Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-03-31

Skipper. IL blf60 tn6 oiQ man OUT AZ
last, and with a whoop and howl van
scious heap, on his own doorstep.
His good wife Martha found him and
hoisted him over the sill muttering,
"Sloan's againrv Now "Sloan's" at
that time, was the only GROCERY the
village could boast of. When old Brown
came to his senses he told the story Of
the ghost. Mistress Brown was no fool,
and she curled her upper lip and said:
"Old man, you had 'em bad this time"
"You seem to know q good deal about
those old time affairs" / ventured to
remark.
"Don't II" he chuckled, and then
went on:
"But his ghostship gave the old lady
turn one night when she went out to
milk old Sukey.' Mistress Brown was
out in the dim moonlight, sitting COM
fortably on her one-legged stool, milk
Ing away and softly humming q
Methodist tune
"'Oh, / long to be there,
And its giories to share, Etc,
When two long feshless arms descended
over her head and around her ample
waist, and bony hands clasped the
brim ming bucket of milk, raising 1t to
cavernous mouth, which swallowed
the contents with great gulps. Mistress
Brown sprang to her feet and confronted
the horrible object; then with
shirk, she fed to the house. "Old Su-
key" gave a snort and bawling Justify,
dashed away down the road, tail high In
the air. With gasping breath and many
groans the good woman told the tale to
"Reube." The old man only said
"Sloan's," and turned away.
"The village Of Cincinnati did not con-
tain moro than fifty souls all told, and
before a month had passed at least one-
half of them had some sort of experi-
ence with his ghostship. He appeared
to be festive sort of a c., excuse
me. They tried in vain to catch or
trap this wary genius Of another
world. He came as he went--left
no trace. Then came pause.
Two weeks went by without
recurrence OF his ghostship, and the
people began to regain their lost COM
posture. Fourth of July was to be cele-
brated, and the Declaration of Inde-
pendence was to be read by none other
than old Reube Brown. The festivities
were to be held in the evening. The
grove selected was on the ground
where the Crawford House now stands,
at the corner of Sixth and Walnut.
While they waited the conversation
drifted upon the topic Of the ghost.
"What If it should come tonight!" said
one CAV girl, and as she spoke the air
grew chill; there was the old sound OF
Tapping wings and swishing garments,
and the tall, white shadow came drift
ing down upon the platform that had
been erected for old Reuben. The old
man was just placing one foot upon the
log that served as q step, with the
declaration in his hand, when the
ghost for it was none other, snatched it
from him. Old Reuben fell to the
ground, limp and useless. One woman
tainted, several went into Mysteries, but
most of them shrieked and fed to their
homes, men and women too. Six men
and four women stood their ground
with pluck and determination plainly
written upon their faces. The ghost
yawned and grinned horribly. His eyes
burned far back in their sockets. He
spat upon the ground, groaned and
moaned, and waved his long arms, which
ratified like a mill-trap. Then he opened
his mouth and a blue smoke issued
forth, panied by the fumes of sui
phur. "It's the DEVIL" hoarsely whis-
pered one woman, as the little crowd
huddled together like lost sheep and
waited. The ghost spoke.
~ am a centennial spirit" 1t walled.
"Once in hundred years am forced to
walk the earth. / have eomei go! 1
shall return in the allotted time to find
all things changed here. Your children's
children shall boom their centennial
year and in the midst of their revelry I
shall be with them. Adieu."
AS the last word left the lips OF the
man before me be vanished. rubbed
my eyes and looked about me.
Some one was touching my shoulder.
/ sprSng to my feet and confronted the
proprietor of the restaurant.
Look here, young man." he said
kindly, but firmly. "This is not
lodging-house and you must be off," He
picked up my hat, handed it to me, and
presented his bill. $3.50" it read. 1
stared at the bill and then as him, and
then at the vacant chair opposite my
own.
II thought he paid the bill,n said
slowly.
"He, who? What do yo mean7 Come,
pay the bill and be off," He seemed an
noyed.
Diving down into my pockets
brought up my last two-dollar bill.
sighed as he gave me the change and de-