The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-05

There was kissing in his voice as NJ
lssued his command, while certain
trembling in his legs. which lay straight
and so close together that they looked like
one, made me think he was going to get
up.
why should I hold?' I demanded iu-
dignantly for was beginning to lose my
temper Besides 1 expected Nellie every
minute.
Because you cannot help yourself! Hal
ha! hal Don't you know who 1 am? You
| cannot meet your Nellie tonight"
secretly resented his speaking so famil-
iarly of my betrothed, but l bottled my
wrath and simply said:
why not?"
Because I will not let either of you
pass me'
Ridiculous" 1 returned holly. You
! talk as if you controlled the traffic Of this
park. How do you mean to stop us?"
Very easily. | am the Ghost Of Run
! ning Water, and my very nature gives me
power in spirit land that no one can with
stand. Don't you know that ghost cam
not cross running stream?"
/ saw that the specter had thoughtlessly
made a lapse in his logic, and it was with
a ring of triumph in my voice that said:
Ghosts seem to be sometimes troubled
with narrowminded views as well as NOR
tails. l have heard that beings of your
kind are stopped in their perambulations
and mischief by a running stream. and
doubtless your being the Ghost of Run
ming Water gives you a great deal of in
duence IN your sphere. But you surely
don't suppose that you can-after fulfilling
your mission on earth, as ! presume you
did-continue to interfere with people who
are still struggling along in this matter of
fact world?"
The ghost was about to reply when sud-
denly | saw a white, diaphanous dress
glinting through the trees, and the next
minute my Nellie was in full view. She
smiled joyously as she caught sight of me,
evidently not noticing the shape on the
ground.
Only for Second, however
With a low cry of terror, pain and do
spair, she felt and succumbed to the icy
atmosphere of the ghostly presence, as,
stretching her arms supplicatingly toward
me, she fell PROSTATE by the side Of the
grinning immaterialism.
| was SO overcome by the peril of my
Nellie that could not move at first. Then
recovered and sprang forward just as the
ghost stretched his clammy arms and ac-
tually drew her into his embrace. With
bound | was at his side, while the long,
wet leaves of the mountain ash tapped
spitefully in my face, as If they, too, were
taking part with the supernatural powers
against me.
"Ghost, mortal or DEVIL l care not what
you are" gasped as / tried to seize him
by the throat, feeling ready to brave the
hosts of hades itself for Nellie's sake
The mysterious, icy feeling l have re-
ferred to before ran through my veins, as
if my life blood had CONCEALED, as tried
to tear Nellie from his fearful clasp.
Then
Il forgot all about this brook and actu-
ally walked right into it," was Nellie's
half laughing, half crying plant, as /
raised her to her feet and led her toward
the house to get rid of wet clothing.
Eyes, DEAR" replied, but must GER
tainly see physician, for my nerves are in
a terrible condition. | have entirely too
much imagination. l am afraid l have
been working and studying too much
lately"
Lam sure you have, dear. You look as
though you had just seen ghost" was
Nellie's response, as she forgot her own
plight in her solicitude
for me.
wonder how 1 came to mistake a little
stream of water in the moonlight for the
burglars ghost?-George c. jerks in Pitts
burg Bulletin.