The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-02-01
B GHOSTLY MORTGAGE
And How that Unpleasant Encum-
branCe was Removed.
lBy Frank R. S!oci,toH.l

in early summer / stood ON the piazza of the
spacious country house which was my home.
/ had Just dined, and ! gazed with peculiar
comfort and delight. upon the wide-Spre&d;n1
lawn and the orchards and groves beyond
and then. walking 10 the other cGd OF the
piazza, looked out toward the broad pastures.
from with fine drove Of cattle were icis-
Urcly coming home TO y miiSed. and toward
the fields Of grain, whose green was beginning
already 10 be touched with yellow. IuNotun-
tariIy for on principle / was opposed TO such
feelings a pleasant sense Of possession came
over nc. 1t could not be long before all this
would virtually he mine
About TWO years before had married the
niece Of John iIiEcklUan. the owner of this fine
estate. lie WIS very old, and could NOT be cN-
pected to survive much longer, and had wilcd
The property. without reserve TO my wife.
This. in brief was the cause of my present
sense Of prospective possession. and although,
as l said. ! was principlCd against the yo-un-
tary encouragement Of such sentiment, !
could not blame myself If the feeling occa-
siOnally arose within me. ] had norma-r!sd my
wife for her Uncles money. Indeed. We had
both expected that the marriage would result
in her being entirely disinheriicd. His niece
was John HinciSmans housekeCper and sole
prop and comfort, and ii she lc.J him for me
she expected 10 kindness NJ MS hands. But
she had not left him. To our surprise her
uncle invited us 10 live with him, and our
lations with him became more and more ami
cable and pleasant. and Mr. Hinckman had. Of
late. frequently expressed 10 me his great salts
faction that | had proved to be man alter hls
own heart; that / took an interest in hOckS
and herds and crops; that / showed n talent
Tor such pursuits. and that | would continue TO
give. when he was gone, the same care and at
UeutiOn to the place which II had been SO long
his greatest pleasure to beStOw. He was old
and Ill now and tired of it all, and the fact
that l had not proved TO be- as he had formerly
Il ar+- sl.r,,
great comfort to his declining days We were
deeply grieved to think that the old man must
soon die. We would gladly have kept him
with Us for years; but, If he must 90, 1t was
pleasant TO know that he and ourselves We're so
well satisfied with the arrangements that had
been made. Think me not cold and hCartleSS
high-minded reader. For few moments put
yourself in my place.
BuJ had yOu, at that time, put yourself in
nv place on that pleasant piazza, / do not be-
lieve you would have cared TO stay there long;
for, as | stood gazing over the fields, felt a
touch upon my shOudC~. | cannot say that l
was actually touched, but l experienced 4 feel
ing which indicated that the individual who
had apparently touched ne wOuid have done
so had he been able. l instantly turned, and
saw, standing beside ne tail figure in the
uniform of z Russian officer. l started back
but made no sound. ! knew what the figure
was. 1t was a sp 7Hter-a verltabie ghost.
Some years before this placs had been haunt
ed / knew this Wei, for ! had seen the ghost
myself But before ny marriage the specteT
had disappeared. and had not been seen since;
and / must admit that my satisfaction, when
thinking of this estate, without mortgage or
incumbrance, was much increased by the
thought that even the ghost. who used to haunt
the house, had now departed.
But here he was again. Although IN differ
ent form and guise, 1 knew him. 1t was the
same ghost.
do You remember me?" said the figure.
YES" I answered, . | remember you in the
form in which you appeared to me some time
ago. Although your aspect is entirely changed
feel you to be the same ghost that have met
before"
''You are right said the specter. "I am
glad 10 see yOu looking so well, and apparently I
happy. But John Hmckman, l understand, is
IL Il very low state of health
YES ! said, "he IS very old and i'll. But
7 hope / continued, as a cioui ol anxiety be-
gan to rise within me, that his expected de- (
cease has no connection with any prospects or /
plans of your own.'
No" said the ghost q am perfectly salts /
fed with NY present position. ! am OF duty
during the day, and the difference in time be
tween this country and Russia gives me opp0r-
tUniIics of being here in your early evening ]
and Of visiting scenes and localities which are
very familiar and agreeable 10 ms"
Which fact, perhaps, you had counted upon
when you first put this uniform or, I re-
marked.
The ghost smiled.
q must admit, however, he said, that
am seeking this position for a friend Of mine
and ! have reason to believe that he viii OBJ
tain IT."
Good heavcns!' - l exclaimed. "Is If posi- 4
bic that this house IS 10 he haunted by 4 ghost
as soon rs the old gentleman expires? Why
should this family be tormentca i'll such hoT-
ribe way? EverybodywH dies does not have
a ghost walking about his house.
"Oh, no. said the specre- There are
thousands Of positions Of the kind which are
never applied for: but the ghOstshiD here is
very desirable one, ana there are many appli-
cant5 for It. / think you viii like my friend,
If he gets it,
"Like him! :" I groaned.
The idea was horrible 10 me.
The ghost evidently perceived how deeply
was affected by what he had said for there was
d compassionate expression on his countcnaucc.
As / looked at him an idea struck me. II !
were TO have any ghost at ali about the house.
] would prefer this one Could There be such
things as duplex ghostshipsy Since il was day
here when it was night III Russia, why could
not this spectre serve in both pacesg II was
common enough for person to FL two situa-
tions. The notion seemed feasible TO me, and
l broachcd II.
Thank you," said the ghost "But the
matter cannot Zee arranged in that way. Night
and day are not suitably divided between here
and Russia: and. besides, il is necessary for the
incumbent OF this place to be on duty at all
hours. You Temembc- that ! came 10 You by
day as well as at night?"
Oh. yes: / remembered that. i was addi-
tionally unfortunate that The gh0sf-hip here
should not be one Of the limited kind
why is il" / asked, that mans own
spirit does not attend to these matters? a.
ways thought that was the way the thing was
managed
The ghost shook his head
Consider for moment he replied, what
chance "a mans own spirit without experience
and without influence, would have in d crowd
Of importunate applicants, versed in all the
arts, and backed by the influence necessary in
such a contest. OF course there are cases in
which person becomes his own ghost but this
Is because the position is undesirable, and there
is no competition"
And this conner" I exclaimed in much
trouble. viii he take the form Of Nr Iiiuck-
man. If my wife should see such an appari-
tion IL would kill her"
The ghost who viii haunt this ullre."
said my companion, will not appear ia the
form Of John Hincllman. I am glad that i- su.
if it will please YOU; for you are tha only mau
with whom ! have ever held uaH uulg-. trained
and pleasant inteTc9Ursa. GuGd-byc.'
And with these words u0 figure OF e. Rus .su
officer stood before inc.
L..r I