The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-08-14

ia "wsli. vell.- said he. wonders viii
nsyer cease
In the meanwhile Ns. Drake. isis alone
with the Assiqus and Nystsrious. asd all
the rest Of the csPi.Al-lettersa aaisctives
which vsrs dear 70 The soul Of his muse.
sst 10 work il The dusk gathering dry
sticks. and lighting 6rs il the great
roon. whore the DARK wooden vainseoting
Was 10 sert Of penpiratien Of damp asd
! persistsnt rat knsved behind the carved
dsor lintsls; and vhes the hrs blszed mer-
riiy up. it, myriad sparks fleeing in fan.
tAstic prsoeaaion mp the chimney. casting
lurid reflections on the shadswy angles.
and the grin satyrs' faces in the corner Of
the ceiling. he chuckled aloud il the full.
ness Of his satisfaction.
Never did tongue sandwich and dry
Amontillsdo taste 50 good ~ did M
Drake's lusch that night, as he ate IL sit
ting On the door in front Of the blaze.
eve thought Of the frame work Of
half dsxsa thrilling sketches since the
|hrs bseaa 10 blAzs." said he and Ikasw !
could vriis capital poem il only hsd
remembered 10 put my memorandum
book aad my fountain pen in my pocket
But il will come back to me; il will come
back 70 ns. No man can lack inspiration
in place like this. l shall not sleep to-
night; shall cit up and think"
But the glow Of the reddening embsrs
was more potent than any opiats The per-
pstual moan OF the stream outside. and
melancholy sigh OF the hemlock boughs.
served Is lullyby, and Mr.. Drake was
fast drifting into dream land, 10 spite OF
his resolutions. when something like the
cracking Of floor board raised him 10
sudden alertpess.
He mufiied himself in his travelling
mantle Or wrap, and with his great coat
rolled up for pillow. had laid dowa in
the corner where the warmth could reach
him, while the shifting tongues Of flame
should not disturb his eyes. SO that he
was invisible although any one who entered
the apartment shsuld be compelled to
GROSS the bright line Of freight that
strssmed like red pennon across the
floor. And while Mr.. Drake was assur-
ing himself that he had tightly bolted the
front door, and that ne stray mink or
weasel or starving dog could possibly
jump as high as the dilapitated window,
. figure camo slowly in-the figure Of .
very cid mas, dressed in faded butter
nnt salt, that bore the quaint cut and i'm.
press Of . century ago, shadowy
transparent, bloodlsss sort Of an old man,
long silEery hair floating down his shoul-
dsrs; a. old man. who shuffied noiseless.
" over the floor. and who sat down on
the bsckless chair. aud warmed his hands
over the blaze with appalling composurs.
The blood seemed fairly to CONCEAL in
Mr.. brakes veins. The lsngodfor op.
portnnity had come at iast. hrt he was
spurred on by none OF that eagsrnsss to
istervisw the ghost y hich be had alwsysi
Imagined would stir his pulses; in fact. ~
there Mad been any possible back door
whereby he nigh escape. he would have
svailed himself Of that ignominisus gate.
way OF retreat. As it was, in bis conster-
nation he knocked down pile Of weod
lost his balance. aud tumblsd into the
very presence Of the ghost.
The shadowy old man simply lifted his
strange, steely eyes, and looked at his
vis.a-vis without seeming in any way as
tonishsd or perturbed OF the unexpected
presence, and then fell to warming bis
hands again.
81 say" sid the author, pulling hin.
self together with desperate effort. "whs
are your What the deuce do you mean
by trespassing herea" which was not st
all the sort Of speech he had pictured him
self as making to a ghost. but we know
too we'll the discrepancy between the real
and the ideal.
II come" slowly answered the strange
tenant, "from the land Of Shadows"
"Whst do you want?" gssped the new
<s0set.
II want my home"
"Ekg" cried Mr.. Drake.
when 4 was alive" deliberately ut
tered the spectre. II walked in these halls
and dwelt beside this hearthstone. In
death l claim tbaa still.
Mr.. brakes face kad turned the color
Of putty. He looked ~ il he had the pal.
~.
"Havs-hays you been dong desd?" be
asked.
Once more the old man trapG6xsd him
with the strange light Of the .ptsely blue
eyes.
"A hundred years, ho answered.
Mr.. Drake rose unsteadily to bis feet:
he made grasp ct his mantle. and rushed
toward the door.
III Istsyed there another second in that
rcom," he declared, II shouldn't have
breathed. l should certainly have fallen
Ia It,
Nr. Pratt had scarcely completed his
morning nap when neighber Baisley's one.
horse wagon stepped before the real es.
tate Office. and Mr.. Drake jumped out, his
rubieusd face grown pale and Asbby. bis
eyes wearing . startled expression, bis
whole personality changed.
Hello" said Mr.. Pratt in great amaze
ment.
II vn coming in to early Market" sx-
plaiaed Neighbsr BaisIey. when I found
this gentleman wandering Just this side Of
Desperation Hall. ssd be said be wanted
IN 90 van 4"