The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-05

favorin' Tom; but, lor', there warn't no
truth in it fur | see she and John part the
day he went away, m though they was both
quiet ernnff, there warn't no GOODNESS be-
tween 'em kin tell ye."
did We hear haow John Norton's ghost
he'd been seen raound here by four or five
different persons"' says another gossip in a
mysterious whisper "Elsie's heerd on it,
and she's terribly out about it,
Speakin' o. ghosts" says Captain RileY,
an old sailor who had had more strange ex-
periences, known more mysterious happen
ings, than any other man in the town, and
that was saying good deal;'T saw dread
full strange apparition out tew sea abaout
| twenty years ago."
"Do tell us about it, said several of the
young people in a breath, leaving their
games and joining the circle round the fire,
for Captain Riley's stories were famous in
the town.
"Wall, naow, / s'pose Fve told the story
hundred times over at one time m another
in this place, but if you are anxious to hear
it can tell it again.
Nearly all the people in the room were
anxious to hear it, and after fitting TO and
fro in his chair several times, and clearing
his throat with great deal of vigor, he
commenced to relate the thrilling tale of
ghost which;appeared on shipboard during
enc of his foreign voyages-the ghost of
sailor who had been wronged by the former
master of the vessel, and was mysteriously
| murdered on shore after the ship reached
| port.
| Elsie, her large, dark eyes dilating with
| interest or emotion, joined the listening cir
| Gle, though she usually either laughed or
frowned at the Captains weird recitals.
| Let US take the lamps out of the room,
| the story will seem ever so much more real"
| says one of the laughing girls, who enjoy
| IN fIob nh; ot,
| arises from the contemplation of the super
| natural.
So the lamps are removed and the glory Of
the scarlet Goals and Pickering freight only
| half illumine the large room with its dark
| wainseoatings and deep window embrasures.
| AS the tale goes on the fire grows lower and
| lower. Shadows gather in the corners and
creep in among the silent group of listeners.
| The old mans voice has a strange, weird
| quality in it, like that of the sea wf3l9-it-
| whispers to sands where there arc gives,
or around rocks where there have been
wrecks; like that of the wind when it means
in the chimneys of haunted houses, or in
| ghostly woods where some murder has been
committed in years gone by.
Perfect silence regns: But just as the in
| terest of the tale is at its height, and the
| young people are clineing to each other
| with awe-stricken looks, the fire flashing in
| to sudden life shines on face framed in
one of the wiDdow-panes, the face of one
who has been buried in the old graveyard
] behind the church nearly eight years. The
eyes arc 1IGaa 7Ess6 wlrf eager,
searching glance for moment, aud then
the fame and it vanish together into the |
darkness.
Elsie, who has met the glance with her |
own eyes, utters wild, scared cry, and falls
fainting into the arms of her companions
Shrieks sound from different portions of the |
room.
"Jehn Norton, if ever see him in my I
life. Why, his face was as plain as day |
light" is heard in awed whispers from ev-
cry side.
The squire who has been drawn to the |
room by the screams of the women, on |
learning the state of affairs, rushes immedi- |
ately to the front door, and there upon the |
steps, with his hand upon the knob, stands |
the ghost-John Norton!
The squire Involuntary takes few steps /
ackward, and stands in speeches. amaze /
ment and fear.
'Happy New Year, squire! You don't /
seem very glad to see me-" came from the |
ghost in hearty, most unghostlike Tone /
81 am afraid | frightened the ladies in the |
parlor. 1t was so dark that didn't think I |
should be seem"
''Who in the world are you9" inquired |
the squire, looking somewhat relieved.
changed beyond recognition in these eight /
yearsp'
"But you-but John Norton is dead" /
said the squire, with chilling membranes /
OF what he had read about materialstic /
spirits in his mind.
The ghost laughed merrily
If l am dead, am profoundly ignorant /
Of the fact" said he, "and am surely John /
Norton"
Elsie who had recovered from her fainting /
fit, at the sound Of his voice rushes into the /
hall, and is Immediately folded into his |
warm, strong arms.
"Ghost or man, you are my John,'' she /
says
Several ladies became hysterical at this |
point, aud the squire, in state of the wild |
est excitement walked to and fro, rubbing |
his hand across his forehead in a dazed |
manner.
''What is the matter?' inquired John, fl |
nally releasing Elsie from his embrace, but
still holding her closely by the hand. II
know that was reported drowned, but how
many sailors have come back under the same
circumstances"
"But you are buried in this town. went
to Boston myself and identified your body.
Have-baven't you seen your gravestoneW
John stared at the squire In blank amaze
ment.
''No, can't say that I have. A man
doesn't often see such a sight What do
you mean?'
'Why, a body was picked up from the
wreck of your ship, which Captain Graves,
who knew you very well, took to be yours
The face was disfgured good deal, but the
body had on coat with your name sewed
into the lining. 1t had the same mark on
the left hand, and the hair, complexion,
| height and size correspondent exactly with
| your own.
''It must have been poor Thompson. EV-
erybody took him to be my brother. He was
| very much like me certainly. l was saved
| by miracle, and was taken on board ship
bound for Australia. I-''
''But, John, why did you not come home
| before% said Elsie, loosening her hand
from his grasp aud regarding him with re-
proachful dignity.
because heard that Elsie Newell was
married to Tom Rollins. heard it from
| his brother, whom l saw often while in
Melbourne. Tom has known that l was
| living all the time, the scoundreli He left
| town as soon as he heard that | was on my
| way home. l hoped to find him here, for l
| have an account to settle with him.
"He is, indeed a scoundrel'' says Elsie;
''but, John, this is New Years eve, and we
are so happy, let us forgive him. Let us
forgive everything that was painful in the
past, now that we are to commence the
New Year together. Surely it cannot fail
to be happy one."
| UAmpn % ovolaime Tnhn