The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-01-24


Nar.cn couin through the fslas iron en-
house 10 The main road, i see ham .usi a
rlsin az | soc you iolks nuw. bat 1 dlda'
vsii 10 ace him lsng | ken tell ". bat lss
! send by him like lishtnia' an run intev
: ihs squirss an told Mi.s Elsie all aboa
Il. | ana dretfal scarf. but ! though
she'd orsor 10 kno~ about Il. 50 kept NJ
tiil got there an then went on iniew !
kind Of faint Bsin sorssr weak alter ri
sr phiLisie, couldn't stan II.
How did be lookss inquired one man
under his breath.
'Dreiful material, only kinder white an
peaked, an be kinder halted an' locked
straight at inc kinder Wild an s'prissd.
They say ghosts don't never like TO be
overlook. an ! don't spose he spsctsd 10
meet nobody 10 that lonely field"
\ '.Bnt how could yon sec his face 80
distinctly on so dark q nighigv asked the
squire. seeming considerably disturbed
Good grashus. you don't s'pose went
through that there flsla without no Ian.
tsrn Still. after giving him one good
look, ! was 50 husiersd that dropped the
lantern on the spot n runscrselchin' along
as fast as could. You'll hcv 10 get that
there lantsr1, Lsnue. for t'wouldn't dew
to lose it, nohow; We can't ford tew sit
a moo one
well, good people. +" said the squire,
I'VE mustn't let ghosts interfere with our
New Years festivities. 1t is time that all
invited guests should be at my house; and
here am, the host, away from home"
And the squire hurried out Of the store
and along the dusky wood until he came
TO brilliantly lighted old mansion on the
hill
II had long been his custom 10 give a
house warming, as he called it, on New
Years eve. Nearly all tho town we're
hidden TO these festivities. and they we're
enjoyed hugely by young and old, rich and
poor. Some Of the old families thought
the squire somewh hat democratic in his way
OF giving entertainments, and rather
turned mp their noses ct the small sailors
and fishorman's families; but neitgher the
sailor nor the fisherman took it to heart,
aud everything went merry as marriage
bell.
The squire entered the house, greeted
few guests who had already arrived, and
then sought Elsie, his daughter, who was
standing by the window at tho end Of the
long hall, looking pale and distressed.
Don't bs troubled by Mary Jano
Blagg's nonsense, dear, said he, ''she is
foolish woman, and is always imagining
all sorts Of mysterious things
''But, father, I've had such strange
dreams Of late. don't believe in such
things, of course. but they say several
other people have seen the-appantion !"
"Nonsensel it is all imagination May
bs one Of the Port Nortons is about here
just now. There's strong family resem
blance between them all, yon know. The
mystery will bo explained in few days.
am sure.
Elsie cleare,l her brow, aud entering
the parlor greeted the coming guests with |
her usual qnist cortliality She was tall.
handsome girl Of q, 18th the brow Of a
madonna, and large black eyes; which,
even when sAe smiles, are intensely sad,
though iillod with a warm, kind glow,
which chcered one like fire on frosty
night.
The large, square rooms are soon filed.
Hearthstore fires leap on the wide hearth
stones. There is gossip in the corners,
playing OF games by the young people;
there are quiet firtations on the stairs and
in tho halls, and after supper there is to be
dance in the great dining room.
elsie looks pale'n sober'n ever to-
night, don't she2' asks one Of the gossips
in the corner Of her croney.
Eyes she duz was hopin' that she'd
quit thinkin' o. John Norton o. give
Tom Rollins, that's worn to sha,lder
waItin fur her, some encouragement.
They did say, Jest before John went away,
that she was ru.hsr tnrnin' the cold shout
der on him n iayoru' Tom; but lor,
there warn't no truth Is it, fur l see she
and John part the day bc went away ~
though they was both quiet ernulr, there
warn't no coldncss between 'cm, ! kin tell
ye.
"Did you hear leow Joliu Norton's
ghost bed ben seed round here by four or
five different peiscns?" says another gos-
sip 10 a mysterious whisper, "Elsie's
heera on it. and she's terribly out about
it,
''Spakin' o ghosts. says Capt. Biley.
an old sailor who had bad more strange
experiences. known more mysterious hap.
penings than any other man in the town,
aad that was saying good deal, :" saw
a dreadful strange apparation out tsw sea
about 20 years ago.
DO tell Us about it, SAID several OF the |
yonng people in the same breath leaving
tbcir games and joining the circle around |
The fire. for the Captains stories were IA.
nous iI the town.
"Wall, now. s'pose I've told the story
! hundred times over at Que time an
another 10 this place, but II you are snx.
ous to hear il can tell il again"
Nearly all the people in the room we're
n xints 10 Lear IL and after iiltinr To and