The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-01-03

Assembly rooms, Tenby, no ghost could have wished for more enthusiastic re- ception, and-for the first and last time felt positively proud oft!
 But the applause gradually subsided, and was succeeded by an awkward pause. It had not struck me until that moment that it would be necessary to do or say anything Tn particular during the exhi- bition, beyond showing the spectators round the phantom, and making the customary assurance that there was no deception and no concealed machinery, which could do with clear conscience But a terrible conviction struck me, as l stood there lowing repeatedly, that the audience had come prepared for a comic dialogue, with incidental music and dances.
 This was quite out ofthe question, even supposiWg that BArnjum's ghost would have helped me to entertain them, which perhaps, could scarcely expect. As ii was, 1t did nothing at all, except grimace at the audience and make an idiotic fool of itself and me-an exhibition of which they soon wearied. am perfectly cer- tain that an ordinary magic lantern would have made far deeper impression upon them.
 Whether the wrath managed in some covert way, when my attention was di. verted, to insult the national prejudice oi that hot-blooded nation, l cannot say All know IS, that, after sitting still for some time, they suddenly arose as one man chairs were hurled at me through the ghost, and the stage was completely wrecked before the audience could be in- duced to go away. I(
 It was all over. was hopelessly ruined now! My weak fancy that even a spectre would have some remnants of common decency and good feeling hang ing about it, had put the finishing touches to my misfortunes
 l paid for the smashed platform and windows with the money that had been taken at the doors, and then l travelled back to London third-class that night, with the feel'Ag that everything was against me.
 It was Christmas, and 1 was sitting gloomily in my shabby Bloomsbury lodg- ings, watching with a miserable, apa- thetic interest, Barnjum's wrath, as, clad in a Roman toga, top boots and tu1ban, 1t fitted about the horse-hair furniture.
 was wondering if they would admit me into any work-house while the spectre continued my attendant; was utterly and completely wretched, and now, for the first time, really repented my con- duct in having parted with Barnjum so abruptly by the bleak cliff side, tha, bright June morning.
 heard no more of him-l knew he must have reached the bottom after his fall, because heard the splash he made but no tidings had come of the dis covery of his body; the lake had kept its dark secret we'll
 If could only hope that this insidious shade, HOW that it had bounded me down to poverty, would consider this as a sufficient expiation of my error, and go away and leave me in peacel But l felt, only too keenly, that it was one of those one-idea'd apparitions which never know when they have enough of a good thing it would be sure to stay and see the very last of mel
 All at once there came a sharp tap at my door, and another figure strode solemnly in. This, too, wore the semb- lance of Barnjum, but was cast in a more substantial mold, aud possessed the power of speech, as l gathered from its addressing me instantly as a cowardly villain.
 l started back and stood behind an armchair, facing those two forms-the shadow and the solid-with a feeling of sick despair. Listen to me-" 1 said, both of you: So long as your-your original proprietor was content with a single wrath, put up with it; did not enjoy myseif-but endured it. But a brace of apparitions is really carrying the thing too far; it's more than any one mans fair allowance, and l won't stand it. l defy the pair of youl I will find means to escape you! will leave the world Other people can be ghosts as well as you-it's not a monopoly If you don't go directly shall blow my brains outW p
 There was no 6rearm of any descrip- ton in the house, but was too excited for perfect accuracy.
 "Blow your brains out by all means r' said the solid figure; "I don't know what all this nonsense you're talking is about. Pm not ghost that I'm aware of; Pm alive (no thanks to you); and to come back to the point-you scoun- drelw
 "Barnjum-and alive !" cried, almost with relief. eff that is so," l added, feeling that had been imposed upon in a very unworthy and ungentlemanly " will you have the goodness to tell me why you have this ridiculous ap- partition here r
 He did not seem to have noticed it till then. "Hullo P he said, looking at it with some curiosity, "what dye call that thing2"
 call it beastly nuisancep said. s Ever since-since l last saw you us been following me about everywhere in in a very annOyinp manner 2D