The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-06-28

ij1Dg hn5FiAd Ihtb ShS f8SIE!
"Wfay, grandmother" cried she.
"whatever is the matter? Here are
the logs all burned down to white
ashes and the candte-wick gutlering.
and you in such a futter as never
was What has happened grand.
mother"
Mrs. Maple turned her keen blue
eyes upon her granddaughter with
an expression like that of a Sleep
walker.
"Minny, come in" said she> "And
shut that door. Is that you, Gilbert
CroftOn, the great-grandson of Job?
Come you in also. Children" with
her old hands shaking as if palsy
stricken, "I've seen a ghostw
"Imyos-ible J" cried Gilbert Crof-
ton.
Dear grandmother,y you mast have
been dreaming" soothed Minny,
creeping up to her side and drawing
her down into the old armchair be-
side the hearth.
"Dreaming J" shrieked the old wo.
man. 81 was as wide as I am at
this moment. I had been oyer to see
Mrs. Muir's sick child, and it was
close on to ten o'clock when / got
back. And the minute l crossed
the threshold, | had the queer feel
ing of some one being in the room
creep all oyer me. And there. sure
enough, in the chair opposite, where
he used to sit, thirty good years ago,
Was your great-grandfather Maple.
with his old cue. wig and his SUIT of
butternut brown. and the very green
spectacles he used to wear for his
walk And he took his pipe
out of his mouth and looked at me
just as your grandfather Maple has
a thousand times. And says l
Reuben is that you?' And says he,
Yes, Lois, it is L. And says
'Oh, Reuben, what brings you back
to this world?' And says he: TIC
wipe out the stains of wicked
world And says !; Are you hap
py, Reuben p And he says; Yes,
and that's the reason I want Others
to be- And then l began to tremble
all over, and says l (: is it anything
l can do. Reuben?' And says he
There's no more offending nor Civ
ing offense in the other world, Lois
and Job Crofton's soul and mine are
at varience no longer.' Says he; Lei
there be peace, Lois, and let the
young man Gilbert be your grand
daughters husband And then he
knocked the bowl of his pipe on the
edge of the andiron, as I've seen him
do so often. and he got up, and walk
ed out of the room. just for all the
world like a living creature. I've
often heard as ghosts can go through
key. hole, but your grandfather Ma
pies ghost opened the door, and for
got to shut it after him into the bar
gain. So, when [ reused no enough
to know what was going on. arOunC
me, the floor was covered with snow
that had drifted an, and the candle
was blown out"
"Oh, grandmother ! do you think
this was real ?" cried MinDy, with
startled eyes.
Didn't see it with my own eyes
and hear 1t with my own ears?" de
manded old Mrs. Maple. ITS you
grandfather's ghost And 1 nigh
have known that if he wanted to ap
pear he could. for he had obstincI
enough tor anything, rest his soul
You may marry GILBERT Crofton i
you want to tomorrow, Minny
And perhaps your grandfater's ghos
will be easy then ~
So the young people were happil!
married. and Gilbert came to live a
the farm, and managed all the oil
lady's affairs for her. And she livet
to be hundred years Old before sh
closed those keen, blue eyes of her
upon the matters of this morta
world.
But one day, in turning over tn
relics of the roomy old garrett. Minn!
came across a red chest. clampe'
with brass, and family odorous @
lavender and rose-leaves. She open
ed it.
"Oh, Gilbert, look here !" crie'
she, my great'grandfather's bes
suit laid up in camphor.gum am