The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-02-14

his mouth and addressing me as we sat
together one winters evening in the
fireplace in the commercial room of the
Gresham, in Sackville street.
Il am tired" replied YEARLY.
''Been traveling?''
Eyes, l have just come from Cork"
''Nice place, Cork" said the dark
faced man, glancing at me from under
his bushy eyebrows.
"Well, yes, it is" said l, ga fine
city
livery innocent people, these Cork
people," said the dark-faced man,
whilst he slowly refilled his meer-
schaum.
''Yes," replied. 'they are; and a
warm, good-natured people. l like
them very much.''
But innocent-they are innocent,
aren't tbey?' he asked again rather
curiously.
'Well, l dare say they are," said 1,
not over-pleased with his assertiveness
on the subject.
eyes, of course they are," he said,
sententiously, and then relapsed into
silence.
You have been in Cork?" 1 asked,
not satisfied to let the conversation
drop,
Eyes, was, young man, once"
stYou seemed to have admired them
very much?"
'sOf course l did. Who does notP
They have many charming virtues-in-
nocence and simplicity being about
their greatest"
felt there was story behind the
- I si, l1yC
How did you come to learn and to
feel SO strongly the existence OF these
qualities from one yisit?''
Perhaps you are too tired to listen
| to it. 1t is rather Il long story"
mot at all, =" said l, quickly; SIT is
just what l should like of all things.
We shall fill our pipes, and if you will
allow me to replenish these tumb-
lers-'
"All right" said he, ''go ahead"
Whenawe had filled our pipes, taken
few pulls and few sips from the
smoking tumbiers that stood at our re-
spectiye elbows, the dark-faced man
commenced:
One fine autumn evening, about thir
ty years ago, was travelling on horse
| back from Millstreet to Cork.
I felt tolerably tired and was looking
out for some wavside inn where /
might pass the night, when sudden
and violent thunder storm came on.
NV horse, terrified by the lightning,
fairly took the bride between his
teeth and started of with me at full
gallop through the lanes and cross
roads, until at length l managed to
| pull him up at the door of a neat-lo0k-
ing country inn.
"Well," thought, ''there was wit in
your madness, old boy, since it brought
us to this comfortable refuge" And,
alighting, l gave him in charge to the
stout farmers boy, who acted as hostler.
When | entered the kitchen of the
humble hotel, I found number of
travellers gathered round the fire wait
ing for supper. joined the party.
Presently, being summoned by the
hostess, we all sat down, twelve in
number, to smoking repast of bacon
and eggs.
The conversation turned on the mis-
haps, occasioned by the storm, of which
every one seemed to have his full share.
One had been thrown off his horse, an
other, driving a gig, had been upset in
a muddy ditch; all had got thor
ough wetting, and agreed unanimously
that it was dreadful weather. perfect
witches Sabbath.
"Witches and ghosts prefer for their
Sabbath fine, moonlight night to such
weather as this!'
The words were uttered in a solemn
tone by one of the company. He was a
tall fair-looking man, and appeared to
be a commercial traveller.
The next neighbor, who was a gay,
Acknowledgement young man, burst
into peal of laughter, saying:
''You must know the custom OF
ghosts very well to be able to tell that
they dislike getting wet or muddy"
The first speaker, glancing contempt
uously at him, said:
You shouldn't speak so lightly OF
things beyond your comprehension"
The young man stood up, flushed
with anger, but resumed his seat, say
ing calmly:
''That taunt would cost you dear,
were it not such foolish one"
"a foolish one," explained the other,
throwing on the table a leathern purse,
There are fifty guineas, which am
content to lose, if, before the hour is
ended, l do not succeed in showing
you the form of any one of your friends,
and. after you have recognized him,
you will let him press his dead lipi
against yours.
We all looked at each other; but my
young neighbor, in a mocking manner
replied:
''You will do that-will you?"
hn oil HIiI
pay similar sum if you lose"
After short silence the young mai
said gaily:
"Fifty guineas, my worthy sorcerer
are more than poor college studen
ever possessed; but here are five
, which, if you are satisfied, L shall b'
willing TO wager.
The other took up his purse, saying
in scornful tone:
, Il see, young gentleman, you wisl
to draw back"
II draw backr' exclaimed the stu
dent. ''Well, if l had fifty guinea
you should see whether l wish to ds
So"
"Here," said I, ''are four guinea
which will stake on your wager"
No sooner had made this PROPOSE
ton than the rest of the company, at
tracted by the singularity of the affair
came forward to lay down their money
and in minute or two the fifty guinea
r were subscribed.
The gentleman was so sure of win
ming that he placed all the money il
the Students hands and prepared fo
the experiment.
We selected for the purpose smal
summer house in the garden, perfectl
isolated, and having no means OF eXi