Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-13
GHOSTS AND ANGEL.
III you~ll .,.smp. i. eon.inmod,..sly..

--Charifon
Throw the telegram hastily on the table,
draw on my boots, taige down my hugo
oyercoat from where it hangs in the cor
ner. and in five minutes time am seated
comfortably in the fast express and travel
ling at rapid rate towar Dis Brandon.
Do you ask what for?
NV friend, Luke Charlton. owns house
there which he believes to be haupted-not
that he is alone in that belief, since the
lsst family that occupied 1t moved out
after the first night. and gave II rather
ohostly recommendation. Said they:
:" We could not sleep for the trsmping up
and down the stairs; and the meanings and
oroanipgs we heard were terrible. While
we were at supper an old man, with pow
dered hair, and otherwise attired like q
soldier of the Revolutionary war;. delibc-
rately walked into the room and seated
himself at the table. His.aspect was awful
to behold. and my daughter tainted out
right. screamed and snatched her IN my
arms. dragged II insenGble form from
the room-the old man uttering never q
word. but following her with his stony
eyes"
Arrived at Brandon l found Charlton
waiting for me ct the depot. laughed as
l shook hands with him. -,
wen, am mere " sVA'" 'H' NY
said.
"Yes; but do you intend to sleep in the
house alone?"
mo" answered. tapping my revolver
significantly, l never undertake sucn JOBS
ALONE. IL that the house Z"
"Yes; the one with the slate root, But
come in and we'll have supper first. Mother
will be glad to see you, and besides YOU
will meet my pretty cousin, Helen uates'
who is visiting u.s." +,
And pretty enough she proved 70 be- |
haven't time to describe her. however, tur,
Their than 10 say that she was blonde. and
consequently blue-eyed and goiden-nalred
with beautifully cerved features. ana TWO OF
the lovlngest lips that ever kissed a white
rose red.
II wish could go with you, she says
firmly. ~ am sure that the sight OF me
wouid scare OF oil the ghosts!
ION the contrary" 1 answer, making
dash at gallantry, "they would then be
more numerous. ard like the poor fellow
in Tennyson's Maud
.Their hearts would hear you and beat
Had they lain for century desd!"
"Thanks. she replies. But If they did
like Mr.. Tennyson's ghost they'd be very
harmless indeed, for they would only
".Start and tremble under my feet,
And blossom In purple and red
blossom they certainly would" 1 shy,
"if they only looked at your lips ="
am afraid ] was about to FORGET all
about the ghosts and nv mission TO Bran
don III the glow OF those beautiful eyes,
but Charton's discordant voice recalled
me from dreamland to the realities OF the
hour, and made haste to depart.
You see, old fellow. explained my
friend as was bidding BIN good night at
the door. "you see how It isl can't leave
the women unprotected here, or Fd-Pd
go with you, you know
Don't mention it ~ I replied, unable
to suppress smile. i understand your
position exactly. Good night
Well. am now on the threshold Of the
haunted house. The door turns on It's
hinge with a low whine as | enter. and,
locking after me, ascend the spiral STAR
way. Creak. crcak. creak. but stairs always
make that noise when you ascend them.
Nothing in that.
The lantern | carry throws a food of
light before me. ] enter the different
rooms and find nothing there but darkness
and silence. Then | descend to the draw
ing-room, light q fire in the coy CRATE,
draw the old sofa up to 1t, and stretched
thereon at full length. await results.
A man is tired after a railway journey
and is ant to sleep well if he has the OPP
portunity.
How long slept know not. but l was
Mortified on awakening To ana myself
bound hand and foot and pinioned TO the
sofa
And. more terrible to relate. close be-
side me was stretched what appeared TO he
a corpse, clad i'll the vestments OF hegraye,
and over the shrouded form an old man
bent and swayed his ghostly body to and
fro as if in an agony of grief.
You old villain" | cried. " You could
not have bound me thus without help.
Loosen those cords, or by"
Asoft hand was pressed upon plymouth
A woman's hand! felt the cords relax
sprang from my prison and. selZing the Old
mourner by the throat, hurled hun 10 the
flour: then the corpse grew quick with life
and bounded to its feet, aiming q powertut
blow nj my head. IL was the healthiest
corpse | ever tackled.
/ was the strongest man. however, and
well-djrected blow with my ght-heider
sent him recling on the old man. VINO was
iust.then struggling 10 rise. Then Il NO
man. who all this time nod stood behind
me, trembling and shriekinng for asSlstance,
ran 10 the sofa, and snatching UP my pis-
toll which had lain unnotced thare-I
thought the rascals had it--placed 1t III NY
hand. III,
I'm the darkness | could hardly distin-
euish her features. but whispered;
"Helenl"
And the answer:
"Neafn