The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-04-12

skipper. It tired the old man on, n,
issL, ano With wboop and q howl van.
isned, as Reuben sank, limp, uncon.
! sSious heap, on his own doorsten.
| Els good wife Martha found him and
holsted him over the sill muttering.
"sloan's sgainw Now 'Sloan's" al
that time, was the only grocery tn q
Vulage could boast of. When old Brow n
came to his senses he told the story of
the ghost. Mistress Brown was no fool
nnd she curied her upper lip and said ,
"Old man, you had 'em bad this time -
ou seem to know a good deal about
those old time atlairs," ventured to
"Donr n" hs chuckled, and then
"But his ghostship gave the old Iady
turn one night when she went out to
milk old Sukey.' Mistress Brown was
OUT In the dim moonlight, sitting com.
ioftaoly On her one-legged stool, milk.
Ing away and softly humminR a
Methodist tune
"'Oh, long to be there,
And its giories to share Etc.
when two long t1eshless arms descended
over her head and around her ample
waist, and bony hands olasped the
erim ming bucket Of milk, raising IT to
oaverbous mouth, which swallowed
the contents with great gulps. Mistress
BROW pro"n sprang to her feet and confron q ted
the horrible object; then with
shfrk, she t1ed to the house. "Old Su-
Key" gave snort, and bawling Justify,
dashed away down the road, tail high in
tne air. With gasping breath and many
gTosns the good woman told the tale to
Heuoe. The cid man only said
"Sloan 3, and turned awav.
THE village Of Cincinnati did not oon-
sain more than City souls all told, and
neiore month had passed at least one
nsi1 OF them had some sort of expert
encs with his ghostship. He appeared
70 De festive sort of @, excuse
me. They tried in vain to catch or
world. q. came as be wsn@ieft raolnef
no trace. Then came pause.
Two weeks went by without
q occurrences of bis ghostship, and the
people began to regain thair lost com
posure Fourth of July was to be cele-
eratso, Ano the Declaration Of Tnde-
penoenGs was to be read by none other
than cid Reube Brown. The festivities
were to be held in the evening. The
grove selectsd was on the ground
" here the Crawford House now stands.
d the corner of Sixth and Walnut
W nlie they waited the conversation
arifteo upon the topic Of the ghost
What u II should come tonighti said
'ne gay girl, and as she spoke the air
grew chill there was the old sound of |
tapping wings and swishine garments-
ana the tall, white sbadow came drift !
ng down upon the platform that had |
oeen erectso for old Reuben. The old |
nan was Just placing one foot upon tho |
og thai served as Q step, with the |
declaration in his hand, when the |
most. Tor II was none other, snatched il
rom him. Old Reuben fell to the
,round, limp and useless. One woman
slnteo, several went into mysteries, but
most OF them shrieked and lied to their
'omes, men and women too. Six men |
nd four womsn stood their rroun3 !
With pluck and determination plainly
written upon their faces The ghost
awned and grinned horribly. His ewes
urned far back in their sockets. He
pat upon the ground, groaned and
aoaned, and waved his long arms. which
attled like mill-trap. Then he onensd
Is mouth and a blue smoke issued
,rth, accom- panied by the fumes of sui
hur. "It's the devil" hoarsely whis-
ered one woman, So the little crowd
uodled together ike lost sheep and ,
'aIted. The ghost spoke.
am a cen tennial spirit" it walled.
Once in g hundred years am forced to
aik the earth. have comeI goI /
lall return in the allotted time to and
u shings changed here. Your children's
llidren shall boom their centennial
sar ana in the midst Of their rsvelry
hall De with them. Adieu"
Az the last word left the lips Of the
an before me he vanished. rubbed
y eyes and looked about me,
Some Que was touching my shoulder.
sprang to my feet and confronted the
'oprietor of the restaurant
LOOK here, young man." he said
ndly, but firmly. "This is not
dging-house and you must be off" He
cked up my hat, handed 1t to me, and
Il
ared ai the bill and then ae him, and ! q
en- 81 the vacant chair opposite my
Vn.
III thought he paid the btll," l said
awly.
" De, whof What de 70 meant Coma.
y the bill and be of." He seemed an.
'yed.
Diving down into nv pockat. RI
ought up my last two-doIlar bill.
yheo as be gave me the chanea and d.