New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-04-01

a QUEER GHOST.

fashioned parlorsat his daughter Nellie,
III maiden meditation, fancy free
that is she thought herself so; but the
follwing day her oldest friend and
playmate Malcolm Macdonald was to
sail for q foreign land. He was a
sailor, a 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
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 speeches. and riveted her
eyes upon them. They seemed ner-
vous, half laughing, yet evidently
scared.
ooh! Nell," Lue says with a little
gasp, going up to her and laying her
hand on her arm," II have seen a
ghost"
"a what?" says Nell.
"A ghost! a downright, veritable
ghost! Now, don't look incredulous.
l was never SO frightened in my life
was I, girls?"
mo, never!'' cry Blanch and Mar
garet, with such suspicious. eagerness
that Nellie laughs outright; then says:
s.But tell me all about it, and then
such a chattering as there is until Mrs.
Butterworth turns them out into the
orchard back OF the farm-house, 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.
II you want to see Lue's ghost" and
as Nell answers, Cali right" the three
saunter slowly down the village street.
Suddenly Margaret speaks and
there is a note OF anxiety in her voice.
evil 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
as well keep our promise to Malcolm,''
returned Blanche.
At $40 o'clock that night four
small, dark figures erept softly into a
little old hut, hidden from sight by q
huge rock, whose great shadow casts
deep gloom over the place, and
waited. After few minutes three of
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 a sound of footsteps coming
With little thrill Of
terror she turned swiftly and faced
the door,
It open slowly Nell seemed to feel
cold chi Is creeping up and down her
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, a tall, dark figure in long
black domino and SLOUGH hat, pull
ed low over his face, Very unghost-
like he was, but Nell did not think of
that.
In deep thrilling tones he cried:
''Do not attempt to leave the room!
You are Nellie Butterworth.
eyes" The word was whispered,
but he heard it,
''YOu are engaged?"
"No." Decidedly. .-......
'Want to be?" moving nearer to
her. @4, ....
The absurdity ofthe question struck
Nell even while she drew back, and she
burst into a merry laugh.
There was silence for a moment,
then the ghost spoke again .,..'
: She stepped forward quickly Her
lover! What was it?
''He wished me to say he cannot 90
with that undecided answer. If it be
yes he will return; if it be mo- be will
remain in Australia till he dies. What
shall | say to him for your" and the
ghost stepped little nearer.
NelPs eyes were shining; an amused
expression crossed her face, and she
replied just a little catch in her voice:
You might tell him then she
stopped. "Why didn't he come him
self? Oh, Malcolm, = in tone Of tend
er reproach, as the ghost threw aside
his black coat and SLOUGH hat and
stood in his sailors suit OF navy blue
her own fond, faithful lover.
MAY we come now" cried three
merry voices.
Nell turned in mock anger as she
said:
''Did you do this purposely?" But
in spite OF the tone in which she said
it there was a glad look in her eyes,
and when everything had been ex-
planned and she stood alone with
Malcolm, she whispered:
Ghosts are rather nice sometimes,
aren't they?"-Ex.