The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-19


in the graveyard beyond. Suddenly
tina horse stopped and snorted. Mr..
Dupont saw two white figures suddenly
dart into the road; one stood beside his
horse. and the other beckoned him to
descend from his wagon. His hair
rose, and his tongue seemed glued to
his mouth. The silence was terrible.
If those white beings would only speak;
but no sound came from them. At last
in desperation he stammercd out:
WHO are you, and what do you
mean by stopping mo here in this way2"
1--WE are spirits of the departed Dead"
n sepulchral voice replied, land we
have need of Your services; descend
from your vehicle, do as we bid you,
and on the word of ghost you shall
not be harmed"
The terrified lawyer descended and
stood by the speakers side, while tho
other ghost tied his horse to tree and
Joined them.
yield yourself entirely to us and
you shall be safe" said the spokesman.
you must needs walk far and must
allow MS to blindfold your eyes, in order
that you may not discover before your
time the way to the land of the shades.
No more words must be spoken.
Obey"
Mr.. Dupont was SO terrified that he
could not speak, and in silence allowed
cloth to be bound over his eyes; then,
escorted by his ghostly companions, he
began to walk. 1t seemed to him that
he would never be allowed to stop;
seconds seemed ages; every attempt of
his to speak was checked by impatient
groans of his guides At last, after
walking half around the earth, rs 1t
seemed to him, he realized that he was
being piloted up some steps, and by the
feeling of warmth he knew that he had
left the open air.
The justice of the peace may be
seated" said the ghost who had done
all the talking
Mr.. Dupont sat down and the cloth
was quickly removed from his eyes, re-
vcaling to his astonished gaze the in
terror of room dimly lighted by wax
candles. Every side was hung with
black curtains, and on four blacS-cov-
cred stools facing him sat four white
robed specters, while beside him stood
another dressed like his companions
Before he had time to more than won
der at his strange surroundings, the
spokesman began:
"Mr. Dupont, we have n solemn duty
for you to perform You are justice
of the peace in the world of the living,
and n man dear to us on account of
your noble life; therefore arc you here.
We have in these abodes of the dend
two young shades recently come from
the other world. Each of these died of
N hnn cfn
forbade them to marry? What do you
think, sir, of such parent us that?"
Mr.. Dupont wiggled about uncasily
in his chair, and at last said II think,
good shade, it was very wrong of him"
I'VE knew you would" resumed the
ghost, because you are kind man,
and one who loves his children. Now
do I've understand you to say that if tho
poor girl had been your child it would
never have happcncd?"
Surely it never would" replied the
frightened Mr.. Dupont.
1--WE have not niisjudged you. then"
replied the shade, while the other four
ghosts nodded approvingly. ave have
summoned you in order that you may
unite them in wedlocls, SO that in this
world ut least they may be happy. Such
u marriage as this is not common among
MS, so we brought you here, Il good JUS
Jicc of the peace, rather than Il minis
ter, who might have been shocked at
these proceedings. You can marry
them just as we'll as clergyman. Now,
sir, will you oblige us by marrying
these two shades? If you will consent,
you may depart at once to your home
VIII you?"
Marry the two shades? OF course he
would; anything to get away from this
; terrible spot And SO, without the pre-
caution of STIMULATING his fec, he STAN
| IN cred OUT
"Oh, yes, surely. anything you wish"
No sooner had he given his consent
than one OF the black curtains was
drawn aside md two other beings in
white entered and stood before him.
! The other shades rose, and Mr.. Dupont,
not wishing to be the only one to keep
his seat, rose too. The good justice had
never married shades; he did not know
| quite how to proceed. They looked ex-
! actly alike; he did not know which was
the bride and which the groom. lie
wished he were we'll out of it, and the
only way to gain his wish was to pro-
coed quickly with the ceremony, and
/ so he began at once. Some way he
! managed to get through, although he
could not have told aftcryard how it
| was done. He turned to the bride
when he said: do you take this woman
to be your welded wife?' and to the
| groom when he should have addressed
the bride; but Mt length, much to his
relief, the II do" was said by each, and
! the justice finished with the II pro-
/ nounce you man and wife"