The National tribune., 1884-10-16

long before / could rlghduily assume une posi-
ton for which had been selected. But l tell
Won, sir" he continued with animation. -" the
old fellow seems as vigorous as ever, and have
no idea how much longer this annoying state
of things will continue. ! spend my time in
irving TO keep out of that old mans way. L
must not leave this house, and he seems to fol-
low me everywhere. l tell you, sir, he haunts
me-"
"That Is truly queer state Of things" re-
marked. But why are you afraid of himf
He couldn't hurt you"
"Of course he couldn't" said the ghost
"Bat his very presence is q shock and terror to
me. Imagine sir, how you would feel II my
case We're yours"
could not imagine such thing at all.
simply shuddered.
"And if one must be wrongful ghost at all !"
the apparition continued, 1T would be much
pleasanter to be the ghost of some man other
than John Hnckmau. There is in him an
irascibility of temper, accompanied by afacIlIty
of finvsctive. which is seldom met with. And
what would happen if he were to see me, and
find out as | am sure he would, how long
and why | had inhabited his house, can
scarcely conceive. / have seen him In ms
bursts of pass;an; and, although he did not
hurt the people he stormed at any more than
be would hurt me, they seemed to shrink be-
fore him"
All this knew to be very true. Had it not
been for this popularity of Mr.. Hinckman, L
might have been more willing to talk to him
about his niece.
u feel sorry for you," ] said, for l really be-
gan to have a sympathetic feeling toward this
unfortunate apparition. Your case is indeed
a hard one 1t reminds me of those persons
who have had doubles, and / suppose a man
would often be very angry indeed when he
found that there was another being who was
persOnating himself
"Oht the cases are not similar at all" said
the ghost. "A double or doppleganger lives on
the earth with man; and, being exactly like
him. he makes all sorts of trouble of course. 1t
is very different with me. / am not here to
live with Mr. Hinckman. / am here to take
his place. Now, it would make John Hinck-
man very angry if he knew that. Don't you
know ii wOuldf"
assented promptly.
"Now that he is away can be easy for a
little while" continued the ghost; land l am
SO glad to have an opportunity of talking to
you. 1 have frequently come into your room
and watched you while you slept, but did not
dare TO speak TO you for fear that if you talked
with me Mr.. Hinckman would hear you, and
come into the room to know why you were
talking TO yourself
"But would he not hear you?" asked.
"Oh, no!" said the other; there are times
when auy one may see me, but no one hears
me except the person to whom address my
self"
"But why did you wish to speak TO me?"
asked.
Because" replied the ghost, 81 like occa-
sionally to talk to people, and especially to
some one like yourself, whose mind is so
troubled and perturbed that you are not likely
TO be frightened by visit from one of US. But
I particularly wanted to ask you to do me
favor There is every probability, so far as /
can see, that John Hinckman will live long
time, and my situation is becoming insupport-
able My great object at present is to get my
self transferred, and l think that you may,
perhaps be of use to me-"
TTansferredi" l exclaimed, "what do you
mean by that?"
"What mean," said the other, is this. Now
that / have started on my career / have got to
be the ghost of somebody, and / want to be the
ghost of a man. who is really dead"
81 should think that would be easy enough"
I said. Opportunities must continually
occur"
"Not at all not at ALI" said my compan-
ion quickly "You have no idea what rush
and pressure there is for situations of this kind.
Whenever vacancy occurs if l may express
myself in that way. there are crowds OF ap-
pI!cabts for the ghostship."
Il had no idea that such state of things
existed" / said, becoming quite interested in
the matter. There ought to be some regular
system, or order of precedence, by which you
could all take your turns like customers in a
BARRIERS shop"
"Oh. dear. that would never do at all !" said
the other. Some of US would have to wait
forever. There is always great rush when
ever good ghostship offers itself-while, as you
know, there are some positions that no one
would care for. And it was in consequence of
my being in too great hurry on an occasion
of the kind that got myself into my present
disagreeable predicament, and / have thought
that it mi ght be possible that you would help
me out OF it. You might know of case
where an opportunity for a ghostship was not
generally expected, but which might present
itself at any moment If you would give me
q short notice, l know l could arrange for
transfer"
what do you mean?" / exclaimed. "Do
you want me to commit suicide? Or to under
take murder for your benefit?"
"0h, no, no, mol" said the other, with
yapory smile. mean nothing of that kind.
To be sure. there are lovers who watched
with considerable interest, such persons having
been known, in moments Of depression, TO
offer very desirable ghostships; but | did not
think Of anything OF that kind in connection
with you. You are the only person l cared to
speak 10, and ! hoped that you might give me
some information that would be of use; and,
in return, shall be very glad to help you in
your love affair"
"You seem to know that have such an
affair" / said.
yawn; . / could not be here So much as have
been without knowing all about that"
There was something horrible in the idea of
Madeline and myself having been watched by
a ghost, even, perhaps, when wandered to-
gether IN the most delightful and bosky places.
But, then, this was quite eXceptionable
ghost, and / could not have the objections to
him which would ordinarily arise in regard to
beings of his class.
must so now," said the ghost, rising;
"but l will see you somewhere tomorrow
night. and remcmber-you help me and I'll
help you"
] had doubts the next morning as TO the pro-
pricty Of telling Madeline any thing about this
interview, and soon convinced myself that
must keep silent on the subject. If she knew
there was ghost about the house she would
probably leave the place instantly. did not
mention the matter, and so regulated my de-
Ineanor that / am quite sure that Madeline
never suspected what had taken place. For
some time l had wished that Mr. Hincknan
would absent himself for day at least from
the premises. Iii such case | thought might
more easily nerve myself up to The point of
speaking TO Madeline oR the subject of our
future collateral existence; and, now that the
opportunity for such speech had really oc-
CURED, did not feel ready to avail myself of
ii. What would become of me If she refused
me2
had an idea, however, that the lady thought
that if was going to speak at all this was the
time. She must have known that certain SEN