Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-11-07

Dorcas. eff we walk along the track
we must come out somewhere, don't
you seer"
"And beside" added Mary, "there's
little ruined cabin not far from where
the railroad fagman used to live be-
fore they changed the location of the
station. l remember Mrs. Morris
showing it to me once"
! "Ohl oh!v shrieked Barbara. ~
could not go there. The fiagman was
killed on the track. Oh, there's a
ghost therew
"Would you rather stay here and be
drenched through and through with
the rainY' severely demanded Mary.
"Or perhaps struck with lightning !"
added Dorcas.
And the upshot of 1t was that the
three fugitives took refuge in miser-
able old shanty close by the railroad
track, where weeds were growing up
in the cracks of the floor, and a plenti-
| full portion of the rain came pattering
through the leaks in the roof, while the
old stone chimney, all settling to one
side, looked as if no stroke of light
ming could harm 1t very much.
"But it's some SHELTER" said Mary,
cheerfully. Well stay here until the
shower is over, and then make the best
of our way home"
The shower, however, showed no
indication of abating. The rain still
poured down in sheets; the thunder
still beloved through the rocky gorge
where the cabin had been bull;
the lightning still Lit up everything
with Sudden spurts of blue flame, like
pantomime effects.
"Oh, dear! 1t must be near mid
night" cried Barbara, wringing her
hands.
"Nonsensel 1t can't be nine o'clock
yet" said Mary.
"And I'm SO hungry How | wish
hadn't eaten the last of those sand
wichesl Oil OIL what is that9" flut-
tered Barbara.
An unusually vivid flash of light
ming had revealed something white and
spectral at the window. All three of
the girls jumped TO their feet at once.
"The ghostl" shrieked Barbara,
stopping her ears and shutting her
eyes as tight as was practicable.
"a stray white cow" suggested
Mary.
"a young man in flannel tennis
suit" said Dorcas.
"Don't let him come in! We shall
be robbed and murdered" cried Bar
bara.
"Not while we are three to one"
said composed Dorcas.
And at the same moment a voice
sounded hurriedly at the door.
"Please may come in? know it
seems intrusive, but it's raining per-
feet deluge and I'm wet through"
.sCome in by all means" said Mary.
The ghost entered, dripping like a
fountain.
"All in the dark?' said he, cropping
his way.
"There are no gas jets here" said
Dorcas, ironically.
"But we might have little blaze of
sticks" hazlrded the new arrival,
shaking himself like a 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"
"Oh, that would be splendidlp cried
Dorcas, who was wet and shivering.
"And I've got some fish on string
outside, and we could have some
supper" suggested the ghost, cheer
fully.
''Tm 5000 hungry!' 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 pres
emily broiling over the Goals, emitting
most savory smell.
"You must be good genius !" cried
Mary.
"i'm only tramp" said the ghost,
"and I'm ever so much obliged TO you
young ladies for letting me in."
"We couldn't nave kept you out If
we had tried" said Dorcas, frankly.
"You don't think / would nave
urt MY rtlA AZ hNAC NF7"AftN~
wishes? Even a 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 a most
agreeable companion.
care YOU from the Valley house"
inquired Dorcas. .
ono; am camping just where it
happens"
"Oh," said Mary. s'Then you are
poor like us? We are shopgirls on our
vacation"
al am determined he shall not take
us for other than we are" she said to
herself.
Sand" observed the ghost, 81
should think you were having a very
Jolly time of it. A little more trout,
Miss-Hale? And how did you come
ont In these wildncssesi"