorne.
MI. Farren, Mr.. Langley, Samuel, take
out your Watches said the old man,
family, and tell me the time
81 make it eight o'clock said Mr..
Farren.
Eight repeated, 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.. Langley, give me
your arm to my door,
There was path at the time across
from my side door to his back porch and