The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-07-24
THE PEDDLER'S GHOST.
How 1t Greatly Improved a Gruf1
-c;,s Old Man. ,- .,,
CHAPTER I.


7eia Old Man. ~e l's
CHAPTER !.
"Jones' Rocks" in Oakland, are said to
be haunted-yes, haunted by a veritable,
genuine ghost. Years before, so said ira
dition, pack -peddler had been murdered
somewhere about here, and his ghost, pack
and all, had the somewhat unpleasant
habit Of prowling around this particular
part of tho country, where his body was
said to have been buried. This fact was
affirmed by the testimony of large num-
Der of the natives of Oakland, who either
knew some one who had seen the ghost, or
had come Very near having that pleasure
themselves. All of which, of course, goes
to prove that there was a ghost. The
locality known as the "Rocks," was
barren waste, on which nothing grew but
few ciumps of stunted bushes, and was
covered with huge broken and Jagged
lodges, whicl, had the appearance of hav-
ing been, at some remote period, hurle d
together by some party of gigantic
carouscrs during drunken spree.
Adjoining this place was the farm of old
Major Lawrence, whose land extended
down the hill in the direction OF Mapleton,
and on into the valley below, where, close
beside the stream which bore the euphoni-
ous tttt Of Badgers creek, were situated
his house and numerous farm buildings.
strange. noises had been heard at the
"Rocks," and strange sights seen-sights
and sounds that no one could account for.
Strangers who were not supposed to know
any thing about the place being haunted,
had been frightened half out of their wits.
But old Major Lawrence always treated
with scorn every story about any thing
Il
"Kocks" being haunted. Yet, strange to
say, he very seldom was known to pass
that way himself after dark, especially on
foot. The Major, had he been very
wealthy man, would doubtless have been
called eccentric. He was one Of those men
who seem to consider tuat their Judgment
is infaIlible, and consequently what they
think or do is right; who always want to
see every man have right to his opinion,
provided that opinion exactly agrees with
his own. At home he was veritable mar.
tinet, of whom his family, particularly the
feminine portion Of 1t, stood greatly In
awe; but outs de Of his family he was not
bad sort OF man, as men go, SO long as
consisted Of himself and wife, meek,
quiet woman, who scarcely dared say her
soul was her own, and a son and daugh-
ter. John, the elder, inherited enough of
his fathers nature to be rather self. illed
and independent; but Maggie, the daueh.
ter, was Of q far different disposition, and
was more like her mother.
1t wasa beautiful June afternoon, and
the sofa summer wind. redolent with the
fled the surface of Badgers creek,
and caused its surface to sparkle
like myriads Of tiny diamonds,
as the sunlight glanced across it.
Chi cSirp%s Of tsGoa tSe ana sns
overhead In the apple-tree numbers Of lit
tie birds were singing.
But the beauty Of this glorious June day
seemed altogether. lost on cOuple--a
ing at the lower end Of Major Lawrence's
orchard, and near the bank Of the stream.
The girl: who was of medium size, with
blue eyes, and soft, golden brown hair,
could not, perhaps, be called strictly beau.
tiful, but was certainly very pretty, and
was the embodiment of youth and health
and freshness. Her companion was a
broad -shouldered, athletic young fellow,
few years her senior, whose frank, hon
est face just now wore look of mingled
~ don't care If he is your father, Mag
gie," he said, plucking Q wild daisy, and
fercely pulling IT IN pieces, as II were an
animate thin thing against which ne held a
only he was an old man, and Of course 1
couldn't on that account. The idea of his
forbidding me to speak to you again, tell
ing me that l was unfit to associate with
MS uauSuVeI ab all, unu OrueTluS NE TO
never step foot inside his house again.
And then, as If that was not enough, to
accuse me of stealing his sheepW
He ended the sentence with sort of
gasp, his face deathly pale from the pas
sion that almost overpowered him.
Don't Tom, oh don'tw the girl said,
entreatingly, aging her hand on his arm.
'You know he didn't mean it. You know
he was so carried away by his anger that
he didn't realize what he was saying. He
1,o- s<nfc oh lof .tN1a
by some one-and it has troubled him a
great DEAL"
'.And perhaps you IT, ink, like your
father, that did take tbs sheep," he said
almost ssayagely;,, "You seem very ready
"You know better, Tomw the, girl said,
passionately. "You know didn't mean
amy such thingp'Q rc
And then, womanlike, she burst into
tears.
Toms mood instantly changed.
"FOrgive me, my darling," he said,
penitently. II was brute, / know,
1eurss Sr ssssAsag ,sSof to yySa yGSa but sas shs
hardly know what j am saying. But Mag
gle, little one" no continued, and now all
race OF anger had fed from his face,
..what matters IT IL your father doesn't
like Ike maY Surely yya yGn can trust me, Why ,
them say what they like!"
There was world OF entreaty in his
voice, and In the honest brown eyes which
looked down into the fearful blue ones be-
side him, and for an instant the girl hesi-
tated; then she exclaimed, quickly:
40, Tom, j couldn't! i dare not unless
papa gives his consent, and he will yet.
And then you know, Tom, that you are
not ready yet 70 be burdened with wife.
are really ready. Where could we live
nowW
II know, Maggie, Of course you are
right about wkiting,n said Tom, rather
staggered by her practical way OF viewing
he'll never give bis consent, know.
And then can't see you without sneaking
around here like . thief, and meeting You
when your father IL sway-opce In =
month, l suppose." 4#i nFlh Nfl
Papa n going 70 The Corners noxt Sat-
& &Srday nig1t" ssia a. !. MsEEis, ignorlnE ths