The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-05-20

"That is truly queer state OF Things,
remarked. "But why are you afraid OF MIN ;
| He couldn't hurt you"
"Of course he Couldn't said the ghost.
"But his very presence is a shock and terror
to me. Imagine, sir, how you would teel II
my case were yours"
could not imagine such a thing at all. L
simply shuddered.
"And il one must be a wrongful ghost at
ALL" The apparition continued, cit would be
much peasanter to be the ghost of some man
| other than John Hinckman. There is in MIN
an Feasibility of temper, accompanied by a
| facility Of invective, which is seldom met WITH
And what would happen if he were to see me,
and find out, as | am sure he would, how long
and why had inhabited his house, | can
scarcely conceive. | have seen him In his
bursts of passion and although he did not
hurt the people he stormed at any more than
he would hurt me, they seemed to shrink
before him.
All this / knew to be very true Had it not
been for this popularity of Mr.. Hinckman. |
might have been more willing to talk to him
about his niece.
81 feel sorry for you,'' I said, for really
began to have a sympathetic feeling toward
this unfortunate apparition. Your case is,
indeed a hard one. 1t reminds me of those
persons who have had doubles, and suppose
man would often be very angry, indeed,
when he found that there was another being
who was personating himself"
80, the cases are not similar at all, " said the
ghost. double or doppelganger lives on the
earth like man, and, being exactly like him,
he makes him all sorts of trouble, of course.
1t is very different with me. am not here to
live with Mr.. Hinckman. | am here to take
his place. Now, it would make John Hinck-
man very angry if he knew that. Don't you
know it would"
| assented promptly.
''Now that he is away I can be easy for a
6tf1a whila - continuad the ghost tsaud | am
SO glad to have an opportunity of talking to
you. have frequently come into your room,
and watched you while you slept, but did not
dare to speak to you for fear that If you talked
wi h me Mr.. Hinckman would hear you, and
come into the room to know why you were
talking to yourself"
''But would he not hear you?" asked.
20, no." said the other, ''there are times
when any one may see me, but no one hears
me except the person to whom l address my
self"
"But why did you wish to speak to mes"
asked.
Because" replied the ghost,'' like occa-
sionally to talk to people, and especially to
some one like yourself, whose mind is SO
troubled and perturbed that you are not likely
to be frightened by a visit from one of us.
But particularly wanted to ask you to do me
favor. There is every probability, SO far as
can see, that John Hinckman will live long
able My great object at present is to get my
self transferred, and think that you may,
perhaps be of use to me.'
Transferred" L exclaimed. "What do
you mean by that!"
"What l mean," said the other, "is this:
Now that | have started on my career ] have
got to be the ghost of someb dy; and want
to be the ghost of man who is really dead. "
II should think that would be easy enough, ~
said. Opportunities must continually Oc
cur"
mot at all not at all p' said my companion.
quickly "You have no idea what a rush and
pressure there is for situations of this kind.
Whenever vacancy occurs, if | may express
myself in that way, there are crowds of appli-
cations for the ghost.hip.'
81 had no idea that such a state of things
existed, | said, becoming quite interested i'll
the matter. There ought to be some regu-
lar system, or order of precedence, b. which
you could all take your turns like customers in
a barber's shop.n
80 dear. that would never do at all !" said
the other. "Some of us would have to wait
forever. There is always a great rush when
ever good ghostship offers itself-whie, as
you know, there are some positions that no
one would care for. And it was in conse-
quence of my being in too great hurry on an
occasion of the kind that got myself into my
present disagreeable predicament and have
thought that it might be possible that you
would help me out of it. You might know of
case where an opportunity for ghostship
was not generally expected, but which might
present itself at any moment. IL you would
give me short notice | know / could arrange
for a transfer"
"What do you meant" exclaimed. ''Do
you want me to commit suicide? Or to under
take murder for your benefit!'
40, no, no, no!' said the other, with a
vapory smile. 81 mean nothing of tina kind.
To be sure, there are lovers who are watched
with considerable interest, such persons hay
ing been known, in moments of depression, to
offer very desirable ghostships, but | did not
think of anything of that kind in connection
with you. You were the only person i cared
to speak to, and hoped that you might give
me some information that would be of use;
and, in return, shall be very glad to help you
in your love AFFAIR."
You seem to know that have such an
affair."" said.
so, yes" replied the other, with little
yawn. " could not be here so much as | have
been without knowing all about that"
There was something horrible in the idea of
Madeline and myself having been watched by
ghost, even, perhaps, when we wandered to-
getherin the mostdelightful and bosky places.
But then, this was quite an exceptional ghost,
and | could no have the objections to him
which would ordinarily arise in regard to be-
ings of his class.
g must go now,n sad the ghost, rising
but | will see YOU somewhere tomorrow
night. And remember-you help me and I'll
help YOU"
had doubts the next morning as to the
propriety of telling Madeline any hing about
this interview, and soon convinced myself that
l must keep silent on the subject. If she knew
there was ghost about the house she would
prabably leave the place instantly. ! did not
mention the matter, and SO regulated my de-
meanOr that am quite sure Madeline never
suspected what had taken place. For some
time had wished that Mr.. Hinckman would
absent himself, for day at least, from the
premises In such case | thought | might
more easily nerve myself up to the point of
speaking to Madeline on the subject of our
future collateral existence, and, now that the
opportunity for such speech had really oc-
CURED, did not feel ready to avail myself of
it. What would become of me if she refused
me!
| had an idea, however, that the lady
thought that, il were going to speak at ali,
this was the time. She must have known that
certain sentiments were afioat within me- and
she was not unreasonable in her wish to see
the matter settled one way or the other, But
did not feel like taking a bold step in the
dark. III she wished me to ask her to give
herself to me, she ought to offer me some
reason to suppose that she would make the
gift. If saw no probability of such generos
ity, would prefer that things should remain
as they were.
That evening was sitting with Madeline In
the moonlit porch. 1t was nearly ten O'Clock,
and ever since supper-time had been working
myself up to the point OF making an avowal OF