Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-10-08

pont 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. II those white beings would
only speak; but no sound came from
them. At last in desperation he
stammered out:
"Wh0 are you, and what do you
mean by stopping Inc here in this
way'"
''We are spirits of the departed
dead" a 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 the
other ghost tied his horse to tree
and joined them.
"Yield yourself entirely to us and
you shall be SAFE" said the spokes-
man. "You must needs walk far
and must allow us to blindfold your
eyes, in order that you may not dis
cover 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 al
lowed 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
ayes; every attempt of his to speak
was checked by impatient, groans Of
his guiGes At last, after walking
half around the earth, as it seemed
to him, he realized that he was being
piloted up some steps and by the feel
ing of warmth he knew that he had
left the open air.
''The Justice of 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,
revealing to his astonished gaze the
interior of a room dimlY lighted by
wax candles Every side was hung
with black curtains, and on four
black covered stools facing him sat
four white-robed spectres, while be-
side him stood another dressed like
his companions Before he had time
to more than wonder at his strange
surroundings, the spokesman began:
"Mr. Dupont, we have a solemn
duty for you to perform. You are
Justice of the Peace in the world of
the living, and a man dear to us on
account of your noble life; therefore
are you here. We have in these
abodes of the dead two young shades
recently come from the other world.
Each of those died of a broken heart
because a stern parent forbade them
to marry? What do you think sir,
of such a parent as that?"
Mr.. Dupont wiggled about uneasily
in his chair, and at last said: 81
think, good shade, it was very wrong
of him."
"We knew you would" resumed
the ghost, because you are kind
man, and one who loves his children.
Now do we understand you to say
that if the poor girl had been your
child it would never have happened?"
"Surely it never would" replied the
frightened Mr.. Dumont.
"We have not misjudged you,
then," replied the shade, while the
other four ghosts nodded approvingly.
1--WE have summoned you in order
that you may unite them in wedlock,
so that in this world at least they
may be happy. Such marriage as
this is not common among us, SO we
brought you here, good justice of
the peace, rather than minister,
who might have been shocked at
these proceedings. You can marry
them just as we'll as a clergyman.
Now, sir, will you oblige us by marry
ing these two shades? II you will
consent you may depart at once to
your home. Will you?"
Marry the two shades? OF course
he would; anything to get away from
this terrible spot And so, without
Ouc pIcCduUiOu VI SClpuldCluS lib lccs
he stammered out:
ooh, yes, surely. anything you
wish"
No sooner had he given his consent
than one Of the black curtains was
drawn aside and two other beings in
white entered and stood before him.
The other shades rose, and Nh. Du-
pont, 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 exactly alike; he did not
know which was the bride and which
the groom. He wished he were well
out of it, and the only way to gain
his wish was to proceed quickly with
the ceremony, and so he began at
once. In some way he managed get
through, although he could not have
told afterward how it was done. He
turned to the bride when he said:
f'Do you take this woman to be your
welded wife," and to the groom when
he should have addressed the bride;
h,,f Of 1onuth much IN hic roI;of tho