Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-10-19


little ruined cabin not far from here
where the railroad flagman used to
live before they changed the location
Of the station. l remember Mrs. Nor
ris showing it to me once"
"Ohl ohp shrieked Barbara Il
could not go there. The flagman was
killed on the track. There's g-ghOst
there"
"Would you rather stay here and be
drenched through with rainPn severe
ly demanded Mary.
"Or struck with lightningp" added
Dorcas.
And the upshot OF 1t was that the
three fugitives took refuge in a miser-
able old shanty close alongside of the
railroad track, where weeds were
growing up through the cracks OF the
aoor, and a plentiful portion of the
rain came pattering through the leaks
in the roof, while the old stone Chin
ney, all settling to one side, looked as
if no stroke of lightning cVuld harm
it very much.
"But it's some shelter" said Mary,
cheerfully. "We'll stay here until the
shower is over. and then make the
best of our way home"
The shower, however, showed no
indication OF abating in its vigor. The
rain still poured down in sheets; the
thunder still beloved through the
.-~olsv gorge where the cabin had beer
built; the lightning still lit up every
thing with sudden spurts of blue fam.
like pantomime effects.
"Oh, dearl oh. dear!" said Barbara,
wringing her hands; lit must be mid
night" Z
lit can't be nine o'clock yet" said
Mary.
"And I'm so hungry! Oh, how l wish
l hadn't eaten the last of those sand
wiches! Oh, oh! what is thatP" fpt-
tered Barbara.
An unusually vivid electrical flash
had revealed something white and
spectral at the window. All three girls
jumped at once.
"The ghostI" shrieked Barbara. stop
ping her ears and shutting her eyes as
tight as was practicable.
"A stray white cow" suggested
Mary.
IA young man in flannel tennis
suit, +" said Dorcas, the closest observer
OF all.
Don't let him come in" said Bar
bara. 1--WE shall be robbed and MUIR
dered."
mot while we are three to one, said
composed Dorcas.
And at the same moment voice
sounded hurriedly at the door.
please, may l come IMP l know il
seems intrusion, but it's raining del
uge and I'm wet through"
Come in by all MEANS" said Mary.
And the ghost entered, dripping like
u fountain.
"All in the darkP" said he, cropping
his way.
There are no gas jets here" said
Dorcas ironically.
but we might have little blaze OF
sticks" hazarded the new arrival,
shaking himself like Newfoundland
dog. Il saw by that last glare OF
lightning that there was heap in the
corner, and I've got my match box
intact"
ooh, that would be splendid" cried
Dorcas, who was wet and shivering.
"And I've got some fish on a string
outside, and we could have some sup
per-" suggested the ghost cheerfully.
"rm 5000 hungryW walled Bar
bara.
The stranger was evidently used to
mountain camping. He had a fire
kindled in no time, and the fish,
cleaned by aid of his pocket-knife and
washed in one of the pools outside,
were presently broiling over the Goals,
emitting a most savory smell.
you must be good genius" cried
Mary.
"T'm only tramp" said the ghost,
"and I'm ever so much obliged to you
young ladies for letting me in"
eve couldn't have kept you out il
we had tried, " said Dorcas, frankly.
"You don't think would have thrust
myself in here against your wishesF
Even tramp wouldn't do that" said
the young man.
The sticks had blazed cheerfully up;
the ghost economical them to keep the
flames alive as long as possible. He
told thrilling tales of his experience in
these woods; he made himself most
agreeable companion.
Are you from Lbe Valley HouseP"
asked Dorcas.
mo; l am camping just where it
happens.
"Oh!' said Mary. Then you are
poor like usP We are shop-girls on
our vacation"
"For," she said to herself. II am de-
termined he shall not take us for other
than we are"
and" observed the ghost, "Ishould
think you were having a very jolly
time of it. A little more trout, Miss
HaleP And how did you come out in
these wildernessesP"
So then, of course, little Barbara,
who was generally the spokeswomar
of the ossemblage, related all her
efforts to secure summer board.
"You see," said she, 'Mr, Archer
pays us so small salary that we have
not much margin for luxury"
HE ought to pay you more" sale