Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-10-24

No one can have any business with me
which is not his, said Dora, moving to
Johns side, her nerves beginning to shiver
a little at the visitors manner.
:" prefer to step out of hearing, Dora,
said John coldly, glancing at her now
with an expression which both terrified
and angered her, it was so unlike him.
Pride and fear struggled within her for
an instant, then pride won.
Very well, she said. $50, if you
wish. John" He did not start
You perceive that he can not, said
the visitor. II hypnotized him as he
opened the door, and he is under the con-
troll of my will. l gave you complete
test at once of my power. You know
that of his own will your husband would
not leave you under these circumstances.
He says he prefers to go because of my
power.
81 am glad he is hypnotized, then, said
Dora with feeling. She slipped her hand
into Johns. at makes me love you
more to know that you would not go OF
yo.r own free will, she whispered.
Don't whisper to mel" said john
Lii say sharply in return.
Dora laughed.
Now, how much do you want, CT dc
you want us to get up an exhibition for YOU
or something? Mr.--Mr.-," she hcsi-
tated
My name is Connellton, said the
stranger. NO, do not want to get up
an exhibition. am a ghost. 1 merely
looked in in response to an invitation
from your husband. He said he should
like to see a ghost. This is a pleasant
house you have here. ! should like to
look it over In f;rt, am house hunt
ing and | like this entrance. l think
this house would suit me to haunt !
think ghost ought to be very particular
about the sort of house he haunts. "
This house is not for. sale, said
Dora. ct is our own. We mean to
keep it. "
You will please show me over the
house, said Mr.. Connellton to John
Lindsay, with a courteous wave of the
hand to Mrs. Lindsay.
"Certainly, Mr.. Connellton. Dora, my
dear, come with us, said John. Dora
suddenly threw her arms about him and
kissed him.
John, darling!" she cried, "do throw
off this dreadful spell and send this hor-
rid man away. l don't believe he is a
ghost at all, and, anyway, we don't want
him going all over our house. Send him
away" She kissed John again, but his
lips gave no response. lie stalked up
the stairs followed by Connellton, and
there was nothing for Dora to do but to
follow. Over the pretty house they went
from room to room-Dora's bedroom, hel
sewing room, the guest chamber, all OF
the closets, through the bathroom, ut
into the attic and down again went the
three. where outside the wild winter
wind was making the pine trees moan an0
bend; down to the front hall again and
through the parlor into the cosy sitting
room. 1t seemed to Dora half lifetime
since half an hour ago when she and John
sat there so cosy and happy and not
afraid.
Connellton spoke for the first time dur
ing their tour of il pection. This is a
pleasant room, he said.
Very, said JoI Lindsay
You are happy h,re evenings?"
Very, said John again, and grinned
in such foolish manner that Dora felt
as AIMED of him before Connellton.
low happy are you? Dancing happy
il rg happy?" asked Connellton. "If
S may dance a jig"
Mr.. COnnellton, he can't jg.'
,ra, in distress; but John could
He jigged about the room for
J. utes. while Dora stood beside the
p fc, fairly faint between fright at
hi Ding it at all and amusement at the
righteousness of his antics. Mr.. Con-
MELTON stood on the white goatskin rug
before the fire and laughed heartily, as
might be expected of hypnotizing
ghost
Il haven't had so much fun since
was on earth the first time," he said at
last. "We will now look at the kitchen
and dining room and cellar and inspect
the furnace" So the journey over the
house was continued in silence, except
for short utterances of approval on the
part of Mr. Connellton, and an exclama-
ton of annoyance from Dora when he
gravely broke off large fragment from
the side of a fresh loaf of cake in he,
pantry and more gravely ate it, scattering
crumbs as he went.
I'VE will go upstairs again, said Con
MELTON when they came back to the sit
ting room. 81 see from the arrangement
of this house that there must be a good
sized bedroom over the dining room
which / have not seen. We will look at
that" John led the way and Dora fol
lowed him.
This is a very pleasant room, said
Connellton when they reached it and
John had lit the gas. Il think l will oc
cupy this permanently. am tired and
will go to bed at once" He sat down on
low chair near the register. John
Lindsay moved mechanically forward to
lower the gas. which was blazing toe
high. BY lucky accident he awkwarlly
knocked off the glass globe, and in the
a tempt to save it from falling to the
floor thrust his hand into the flame The
gas instantly neutraliZed the peculiar
form of hypnotism which had been ex
erted over him, and in full possession Of
all his faculties John Lindsay turned
upon the intruder into his home.
You miserable ghost of hypnotizer, =
said he, Il see through you. Clear out
of my house or I'll break every cartilage
in your backboneless body!"
He advanced toward Connellton, who
shrank and shrank as he approached
There was scarcely figure the size of &
IL yaar old hoy remaining in the low