The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-07-24

medicine case, "but we have good au-
thority for believing that there are such
things"
The sick msn groaned, and turned un
easily in his bed.
az didn't use ter b'ieve nothin' OF tho
kind, doctor--used ter think 1t all nom
sense, but know better now. ] see the
ghos' of the Rocks las' night, nm thct's
what ails me now. I'm doomed man,
doctor. a doomed man."
The doctor, who Mt that moment had his
back turned toward the bed, seemed strug-
Cling with some skind of emotion, for the
hand that held the bottle shook so that he
spilled part of the contents on the floor
He replaced the bottle IN the case, and
turned once more to the Mnjor..
But surely the peddler,.. or what's left of
him, didn't hurt you, Gid hey | never
What did he dor
"He follered me for half mile, an then
knocked me down." said the Major, as usual
exaggerating the case, SO that 1t bore but II
slight resemblance to the truth. "Arter
he'd knocked me down, he threatened
ter haunt me ez long ez / lived, an
ter kill me- the mex time he ketched me
if-if'-
"If what." demanded the doctor impa-
tiently. "Be little more explicit"
The sick man hesitated. For some time
fierce battle had been raging In his hear,
| if, indeed, the old fellow had such an
article In his anatomy-between his nat.
ural pig -headedness and obstinacy, and
the fear of the threats of his terrible inter-
viewer of the night before, and there was
some slight skirmishing still going on, so
to speak. But although conscience, that
internal sense of right which usually is
present and taking mn active part in bat
| Ties of this kind, was in this case alto
gether in the Underground and taking no
part whatever in the contest, still, so great
| 4, Fan, hi st nf.tl
mans mind, that right was at last tri-
umphant, and had full possession of the
field. The Major concluded to make u
clean breast of 1t.
"If didn't take back what / said agin
old Whites son." he said desperately. "If
l didn't take It all back, an give my con-
sent ter his marryin' my darter."
..And what did you say"
"Said would"
"Would give your consent?"
| eyes"
"Well," remarked the doctor, ms no
drew on his gloves, ~ don't pretend to be
the spiritual adviser of any man; but
can't see any other way than that for you
to get out of ito keep your word, |
mean. II you promised to do that, and
the ghost let you off on that condition,
why ify you keep your word you'll be all
right, should say. While If you refuse
lowell, can't say anything about it,
only I'd rather it would be you than me,
that's ALL"
And the doctor stopped long enough to
give some directions regarding his medi-
cine to Mrs. Lawrence, whom he met at
the door as ne went out, and then left for
home. A couple of days later all Oak
land was thrown into state of astonish-
ment by the circulation of two stories,
which subsequently proved to be true.
The first of these was that Bill Sykes and
his family were missing-had disappeared
bag and baggage, in some mysterious
manner, without leaving any clue to the
direction they had taken in their flight.
The secondhand this was much more as
founding than the other-was to the effect
that Major Lawrence, evidently repentine
of some of his former misdeeds, had sent
for Tom White and apollo gixed for the way
that he had heretofore treated him.
sam they do say" remarked Miss Bea.
zle to Mrs. Deacon Pringle, who was q
particular crony Of hers, and whom she
purpose Of imparting this delectable bit OF
gossip, "they do say as how the Major
arter 'pologizing to Tom, give his consent
an that Tom an Maggie air to be jined in
the bounds of matrimony mex fall"
off p exclaimed her astonished listener
"when Lifelet Lawrence, willful as he'.
allus ben, sees fit fur to do a thing like
that. But Pm glad fur the young folks
fur Tom an Maggie"
"An' moreover" went on Miss Beazle
"they say as how the Major see ghos
last Saturday night as he was comm from
the Corners, an was skeered his end wa
nigh, as the poet says, an so 'pented o
what he'd said"
Like enough, Selina,' assented Mrs
Pringle, "like enough that air was th'
case. allus knowed it would take suthin
more'n an airthly power to subdoogat
the Major, as II were, an make him &C
like other folks."-A. III. DacidsOn, 1,
, BdilOu's Mdddzine.