The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-04-10

contingencies spirit might revisit a spot where premature death had sev- cred its connection with the body, there to lament the accident You do not be- lieve in ghosts, do you, Charles?'
 Certainly not, father Nevertheless, 1 do'not think it would be right in me to deny what so many worthy persons assert on the evidence of their senses to be fact It would be presumptuous in me"
 Let us go to bed said Mr Corder hastily
 CT believed in ghosts, and both secuted the idea of the house being haunted by a ehimney-sweep, were wont to retire to bed very much earlier at "The Yews :" than had been their custom elsewhere Midnight never found them together down stairs, smoking and drinking whisky-and-water with the great dark staircase to ascend to their several rooms
 One evening after dinner when father and son were sitting together over their wine, Mir Corder said, Charles what d wonderful work of genius that Inquire Within for Everything is. find it an ineXhaustible treasury of information We must refurnish here, and l took the book down to get on idea out of 1t, and sure as buttons is buttons there find instructions how to choose tasteful carpet, Why Charlie, that book con tains something of all kinds. 1 find there receipts for the kitchen, and rem edies for scalds, legal information, hints as to etiquette rules for carving hares, and soles and poultry, and for light reading, even poetry. At least I've come on one piece, but cant make it out-poetry. too, bv the noble Lord Poet Byron:
 Twas whispered in heaven twas muttercd in And echo caught faintly the sound aS it fell; On the confines of earth twas permitted to rest, And the depths of the ocean its presence con
 fessed.
 So 1t goes on, Charlie and 1t means the letter II. Now the book says that it is d very important thing for gentlefolks to know when to sound that letter and when to drop it. That is an art never could discover. Can you see what the noble poet means when he says that it was whispered in heaven and nut tered in hell? The noble poet never meant to consi gn to a certain place those who omitted their aspirates; he had a liberal education, and could not have been so intolerant. l cannot un- derstand him; but assure you, Charlie lie in bed of night tossing on my pill low, saving ouse, and orse and house and horse, and, upon my word, l get so bewildered don't know what is right and what i> wrong l never shall learn without teacher, and l should be ashamed to appear among tip-top gen tletolks and make myself ridiculous with my asprates l wish could find some one who would just put me on the right rails
 Don't you think, father, you might consult Mrs White?"
 Mir Corder colored II see through you, Charlie" lie said You want to force on an acquaintance with our neigh bors. so as to get intimate with Miss Mabel. But won't have it. You mar " one of the baronetical females. or sure as buttons is buttons I'll endow the 0rthopedic Hospital. It is time for you to go to bed, Charles. Goodnight You will find your candle in the hall
 MT. Charles Corder dutitully departed, and retired to his room, where he di- vested himself of his clothes, though the hour was only half-past nine He did not, however. retire between the sheets, but he rcdressed himself in suit of tight-itting black, rusty, sooty black, put a black cap on his head, with fall of black gauge to it, which he drew over his face, giving his face a grimy sweep like appearance. He drew on pair of black gloves, then took from cupboard d short black ladder and brush, and slipped into the state room on the first floor.
 The room had handsome, large open fireplace the chimney-piece of marble richly sculptured and testoons of pears and peaches. Charles crept in, planted his ladder within, on the hearth, and proceeded to ascend the chimney. When he reached the summit of the ladder, which was about six feet high, he threw his leg across partition or stone slab which divided the fue from the tiue of the state rooms of the other portion of the housc-a partition which existed only few feet up the chimney, sufficient for the direction of the smoke from the respective fires. Then he pulled up the ladder, and put it down on the further side, and descended by it into the grand drawing-room on Mrs. Whites side of the house
 This drawing-room was thinly fur nished with old white and gold chairs and tables. The long windows were without shutters, and the full moon poured in through uncurtained glass upon the polished oak floor No one Was in the room. Mir. Charles seated himself with his back to the fireplace, on the marble fender in pcnsivo atti- tude, leaning his chin in the hollow of his hand waiting, while with the other hand he played with his sweeps brush.
 Presently the door opened, and Miss Mabel White entered timidly, in light muslin evening dress. looking very fair, pale and ghostlike in the light of the moon.