Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-09-13
Gales ano Sketfbes.
A Gnssr s1sRr.
CONTINUED from yesterdy).

uncle, Major Spencer. and his various ex-
ploits and his sad ending.
There never was any superstition IN
the Spencer family. but my great-aunt
really had warnings of his death. He
died at sea, and three successive nights
before his death she dreamed he came to
her bedside, and called her name. 1t was
most curious, and my aunt always ma in
tanned that it was not dream, but his
spirit that she saw"
/ felt my flesh begin to creep, and hoped
sincerely the departed uncle Joseph would
not take notion to appear in my dreams
by the way" said sister Louise.
..haye you ever shown Lille his sword
and nat? We have them," she said,
turning to me, land am pretty sure they
are in the closet in your room"
YES" assented Maria, 'they are, and
I'll show them to you tomorrow.
We said good night. and got into bed,
determined to get to sleep as soon as pos
sible, and shut out the recollection of my
husbands ancestor. But, of course, the
persistent they were in flying open.
At last gave it up. and lay there star
ing around the great room, with its mas
sive old furniture, and thinking of the
great uncle as he looked in the portrait
down stairs. and of his hat and sword that
were in my closet. Then l fell into a
long train of thoughts about my husband.
picturing as always did, all sorts of
evils Detailing him. had just reached
the climax of my imagination by wonder
ing il should die of fright if he were to
appear to me as his great-uncle did to his
wife, when the door into the hall, at
which was looking. slowly opened.
bnt to my terrified gaze moth
ing appeared l strained my eyes in
horror. expecting l know not what,
hoping yet dreading to see something, for
this mysterious nothing was paralyzing
me- Straining my ears could detect the
slightest imaginable football crossing the
room, and to my horror the door OF the
closet that contained the relics of the de-
parted Major opened, as by an invisible
hand then there was slight noise inside
a rustling of paper, as if the departed
had come back from the other world 10
look over his late possessions.
can remember one feeling in the midst
Of all my terror, and that was one OF
thankfulness that it was not my Georges
ghost, but that of the old Major; then ]
really must have lost consciousness, for !
remember no more until found the day
light streaming into the room.
My natural fear of my sister-in-law and
the dread of making an excitement made
me keep my fright and the ghost Il secret.
and do everything to drive it out OF my mind
and persuade myself it was mostly due to
my imagination.
I
atively calm, and. thinking of the prospect
OF soon being with my husband. was
soon falling asleep when aroused by a
slight creaking sound. and started to see
as on the night before. my door slowly
open, and to hear the same light footsteps
cross the room and enter the closet. AS
before, nothing was visible, but heard
the same rustling sound, and fright
seemed TO freeze my power of action l
know would have forgotten my fear OF
shocking my staid sisters, and shrieked
aloud. but that terror seemed to have par
alyzed my tongue. At last, after what
appeared to me q lifetime, | heard the
light footstep, that nothing by my strained
ears could have detected, re-cross the
room and die away in the hall. covered
my head to try and shut out the sight and
sound of the Majors spirit. could think
of no line in the praycr-book that called
for protection from ghosts, so could only
pray for daylight.
looked so wretchedly pale in the
morning that my sisters were quite So
licitous about me, and insisted on my TAX
ing long drive.
The fresh air did wonders for me, and a
long letter from George actually made
me forget the "Major's ghost"
Youth and health are such sustaincrs
that had forgotten my previous alarm,
and was in bed before l thought of the
"ghost." had never been in the habit
of locking my door. but this night, as |
glanced toward 1t. determined to get up
and bolt it, thinking at the time it was a
useless precaution, as had heard that
ghosts could pass with ease through key
holes.
was too late in my resolve ere it was
fully made saw the door move slowly.
and the same invisible presence crossed
the floor and entered the closet.
This time fright seemed to give me
power. I could endure the major" no
longer, and with wild scream bounded
from the bed and reached the hall. when
L ttli ttitO Out-sttctCucu al Ills vi a tidu
| remember indistinctly voice called me
darling" and being pressed closely to
some ones heart, but whether thought
it perfectly. natural for man to be wan
dering around the hall calling darling"
promiscuously, know not; I only felt
that the arms that held me were ''flesh
and blood" and so tainted.
came to myself to find my husband
bending over me. calling me by every en-
dearing name and imploring me to open
my eyes. For a moment thought is was
his ghost, but was soon convinced IT was
my own. my beloved, and flinging my
arms around his neck l sobbed hysterical-
ly.
"Oh, George, dearest. take me away
from the ghost of your great-uncle.
Great was the surprise of my husband
and his worthy sisters. l explained as
best could, and pointed to the closet
George opened it to disclose nothing but
Nina curled up comfortably upon
a cushion. eating catnip. Then did
Miss Maria discover the solution Of
my fright Nina had found some catnip
in bag of herbs that had been left in the
closet and forgotten. aud. remembering
it, had made nightly pilgrimages to my
room to refresh herself. The catch to my
door being imperfect had made her en-
trance an easy one, and as had always
ls~oEod nm IN sao tho anna retiop povov