The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-02
AN ANNOYING VISITOR.
"A Recreant Bachelor Tormented
by q Miscellaneous Ghost

by q MischievOuS Ghost
Mr.. Penoyer Pevensey entered his
bachelor apartments on til Street in
leisurely manner, carefully hung up
his coat and hat in the hallway, and,
setting aside his dripping umbrella,
glanced about the luxurouSly furnished
room with visible satisfaction. Then,
drawing before the cheerfully glowing
CRATE an armchair, he seated himself
with one OF those signs to which one
gives vent when conscious of having
gone through something disagreeahle,
and anticipating a quiet rest.
Mr.. Pevensey had, indeed, gone
through very trying experience. On
that very evening, at precisely half-past
nine, he, bachelor of eight-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 fettered, 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 a
deeper sigh, and slowly shook his head
several times. TWAS plainly to be seen
that he was not in that lOve-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 entrapped by means of those
subtle arts and devices known only to
ENABLES. Be this as it may, the fact
remains that Mr.. Pevensev was in
rather irritable mood. and, after rumi-
mating on his impending fate for half an
hour, he lighted a cigar and opened the
-'ReverieS OF a Bachelor" with the de-
sire to extract few drops of consola-
ZION therefrom.
The rain beat dolefully against the
window. The clock, to offset this, kept
up a most pleasant ticking. and. at in
tervals. an equally pleasant and melO-
diOus Ginning, all of which sounds fell
upon Mr.. FeVensey's ears unheedcd. for
he had gradually fallen into a dreamy
state of half consciousness. The fire
burned low. and the red-tinted globes
overhead shaded and subGued the light,
as it revealed the half-recumbcnt figure
of the bachelor thus passing from revery
10 slumber,
D,tt,- 81 t;.l-
"Ahom.' said voice at his side in a
predatory way.
MIR. Pevensey started up and looked
about him. Close bv, 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 trepidation at first
with a smile and then with a wheezy
chuckle. Finally he broke out in hol-
low cackle.
Il say, Pen, old boy" said he, as soon
as his risibilitieS had sufficiently SUBJ
sided, don't you know me? Penn
broke, you know Pembroke died last
week.
This was said in husky. rafting
voice, but in the most 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; o, yes, ha, ha! 1 know
you, Pembroke-yes, knew you all the
time"
No you didn't" said the ghost.
You were too confoundedly fright
ened." Here he stopped to chuckle
again. But L 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. reasSuringlv,
81 won't Now I'll tell YOU WHY |
came" He stopped, took from a ghostlv
cigar-caSe a shadowy cigar, lit it with
an invisible match, and began to send
forth volumes of ghoStly smoke. After
the fifth puff he continued:
You have forgotten it, but haven't
Don you remember one night, twelve
years ago, when we made a VOW over
skull?"
A glance of intelligence was now dis
cernible in Mr.. Pevensey's eyes. He
was getting interested.
That whichever one should die first
must"
appear to the other" finished the
ghost. nodding and blowing smoke
from his nostrils. Ergo. here / am"
II must say. Pembroke, that you
chose the worst time you possibly could
for the interview, tonight of all others;
but, then," ne continued. as if ex-
cusing Pembroke, 'you didn't know"
20. but did, 4" answered the ghost,