The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-01-03


 reached town had succeeded in dis missing the incident from my mind, or if thought of it at all, it was only to in- dulge relief at the reflection that had shaken of Barnjum forever.
 But when 1 had paid my cab, and was taking out my latch-key, curious thing happened-the driver called me back.
 "Bsg pardon, sir" he said, hoarsely, "but think you've bin and left some thing white in my cab!"
 turned and looked in. There, grin ming at me from the interior of the han some, over the folding doors, was the wrath of Barpjuml
 l had presence of mind enough to thank the man for his honesty, and go up stairs to my rooms with as little noise as possible Barpjum's ghost, as 1 ex- pected, followed me in, and sat down coolly before the fire, in my armchair, thus giving me an opportunity of sub jecting the apparition to thorough ex- animation
 It was quite the conventional ghost ilmy, transparent, and though wanting 6rmness in outline, really passable like ness of Barnjum. Before l had retired to rest had thrown both of my boots and the contents of my bookcase com | pletely through the thing, without ap- bearing to cause it more than a tempo rary nconvenieuce-whichc convinced me that it was indeed d being frem another world.
 Its choice of garments struck me even then as decidedly unusual. 1 am not narrow; cheerfullf allow that, assum- ing the necessity for spparitions at all, it is well that they slould be clothed in robes of some kind; but Barnjum's ghost delighted in com 'ination of costume which set the fitness of things at de- fance.
 It wore that evening, for instance, to the best of my recollection, striped pant aloons, a surplice, and an immense cooked hat but on subsequent occasions it's changes of costu mes were SO rapid and eccentric that ceased to pay much attention to them, and could only explain them on the supposition that somewhere in space there exists supernatural store in the nature of theatrical wardrobe. and that Barnjum's ghost had the run of it.
 had not been in very long before my landlady came up to see if 1 wanted any thing, and of course as soon as she came in, she saw the wrath. At first she ob- jected to it very strongly, declaring that she would not have such nasty things in her house, and that if wanted to keep ghosts had better go somewhere else :: but l pacihed her at last by representing that It would give no extra trouble, and that was only taking care of it for friend
 When she had gone, however, sat up till late, thinking calmly over my position, and the complications which might be expected to ensue from it. It would be very easy to harrow the readers feelings and work upon his sym pathies here by telling description of my terror and my guilty confusion at the unforseen consequences of what I had done. But l think, in relating an ex- perience of this kind, the straightforward way is alway the best, and do not care to heighten the effect by attributing to myself variety of sensations which I do not remember to have actually felt at the time.
 My first impression had not unnatur- ally been that the specter was merely the product of overwrought nerves or indi- gestion. but it seemed improbable that 6 caoman should be plagued by morbid activity of imagination, and that a land lady's digestion could be delicate suffi- ciently to evolve thing SO far removed from the merely commonplace and, re- luctantly enough, Twas forced to the con- cluslon that it was real ghost, and would probably continue to haunt me to the end of my days.
 Of course was disgusted by this ex. hibition of petty revenge and low malice on the part of BArrjum, which might be tolerated perhaps in Christmas annual. with full-page illustration, but which, in real life and the height of summer. was glaring anachronism.
 Sall, It was of no use to repine then, resolved to look at the thing in com me4-sense light-l told myselfthat had made my ghost, and would have to live with It. And, after all, I had much to be thankful for. Barnjum in the spirit was decided improvement upon Barnjum In the flesh and as the spirit did not ap- pear to be gifted with speech, it was un- likely to tell tales.
 Luckily for me, too, Barpjum was ab- solutely unknown about town his only | feiative was an aunt resident at Gambler | well, and so there was no danger of any suspicion being excited by chance recog. hilton in the circles to which belonged. |
 It would have been folly to shut ones | eyes to the fact that it might require con- siderable nerve to re-enter society closely | attended by an obscure and fanclfully at- tired apparition.
 Society would sheer considerably at first and make remarks, bus was full of tact and knowledge of the world, and I knew, too, that men have overcome far more formidable obstacles to social suc- cess than any against which should be called upon to contend.
 And so, instead of weakly giving way to unreasonable panic, took the more manly course of determining to live it down, with what success l shall have presently to show.
 When l went out alter breakfast the next morning Barnium,s yhost ins;ct.d