The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-01-01

=
or around rocks where there have been
| wrecks; like that Of the wind when 1t
moans in the chimneys, Of haunted
houses, or in ghostly woods where some.
murder has been committed in years gone
| by.
Perfect silence reigns l,ut just as the
| interest of the tale is at its height, and
the young people are clinging to each
other with awe-stricken looks, the FIRE
| flashing into sudden life shines on h face
| framed in one of the window-panes, the
face of one who has been buried in the
old grave yard behind the church nearly
| eight years. The eyes are fixed upon
Elsie with an eager, searching glance for
| q moment, then tho flame 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 com
| paniOns. Shrieks sound from different
portions of the room /.
"JOhn Norton, if ever see him in my
life. Why, his face was as plain "A day
| light" is heard in awed whispers from
every side.
| The squire, who has been drawn to the
1 IOOtu ny CHc NCTckiHS Oh Tue WOIIlen, On
learning the state of affairs rushes imme-
diately to the front door, and there upon
the steps, with his hand upon the knob Of
the door-bell, stands the ghost-John
| Norton
| The squire iRvoluntarily takes few
steps backward, and stands in speechless
| am0zement and fear.
| Happy New Year, squire Yon
don't seem very glad to see me-" came
from the ghost in a hearty, most unghost-
like tone. 81 am afraid frightened tho
ladies in the parlor 1t was dark that
l didn't think should be seen"
"Who in the world are you 90 inquired
the squire, looking somewhat relieved.
Don't you know John Norton !?
Have / changed beyond recognition in
these eight years -
But you-but John Norton is dead"
said the squire, with chilling rcmem-
brancc Of what he had read about mate
ralistic spirits in his mind
The ghost laughed merrily.
eff am dead, | am profoundly igno-
rant of the fact" sad he, "and l am
surely John Norton"
Elsie who had recovered from her faint
ing fit, at the sound of his voice rushes
into the hall, and is Immediately folded
| into his warm, strong arms.
Ghost or man, yon arc my .Iohn,' she
| says.
Scverali iladics: become hystcrical at this
point, and tho squire, iii 4 state M the
| widest excitement walked to and fro,
rubbing his hand across his forehead in
dazed manner.
"What is the matter % inquired John,
| finally releasing Elsie from his embrace,
but still holding her closely by tho hand.
81 know that | was reported drowned,
but how many sailors have come back
under the same circumstances
But you are buried in this town. I
went to Boston myself and identified your
body. Have-haven't you seen your
| gravestone
John stared at the squire in blank
amazomcnt.
"No, can't:say that have. A man
doesn't often sec such sight. What do
| you mean ?"
Why body was picked up from the
wreck of your ship, which Captain
yours. The face was distignrcd good
zeal, nut Lne nOuV n2u on u cuHt Will
| your name scwcd into the lining. 1t had
the same mark on the left hand, and the
hair, complexion, height and size CORE
sponded exactly with your own"
1T must have been poor Thompson.
Everybody took him to he my brother.
He was very much like me certainly. |
was saved by miracle, and was taken
on board "a ship bound for Australia,
l."
/" But, John, why did you not come
home before ?" said Elsie, loosening her
hand from his grasp, and regarding him
with rcproachiul dignity.
" Because heard that Elsie Newell
was married to Tom Rollins heard it
from his brother, whom saw often while
| in Melbourne Tom has known that
was living all the time, the scoundrel
He left town an soon as he heard that /
was ON my way home hoped to find
him hero, for have an account to settle
with him" -
" He il indeed scoundrel," says
Elsie " hut John, this is New Years
eve, and we are 40 happy, let us for
| give him. Let us forgive everything
that was painful in the past, now that
we are to commence the New Year
together. Surely,Ht cannot fail to he q
happy one"
| "Amen" exclaims John