The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-04-24

distinct, as before but barely defined in the darkness Then came crash which shook earth and sky, and the room blazed for an instant, and was black again. \ great wind smote me in the face, and the apparation itself seemed suddenly to advance. This was no dream very well knew, as l slammed i the door, hearing q crash behind it, and ran wildly down the hall, and through the first open door that came to. Prov identially, the room was mine, and, leaping into bed, dived into its very | bowels, as it were, where l slept until morning.
 i It was late when l awoke A warm 1 square of morning sunlight lay on my ! coyerlid, while earth and air, cleanscd and freshened by the rain, seemed to 1 laugh at my gloomy nocturnal visions. \ rusty old brass button lay harmlcssly in the corner. l dressed myself and i went down stairs were everything wore a commonplace and everyday aspect. began to suspect my senses. Perhaps l the second spectre, like the tirt, was i only dream, and had no other founda- ton than the pie-dish But no, this ] could not be The landlord was not about, and Lawsor had disappeared l l heard one of the hostlcrs laughing at the mention of Sam stories. l ate my breakfast alone-an excellent onc-and grew more doubtful concerning my ap- partitions The whole thing was only d nightmare would worry myself no more about it. And with this comforts blr aitcl-breaktast ecrpticism, concern ing all spirt-world manifestation, what eyer was met i'll the pasSagcway lead ing from the dining-room by the >allow long-har d genius of the night before who beckonrd me mysteriously aside into the parlor
 What lo you want?' demanded iupatiently. sitting down on hair cloth sofa, under q large steel engraving of Washington crossing the Delaware The genius closed the door behind him
 You have beheld it. he said in d scpulchral voice.
 Beheld what2'
 \ vision, simiitude of the great and mighty d"al and the genius glared at me rather tiercely
 Yes, l have said I, sharply, good deal startled in spite of myself "I laid it to the minee pie
 Mince pic oh, what has that gross compound in common with spiritual crcations?' And the genius wrung his hands
 The pie was good, said I, stoutly. But look here, Mir. Raphael -
 smith said the artist
 Well, Raphael Smith, then, you seem to be posted in this matter: tell me about the ghost saw last night the sec ond one mean, when 1 got into the wrong room.
 lmpious man! the first to venture unbidden into the presence of my crea- tions, and Raphael scowled again.
 We'll, didn't stay long, said de prccatingly.
 Long enough to complete the work of ruin. Look you he gasped, clutch ing my arm. By your foolhardiness, to use ordinary language, you involved me in great pecuniary loss, and now claim as slight compensation, the sum of five thousand dollars
 And will you said l, with consider- able astonishment, be kind enough to explain, in very ordinary language the meaning of this very extraordinary de mand2"
 Know then said Raphael that am sculptor. and live in this hotel. In one of the rooms above is my studio
 Good"
 l had just completed a plaster model for a statue of the late Judge lockwood, which was intended to adorn the public square of this town. My price was to have been five thousand dollars Last night you, ill->tarred man, dared to burst open my studio door and the strong tlraught of wind caused thereby blew over my work, and completely destroyed the work of months
 "oh, what saw then, was real ghost after all. We'll own to being pretty well scared Your art affected me very powerfully
 Don't jest" replied Raphael. grimly, nor yet delay the paltry pecuniary' compensation.
 was not without experience in deal ing with geniuses. Had the statue been ordered by the town or anybody in it /? We'll mo- not exactly. He couldn't say that it had, and he further was obliged to admit that no disinterested parties had seen the work to judge of its merits Then he reluctantly allowed that the landlord might come in and arbitrate between Us; and so the upshot of the whole matter was, that the five thousand dollars was whitfield down to five hun dred, and the five hundred melted into fifty, and finally five dollar bill, with a promise of future order, should my native hamlet ever conclude to erect an etfigy to her most distinguished citizen, proved sufficient to mollify the injured artist
 A barrowload of the late Judge Jed woods remains, in plaster, was being wheeled out the back way when 1 left On top of the heap of arms, legs fingers, etc, lay round bald head, with a nose and one plaster eye attached. l thought for moment, as passed, that chalky smile overspread the fragmentary fea- lures at the terror which they had n- | ,1, ,,l4 Loc J