The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-02-01

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. | would have done. But one thing Is certain.
! would have made him understand that /
would have no strangers rowling around my
| house at hight"
Belle colored little at the last part of this
remark, but she made no answer, and the sub
jeCt was dropped.
This conversation greatly panied both Made
line and myself 1t made it quite clear to us
! that Belle was aware that we knew of her
acquaintance with this young man, and that
she still determined to say nothing to Us either
in the way Of confidence or excuse. She had
treated us badly, and we could not help show
ing it. On her side Belle was very quiet, and
entirely different from the gay girl she had
/ been some time before.
Iurged Madeline to go to Belle and speak to
! her as a sister, but she declined. No she
said, q" know Bellies spirit and there wond
( be trouble. If there is to be a quarrel, | shall
not begin it,
| l was determined to end this unpleasant
/ feeling, which, to me, was almost rs bad ~ 4
quarrel. If the thing were possible, ] would
+ put an end to the young mans visits con'd
never have the same opinion of Belle had
had before, but If this lmpudcnt fellow couid
I he kept away, and viii Crcnshaw should come
/ back and attend to his business as an earnest
suitor ought, al might yet he we'll
And now, strange to say began to long for
the ghost, whose coming had been promised
ilS b'tit ttiNA!4tIItg W Ddt illNaiiN "'i''i'''
take to keep Bellies clandestine visitor away,
and had found The question rather difficult
one to settle. ! could not shoot the man, and
it would indeed be difficult to prevent the
meeting of two young persons over whom l
had no actual control. But l happened to
think that if | could get the aid OF the eX-
pcctcd ghost the matter would be easy. If it
should be rs accommodating and oblcmg as
the one who had haunted the house before, It
WOnld readily agree 10 forward the fortunes OF
the family by assisting in breaking up this un-
fortunate connection. If ii would consent 10
be present al their interviews. the affair was
settled. | knew from personal experience that
love-making i'll the presence of ghost was
extremely unpleasant and in this case be-
lieved it would be impossible.
Every night, after the rest of the household
had gone to bed, wandered about the grounds,
examining the pOrchcs and the balconies look
ing up the Clrimneys ana the ornaments on
top of the house, hoping to see that phantom,
whose coming had, short time before, an
tcipated with such dissatisfaction and repug-
nance. If could ever again meet the one who
was now serving in Russia, / thought 1t would
answer my purpose as well.
On the third or fourth night after | had
begun my nocturnal rounds. encountered, on
path not very far from the house, the young
fellow who had given much trouble. My
Indignation at his impudent reappcarance
obscured by fieecy clouds, but | could sec that
he wore the same jaunty air, his hat was cooked
a little more on one side, he stood with his feet
quite wide apart, and in his hands. claspcd be
hind him, he held his riding whip. | stepped
quickly toward him.
well. sir!" l exclaimed
He did not seem at all startled.
How dye dor" he said, with q little nod.
How dare you, sir" | cried, "intrude your
self on my premises? This is the second time
] have found you here, and now l want you to
understand that you are to get away from here
just as fast as you can; and If you are ever
caught again anywhere on this estate, I'll have
you treated as a trespasser."
"Indecdp said he. " would be sorry to put
you TO so much trouble. And now let me say
that have tried to keep out of your way, but
since you have proved so determined to make
my acquaintance l thought l might as well
come forward and do the sOciable."
None of your inpertinence" l cried.
"What brings you here, anyway"
"Well," said he with q little laugh, g if you
want to know ! don't mind telling you / came
to see Miss Belle"
You contounded rascal" l cried, raising
my heavy stick. Get out of my sight, or |
vii! breai, your head"
"AlI right" said he, break away"
And drawing himself up he gave his right
boot a slap with his whip.
The whip went entirely through both legs.
1t was the ghost
Utterly astounded I started back, and SIT
down upon a raised tlowcrbed against which |
had stumbled. l had no strength, nor power to
speak. l had seen IA ghost before, but was Ell
tircly overcome by this amazing development.
And now suppose you know who am"
said the spccter, approaching, and standing in
front of me- The one who was here before
told me that your lady didn't fancy ghosts, and
that | had better keep out OF sight of both Of
you; but he didn't say anything about Miss
Belle: and by George! sir, it wouldn't have
mattered if he had for if it hadn't been for
that charming young lady | shouldn't have
been here at all. / am the ghost of Buck
Edwards, who YVES pretty well known in the
lower part Of this country about seventy years
ago. / always had great eye for the ladies,
sir, and when | got a chance to court one |
didn't miss il. | did too much courting, ROW
ever, for | reused up Jealous fellow, named
Ruggles, and he shot me in "a duel early one
September morning. Since then have haunt
ed. from time to time, more than dozen houses
where there were pretty girls
"Do you mean to say ! asked, now finding
strength, that spirit would care to come back
to this earth TO court girlt"
"Why what are YOU thinking Off" exclaimed
the phantom Of Buck Edwards Do you sup
pose that only old miscTs and love-lorn maidens
want to come back and have a good time? No,
sir. Every one Of Us, who is worth anything,
comes if he can get n chance. BY George, sir
do you know | cOurtcI Miss Bellies grand
mother? And a couple Of gay young ones we
were tool Nobody ever knew anything of it,
and that made it all the livelicr."
DO you intend to stay here and pay atten-
tion to my sister-in-law?" | asked anXiously.
Certainly do" WAS the reply. d" Didn't |
say that is what / came tor?"
Don't you sec the mischief you will do?" |
asked. "You Will probably break off a match
between her and most excellent gentleman
whom we all desire"
Break off a lnatch!" exclaimed the ghost
Of Buck Edwards, with a satisfied grin. " How
many matches | have broken Off! The last
thing | ever did, before | went away, was of
that sort. She wouldn't marry the gentleman
who shot me-" There was evidently no con-
science to this specter.
And if you DO not care for that" | said, in
considerable anger, g. can tell you that yOu
are causing ill-fecling between the young lady
and the best friends she has in the world, which
may end very disastrousy."
Now, look here, my man." said the ghost;
If you and your wife are really her friends
you wont act like fools and make trouble"
made no answer to this remark, but asserted,
with much warmth, that intended to tell Miss
Belle exactly what he was, and so break off the
engagement at once.
"If you tell her that she's been walking and
talking with the ghost of the fellow who court
ed her grandmothcr,-I reckon she could find
some of my letters now among the old ladys
uaDpTS if she looked them -Vou'6 n fIipltpI