The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-07-04
AN ANNOYING VISITOR.
A Recreant Bachelor Tormented
by a Mischievous Ghost.

Mr.. Penoyer Pcvensey entered his
bachelor apartments on til Street in
leisurcly manner, carefully hung up
his coat and hat in the hallway, and,
setting aside his dripping umbrella,
glanced about the luXuriously furnished
room with visible satisfaction. Then.
drawing before the chccrfully glowing
CRATE an armchair, he seated himself
with one OF those signs to which one
gives vent when conscious of having
gone through something disagrceable,
and anticipating quiet rest.
Mr.. Peyensey had, indeed, gone
through very trying experience On
that very evening, at precisely half-past
nine, he. a bachelor Of cight-and-
twenty, and not Unlocking (Which fact
added in no small degree to his self
complacency), had proposed to the
charming Miss Emory, and was even
now trying to regain his scattered ideas
and explain to himself how it had all
happened. One thing was certain-that
from that time on he was feltered, and
could no longer proudly boast of his
freedom from the gilded chains of Hy-
men. Mr.. Pevensey, as he thought of
this, involuntarily heaved another and
deeper sigh, and slowly shook his head
several times. TWAS plainly to be seen
that he was not in that loye-sick condi-
ton wherein young people are supposed
to abiure food and shun sleep, and a
superficial bachelor observer, merely
knowing the fact of his engagement,
would have sworn that he had been be-
guiled and cntrapped by means Of those
subtle arts and devices known only to
females. Be this as it may, the fact
remains that Mr.. Pevensey was in Il
rather irritable mood, and, after rumi-
mating on his impending fate for half an
hour, he lighted cigar and opened the
"'Reyeries of a Bachelor" with the de-
sire to extract few drops of consola-
ton therefrom.
The rain beat dolefully against the
window, The clock, to offset this, kept
APP a most pleasant ticking, and at in
terYals, an equally pleasant and mclo-
dious Ginning, all of which sounds fell
1lpon Mr. Pevensey's ears UNDECIDED, for
he had gradually fallen into dreamy
state of half consciousness. The fire
burned low, and the red-tinted globes
overhead shaded and subdued the light,
as it revealed the half-recumbent figure
of the bachelor thus passing from reyery
10 slumber
Patter-patter, tick tick, patter-
-|Ahcmn' said voice at his side in 3
predatory way.
Mr.. Peyensey started up and looked
about him. Close by, with his chair
tilted back and his legs stretched out
toward the blaze in a most comfortable
and degage manner, was seated ghost
of the male persuasion-a transparent
semblance of mana veritable spirit.
Mr.. Pevensey gasped and each hair
began to look about for its individual
end on which to stand. The ghost
noted these signs of trcpidation at first
with a smile and then with wheezy
chuckle. Finally he broke out in hol-
low cackle.
Il say, Pen, old boy" said he, as soon
as his risbilities had sufficiently sub
sided, don't you know me? Penn
broke, you know Pembroke died last
week!'
IHlo was S'llNl III IL HitShl' ldllllll0
voice, but in the NEST cheerful manner
imaginable. Mr. Pevensey gradually
regained his composure; his hair sub
sided and in five minutes from the time
of the ghosts question was able to give
an audible answer.
"Ah, yes; y, yes, ha, ha! I know
you, Pembroke-yes, knew you all the
time"
mo you didn't" said the ghost.
''You were too confoundedly fright
ened." Here he stopped to chuckle
again. But | say, Pen, | won't hurt
YOU, you know
co." said Mr.. Pevensey, ironically,
his courage by this time quite returned
-''you won't?'
"No," said the ghost, reassuringly,
81 won't. Now I'll tell you why |
came He stopped, took from Il ghostly
cigar-case a shadowy cigar, lit it with
an invisible match, and began to send
forth volumes of ghostly smoke. After
Che fifth puff he continued:
you have forgotten it, but haven't.
Don'tyou remember enc night, twelve