Evening journal., 1889-03-04

can thrill at the presence Of game. 1t was
JUDAS bark, and they knew he never failed.
The first possum had been freed, and they
broke into sharp run, in answer to the SUM
mons
"Hiyi, we'se got you now, ole hairy,n ex-
claimedQne
'Dontpome none yo' dead tricks on rs. y
cried another; ''you'se des de same ez in dc
pot now"
1t was even so. In an instant stalwart
fellow had climbed the tree and shaken the
hairy little beast down among the dogs, from
whom it was with difficulty rescued. A cleft
stick was procured, the possum's long tail in
serted, and the party moved on, following in
the walse of the dogs.
Possums were plentiful that night Nose
complained thnt "'twaint no fun when dew
arc jest settin' round on de logs lax deys han
KERN to be put in de pot"
He found it difficult to keep up with his
younger companions, and by and bv he
turned back homeward With the faithful
Juba at his heels, and the fat possum swing
ing over his shoulder he walked on. content
eddy thinking Of his morrows dinner. Pres
emily he became conscious that it was grow
ing very dark. The clear starlit dusk was all
blotted out, and he could hear the grooming
OF the trees as they trembled and shivered az
the approaching tempest Inanother instant
as 1t seemed to him, the storm had broken
with all its fury over him. The thunder rat-
tied and roared, the lightning blinded him.
and be could hear the crash Of the trees as
the fierce wind tore them from their roots
flazed and frightened, the old man stumbled
aiqhg, falling over roots and torn by briers.
AZ ast. by fash Of lightning, be saw that
be was just standing without the little white
painted neighboThood church. Ordinarily
nothing could haze overcome his superstitious
fears sufficiently to induce him to enter a
church at midnight, but in his present plight
he welcomed any Shelter, and pushing open
the door he CROPPED his way up the narrow
aisle and crouched down beside the altar.
Juba lay at his feet and licked in mute
sympathy the hand that caressed his shaggy
head Through the unshuttered windows
every flash Of lightning showed the cleaning
white stones Of the grave yard that almost
surrounded the little church. Uncle Nose
shuddered. There was the tall marble shaft
That marked the grave Of a negro trader.
Every night, it was said his spirit walked
the earth, tortured by the tears and groans
and broken hearts Of the mothers from
whom he had torn babies, by the curses Of
the wives he had torn from their husbands
arms. Even hell would not hold so vile a
soul. There was the tiny grave Of an unbap-
TIED infant who cried because it could not
enter heaven. There, horribly distinct in the
flash Of binding light, was the unmarked
grave Of a man who murdered his brother.
There was--God in heaven what was that
wild white face at the Window The old man
staggered to his feet, but the apparition was
gone. He would 60 out again into the night.
Better the widest storm than this ghost
haunted place
He turned toward the door, but there,
standing in the gallery that ran across the
back Of the church, over the very door
through which he must pass, was the white,
ghostly thing.
Uncle Moses heart stood still with fear; hi.
trembling limbs would no longer support him
and he fell on his knees.
"Oh Lawd God Almighty" be prayed, "olc
Nose amt never been lax desc year common
niggers dats always a pesterin' you for some
thin or n'er. Ole Nose amt never boddered
you much in all desc years, but Lawd be got
to the eond Of his row now, and dey amt nc
turn to hit De fros' done cotch de ole man
lax a stalk Of hacker standing out in de patch,
en- wen you come to stem him an strip him
for prizin up dar he won't be nothin' but Tugs. .
The old mans voice died out in a sob, and
he bowed his head, waiting for the awful
something TO come. But suddenly across his
fears broke a familiar sound-Jubas deep, de-
termined, unimaginative bark when he had
freed something. Uncle Nose opened his
eyes again on the world he had never ex-
pected to behold more, and there, plainly re-
vealed in a flash Of lightning, was Juba with
his 'chawedn ears boldly erect, deliberately
freeing the ghost in the church.
In all the years he had known Juba sUncle
Noses confidence had never once wavered in
the sagacity and ability of his dog, and this
was no time for half measures now. With a
cry Of relief he scrambled to his feet and
with bound cleared The church door, leav
ing the awful presence in full possession.
What was itl
Tho next morning crazy woman who had
escaped from a neighboring asylum wa,
found dead near the church, with her lonf
white garments soaked with rain, and Their,
We're those who suggested she must hav,
been the apparition Nose saw in the church
But he rightly refused TO accept any sucl
fimsy theory.
Il tell you" he always maintained, 'hi
would been all up wild do ole man ef Jub,
hadn't freed dat ghosn
There is little faith, however, that is proc
against ridicule, and by and by it came t,
pass that the old man was shy 81 telling hi
ghost story to unbelievers, and it was rarell
he could DO won to speak Of it at all afte
Juba died. When some irreverent stripping
would ask, with a suppressed laugh, Gun
Nose, whut v-uz dat tale you used to tell bou
Juba en- de ghosln the old man would answe
testify;
Tail, taill Dey want no tail bout Juba
he wuz de bob taildest dog yo' ever SEQ in yc
baun days. Elizabeth NJ. Gilmer in New
Orleans Pioayune.
The Oldest Timber.
Probably the oldest timber in the world