Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-06-06
A QUEER GHOST.

toIwlng day her Oldest TREND ana
playmate Malcolm Macdonald was 70
sail for a foreign land. He was a
sailor, bonny, blue eyed lad, and
loved her with all the strength Of his
great honest heart. He had offered
that heart to her the day before and
asked her to marry him and go away
with him. But she would not. Now
she almost wished she had, and she
rose-she would get pencil and paper 1
and write to him, but the door-bell
rang long loud peal, and she waited.
The door was flung open and in came
three merry girls Margaret, Lue and
Blanche, came in so hurriedly that
Nellie stood speechless and riveted her
eyes upon them. They seemed ner-
vous, half laughing, yet evidently
scared.
"Oh. Nell" Lue says with little
gasp, going up to her and laying her
hand on her arm" II have seen a
ghost"
"A what?" says Nell.
"A ghostl downright, yeritable
ghost! Now, don't look incredulous.
WAS never so frightened in my life
was !, girls?"
mo, neveri" cry Blanch and Mar
garet, with such suspicious eagerness
that Nellie laughs outright; then says:
But tell me all about it," and then
such a chattering as there Is until Mrs.
Butterworth turns them out into the
orchard back ofthe farmhouse, where
they all gather round Nell and make
her tell them all the stories she knows
Of Malcolm's life at sea.
There they stay till the warm July
day has come to a close, and the
sound OF Farmer Butterworth bring
ing the cows from pasture tells them it
is time to go home. They start for
the gate and Blanch says:
Remember, now, $50, at Dew Rock,
if you want to see Lue's ghost, and
as Nell answers, IAN right. {" the three
saunter slowly down the village street.
Suddenly Margaret speaks, and
there is a note of anxiety in her voice.
"Will it be Just fair, girls? Nell
ought to know her own heart"
at isn't question of fairness, it is
: love and war Just now, so we may
: returned Blanche.
: At $40 O'Clock that night four
e small, dark figures erept softly into a
E little old hut, hidden from sight by a
| huge rock, whose great shadow casts
I deep gloom over the place, and
\ waited. After few minutes three of
r them moved softly around the room
leaving the fourth alone, and soon
. Nell found herself alone in the middle
!. OF the room.
! Everything was so still she could
: almost hear her own heart beat, when
she heard sound of footsteps coming
g -near--nearer. With little thrill of
s terror she turned swiftly and faced
e the door
i 1t open slowly. Nell seemed to feel
: cold chills creeping up and down her
e back Instinctively she glanced to-
ward the one window the little hut
contained, and with a little shrek
sprang toward it; but the ghost was
before her, tall, dark figure in long
. black domino and a SLOUGH hat, pull
" ed low over his face, Very unghost-
y like he was, but Nell did not think Of
u that.
. In deep thrilling tones he cried:
l. "Do not attempt to leave therooml
p You are Nellie Butterworth."
Yes. The word was whispered,
/. but he heard it.
s. You are engaged"
Ie NO" Decidedly.
Want TO be?m moving nearer to
le her
M The absurdity OF the question struck
Nell even while she drew back, and she
I burst into merry laugh.
|, There was silence for moment,
~ then the ghost spoke again.
:. She stepped forward quickly. Her
!. lover! What was itg
8 "He wished me to say he cannot 90
Il with that undecided answer. If it be
'r yes he win return; if it be mo- he will
a. remain in Australia till hedies. What
shall l say to him for your" and the
ghost stepped a little nearer.
Nell's eyes We're shining: an amused
!, expression crossed her face, and she
replied-just little catch IN her voice;
a "You might tell him" then she
70 stopped. 'Why didn't he come him
Y self? Oh, Malcolm, in tone Oft tend
40 er reproach, as the ghost threw aside
Is his black coat and SLOUGH hat and
nd stood in his sailors suit of navy blue
ly her own fond, faithful lover.
ly 'May we come now" cried three
In merry voices.
- Nell turned in mock anger as she
said:
'Did you do this purposelyG" But
in spite of the tone in which she said
il there was glad look in her eyes
10 and when everything had been ex'
sh planned and she stood alone with
nv Malcolm, she whispered:
"Ghosts are rather nice sometimes
IA aren't they?e-Ex.