Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-12-14

I '''''''' - i''ht'i HUH tiit NlIltlDN
the trees, hedges and bitches passet
with the rapidity OF lightning. dis
tlnctiy heard the galloping of horses
''chind us. now became conscious o
feeling OF GOODNESS creeping over me
At tins moment the moon, which haC
been under Il cloud, suddenly burst ou
in full splendor, and | saw that | wa.
not alone i'll the coach. Two figures
cnveloped in black robes from head I,
foot sat opposite To me. Presently the
garment OF one, like Il cowl, dropped
down, and Il grnning skull looked on,
from the black folds at me- The form
began To- sway from side To side. The
iieshIess head shook as if in laughter
ami a dry chuckle, ACCOMPANIED with
the rattling OF bones, broke the silence
| seemed frozen and unable to move.
My eyes turned to the other companion
OF my ride. The cowl had also fallen
and disclosed another skeleton, which
now began To show the same horrible
mirth- Suddenly the skull, of the first
figure fell off and rolled to nv feet.
The other seemed about to follow when
with Il wild yell | dashed open the door
of the coach and sprang out | fell.
struck my head, and became uncon-
! s,ious.
The next ! remember some one was
shaking me. sat up and saw one of
the men that had left at the "Goose
and Gridiron." told him that | had
fallen and struck my head and sprained
my ankle, but said nothing of my ad-
venture in the coach. He helped me
to the inn. The next day, my ankle
being better, resumed my journey.
y week after these events was enter
ing my native village. The horror of
my ghostly dream had not left me vet,
for chills ran down my back whenever
| Thought of it. And now, AZ l drew
near home and Bessie, the hopelessness
OF ever being able to claim her hand
made me feel very despondent
saw Miller Maple coming up the
road. He always treated me very
coldly and, thought |, 81 suppose he
will hardly speak to me-" But to my
surprise he approached with Il cordial
smile and shook hands as though we
were the best friends in the world.
"My dear Mr. Joseph" said he, 0
had always been called 10 in the vii
lage, and this was the first time that
any OF my neighbors had ever given
me the dignity of the full nancy 81 am
delighted to see you looking SO we'll.
You must come and see us this even
ing. Bessie will expect you suppose
you have not forgotten her, eh ?" and
he nodded his head, laughed and passed
on.
could hardly believe that ! was i'm
my senses. Suddenly the words of the
host of the "Goose and Gridiron" oc-
CURED to me-thOse concerning the
luck to any lover who should meet the
phantom coach. l went on with a
light heart.
My mother seemed more than usually
rejoIced to see me, and after she had
provided everything for my comfort,
and we were costly seated ut the table,
she said:
'Now | have such piece of good
news to tell you! You remember,
dear. your great uncle, Joseph Jorring?
Though | don't know that you do, as
you haven't seen him since the day you
were christened. He was your god
father, and you were named for him. |
never shall forget how fine he looked
that day, poor dear! with his blue coat
and big silver :.snufbox, with rather
large nose, and his face that red-just
the color of his silk handkerchief.
Well, well! he is in heaven now-at
least hope so.''
Here my mother put her apron over
her head and began to cry.
"Well, mother, don't worry about
him now. He has never troubled him
self about you After he went to Amer
lea so many years ago you never heard
from him."
"Why, to hear the boy!" said my
mother, throwing down her apron.
"One would think tliat twenty thousand
pounds was OF no account"
"What about twenty thousand
pounds?" inquired.
'Dear, dear! How very hard you
are to understand this evening, 10!
Haven't | been telling You that Uncle
Joseph has left You twenty Thousand
pounds ?"
l jumped up joyfully. This, then,
accounted for my very kind reception
from Miller Maple.
That evening | look the measure of
Bessie's finger for the wedding ring,
and six months after had the happi-
ness OF putting it on her hand before
the altar of the church in Townley,
where all the villagers were assembled
to witness our union and strew flowers
in our path to the handsome house
which had bought on the hill.
1t was some time after our marriage
when | told Bessie OF my phantom ride
but she declared that it was nothing
but the effects of my friend Toms
punch, of which l had partaken so
freely; and she stuck to this view of
it so persistently that l became very
much shaken myself in my belief of
the ride, and indeed l cannot say to
this day whether l really rode with
Lady Barbara and the pirate, or whether
it was all owing to the punch at the
CHOOSE and Gridiron."
Dv--x~ux-x-.