Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-01-20
There was yawn, and then the

Possibly it wanted to find the door, for
it came straight toward me. But the
knob wasn't where the phantom
thought it ought to be, and the seeking
hand rested for about two seconds on
my nose. The touch gave me courage;
it was warm, soft and pleasant as a wo-
mans. l stretched out my arms and
grasped the phantom. 1t shrieked and
started, but | was strong, and the ghost
was solid, so it didn't get away. 1 didn't
feel afraid of it then on the contrary
it seemed afraid me.
Dear ghost, sweet ghost" l said, 81
won't hurt you"
The answer came tremblingly and
low: What are you saying? Who
sent your"
Why, my darling ghost" 1 said,
the lady that's going to be Mrs. But
ter-Scotch."
How do you know she is ?'
"Oh, / know well enough. You must
be smart ghost not to know that"
"She doesn't love him."
Oh, yes she does. My sweet little
phantom, you're entirely mistaken.
Come, I'll see if | can't light the LIANT
ern, if that insane BOBBY hasn't smash
ed it all to pieces in getting out"
Let me 60, please" the ghost
begged, in very polite manner, and as
| it spoke the words sounded to me very
much as from human voice disguised,
and yet couldn't see for the life of me
how anything human could have got
into the house after we came i'll, or
how anything human could have made
such an everlasting row, and ratified its
bones SO unpleasantly But the ghosts
hands had flesh on them. My curisoity
was aroused, so ] said: "No, | cannot
let you CO."
It's wrong, hugging me, when you
love another"
Whom do | lover"
{ Mrs. Butter-Scotch, of course.
know all about it.
" You do, Ell? Then suppose you
know how it happened?'
Yes, OF course | do"
DO you know why stopped ?"
Because you hadn't money enough
to ask her to marry you"
/ You're perfectly right, my dear little
ghost, but neither you nor | know
whether she'd have married me even if
had happened to have plenty of
money. / wish you'd tell me that"
j" won't do anything of the kind.
I'm perfectly surprised at myself for
talking to a mortal so long. Goodbye,
man. Go back to the Humphreys and
tell them what you have seen. If the
old man buys this house won't | make
it hot for him Goodbye, mortal"
But | wouldn't let go of the ghost's
arm.
"Please let me go now," the phan
tom beseeched.
A bright idea came to me. | said
| "Can | trust you? Is a ghosts word
good for anything p
With great dignity it answered: Eyes;
| never lie"
An right. If you'll promise to meet
me tomorrow evening under the old
apple tree on Mr.. Humphreys place at
10 o'clock, Iii let you CO." And as /
released my hold the ghost seemed to
vanish away, and | opened the door
and went out. NY senses were dazed
in the open air; the evening had been
SO strange, so almost suspicious, that |
could not fathom it all at once. Be.
sides, | had allowed the ghost to go be-
fore it had given the promise to meet
me again. | remembered my stupidi-
ty with regret, but somehow felt the
ghost would consider the promises as
having been given, and be at the tryst-
ing place. At the house they had given
me up for lost, and were discussing all
manner of plans for my rescue, and
Ned was on the point of coming for me
alone, as Mr.. Steele could not be per-
suaded to enter that house again until
daylight. However, the thing was set
tied and Mr.. Humphreys accepted our
report unquestionably, but with great
regret, and the next morning Mabel
was informed ofth result. At last the
evening came. and we were on the
piazza. Mabel had retired with head
ache, and the rest Of us smoked our
cigars and followed our own thoughts
in silence. As it neared 10 / arose
leisurely and strolled off to the old APP
Pile tree. | had been there but few
minutes when saw white figure APP
preaching as if from the adjoining
place, and it came straight to me and
stopped at my side.
lifted my hat. Good evening"" |
said.
The phantom responded with neat
little ghostly courtesy. mortal, never
tell lie," it said.
"Wi!l you shake hands? Truly a
ghosts word can be believed"
The phantom gave me its hand, but
after | had held it decent length of
time, tried to regain possession of it.
Does the old gentleman believe"
asked the ghost.
YES, its all right-he won't buy the
house now. You can remain alone in
it, in undisturbed possession"
Il don't want to stay alene in it,
"Well, my sweet phantom, j don't
see how you're going to fix it. Haven't
you any relatives to come and help you
to be gay?"
"No, none."
That's bad. | know the dust-pan
and fire-iron business is Jolly, and then
it does sound awfully cheerful to have
pals rolling downstairs; but it's like
playing billiards-gets monotonous if
you haven't any one to play with"
The ghost sighed.
Whats that for?' l INQUIRED.
Don't you like being a ghost?"
mo, not 4 bit"
Dear mel Would you like to be an
ordinary common mortal person.
Eyes"
MY! And get maaried?"
Yes, guess sol don't know"
"Well, I'm very fond Of you, dear lit
tie ghost"
Il don't believe you. You're fond of
somebody else
well, we'll; you told me that before,
and don't deny it; but, my sweet little
phantom, she don't care two cents for
me now"
"How do you know"
ooh, know it very well"
You're wrong. Why don't you 60
and ask herr"
Pm not going to insult her"
do you call that an INSULT"
'Yes-from one in my position.
Sweet ghost" l said, coming nearer,
lets make believe you're my angel"
putting my arms around her, and draw
ing her to me.
Then you don't love herr
''0n the contrary, it's because | love
her so much that want to make be-
lieye you're Miss Mabel"
The ghost submitted with good
grace, but forgot her assumed ghostli.