Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-08-31
MY GHOST.

clasped his hands to his forehead, and
uttered horrible groan. Never on the
stage did murdered villain fall so sud
denly or with such whack. began to
shake all over | was, in fact, frightened
almost to death. Had l killed him.
Had | really killed John Rogers? l was
young enough to think it possible. | did
not then feel quite as sure as do now
that 'men have died and worms have
eaten them, but not for love-" My 10th
birthday was Just passed, and John Rog-
ers was 81. He was not exactly n milk
maid; Biddy called him the milk gen
tleman;" but he MIXED his mothers
cow, and was condescending enough to
bring it to our door every evening.
For Mrs. Rogers remarked that
though she was a lady to the backbone,
and Jest rs good as anybody in that
neighborhood, if not little better, she
did not mind letting us have her extra
milk"
Part of the bargain understood, though
uneNpressed was, the mllk-bringing was
to be taken in the light of call. A
member OF the family received the can,
and remarked sagely that it was warm,
cold, rainy, or that we needed rain, and
asked how Mrs. Rogers found herself.
When one sovereign obliges another,
great ceremony is required.
| think | shall never forget the linen
suits made by his mamma in which John
Rogers always appeared; his head of
curly red hair; his big blue eyes, very
round and wide open; his long red
hands and wrists, and the length of
stocking, ankle and shoe strings, which
finished him off. He was romantic, and
had a volu ne Of Tennyson and another
of Tom Moore, which he was fond of
quoting.
Ihad not been wandering in the grove
arm n-arm with John Rogers, but had
habit of taking my book there ON sui
trv afternoons, and he had fallen into
another habit of going home that way
after serving the milk. Sometimes he
had book in his pocket and would take
it out and favor me with a selection.
Lady Clara We're de We're was his favor
lite. l was not partiCul :rly delighted
with this attention, but our supply of
milk was dependent on our civility, and
] was civil; and 50 it had to come to this
john Rogers had proposed to me, and
| had said:
"Oh, Mr. Rogers, please don't. IL
couldn't possibly think of marrying. l
am too young"
Never YOU mind, Celina. Old folks
never kin understand young folks is
growed up" replied John Rogers. I'VE
kin wait; we kin keep company year
or two I'm in hopes grand therll step
off by that time, and Well hev the med
der farm"
''0h, L don't mean that, Mr. Rogers
l said jim terror. Il don't want to wait,
l mean-I,"-here | thought ofthe milk
q regard you with the greatest respect
as a neighbor, Mr.. Rogers, but couldn't
think of marrying you at any time"
Hay" cried John Rogers.
He said itso sharply that started.
All, 1 see that | am right"' cried
John Rogers. "You've been a tritiing
country heart for pastime ere you went
to town."
''Oh. Mr.. Rogersr' I cried in despera-
tion. You know I am not going to
town: we always live here.
Its all the same" said John Rogers
You held your course without remorse,
To make me trust my modest worth;
And at last you fixed vacant stare
And slew me with your noble BIRTH
Miss Celine TompSins. Oh, know
Nour'
Dear me, Pm sure it's very dreadful
of you to say so, Mr.. Rogers said.
Then you repent, said John .Rog-
ers. "Iou amt goin' to yieidto this
here pride of birth. When folks rrela-
tons are ministers and doctors they
don't feel sot up by it generally. You'll
cast aside them there prejudices ofcaste,
and hev me, whether or no."
''Oh, no, Mr.. Rogers, sobbed; oh,
no. I'm sure"-the milk rose before my
memory again-"I'm sure no family
could be more respectable than yours
but never mean to marry at all
Its final then?" said John Rogers.
ooh, yes, indeed it's"
Instantly, without warning, Er. Rog-
ers threw his book one way and his
milk-kettle the other, and fell flat be-
fore me in the road.
'''Get up, Mr.. Rogers" I cried when
he had been perfectly notio1lless for
full five minutes. "Oh, get up, get up!''
And to my relief he answered, but
what he said was really terrible:
Mis- Celina Tompkins!
There stands a specter in your hail.
The guilt of blood is at your door
You've killed mel"
Had killed John Rogers? AsI said
before L was young enough to believe it
possible. For an hour | stayed there
poking him with my pink lined parasol,
shedding hot tears, begging him to rise.
He only moaned. Finally, as it was
growing quite dark, picked up his tin
can, put his hat on the back of his head,
| and hurried home.
There was no milk for breakfast next
morning, nor did Mrs. Rogers again "let
us have any" Her manners certainly
had not that reposc which marks the
caste ofNere de We're; and when she
called to, collect the bill she gave my
mQther.an unlimited piece of her mind
ending with: ''l'd hev YOU to know,
ma'am. that me and my folks is jest as
the year; and, as for my John, eff '"I'd
know d what he was after I'd hey
showed him"
Has she gone crazy??" painted mann
ma What have-We done?"
And then | burst into tears.
Don't blame her, mamma / sob
bed I've broken yoor John Rogers
heart"
There was good deal of rain about
that time, and chills and fever prevailed
to an alarming extent. John Rogers
took them-I suppose lying on the
ground was not good for him-and had
them very badly. lie en.cved it,
think now, but he was a terrible haunt.
ing ghost to me as he grew thinner and
thinner, yeflower and yellower. and
haunted nay path with reproachful COG.
gle-eyes and Tennyson sticking out OF
his pocket / think my remorse might
eventually have broken down my con
stitution if papa had not decided that we
should all spend year in Europe.
| married abroad, and on our return
we all settled in New York, and 1 fell
glad not to return and face the tomb
14<@ -, IL,