The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-07

set it moving; and when it was wide
open, there, in the full light of the
moon, stood a figure that looked just
awful.
1t was the ghost sure enough. It
was the shadow of the bad baronet ~
Sir Roderick Shane, dressed as he was
two hundred years ago, when they put
bullet into him for his behavior. He
had on an elegant green coat slashed
with gold lace, and under it white
frilled shirt with an ugly red stain over
the left breast. There was long wig
on his head, reaching down over his
shoulders, and he had knee-boots, with
spurs, on his legs, and sword by his
side.
But, faith! it was not his figure, nor
yet his dress, that looked SO queer 1t
was his face, white and pasty, like that
Of a corpse, and his horrible dead eyes
with never bit of light in them, his
bloodless lips parted and showing a
row of ugly black teeth, that sent e
SILVER through me in spite of my self I
wasn't afraid, though-nivcr bit! and
hadn't looked at him for above Il min
ute or two before got used TO him en-
tirely.
Well, he stood and glared at me, as I
sut and looked at him, with my
leg crossed over my knee, and
my pipe in my mouth. l took
out that last, so as / could say
something civil to him; but never "a
limb did move.
"Good-evening, your honor!" says l..
"Sure, you must be the ghost of the
bad-I beg your honor's pnrdon-of Sir
Roderict Shane, mean"
Man" cried the ghost in II hollow
voice, edo you dare sit there in my
presence?'
Faith" says I, II do. Why wouldn't
II"
do you not know says he. what
fearful risks You run?"
NO says I, Il don't: and would lie
much obliged for particulars of the
same
Your reason says he, your very
life is in danger"
"Well, now" says I, you don't say
that? Sure I'd like to know how you
make it out"
AT Il word from me-" says the ghost,
you might be driven into raving mad
ness or drivelling idiocy. l could bias,
you as Wy u lightning-strol1e, or crush
yon into oast"
''Indade, then" says l, its lucky fol
me You don't"
but" says he, Il cannot long for
bear
Can't you?" says /. "NNell, then, il
! may ask without offence, how long
will you be forbcaring?"
Until tomorrow night" says he.
"You have intrudcd here, no doIbt, in
ignorance. l}egonc at once, and will
spare you: but never again presume to
trespass on my domain
Well, the ghost talking in this way
of the old colonels property as his
domain, began 20 get my blood up.
But kept as cool as could. and said
Sure it's very good of your honor tc
let me off SO easy; but ask your pardon
| if l say that this is not Your domain a,
all. 1t used to be, allow; but it be.
longs now to my old colonel Sir retel
Shane, God bless him.-and as am
here under his orders, here mean to
stay"
"Fooln' cried the ghost, and then he
case one of lis dismal groans
This was more than ! could put ur
with, even from the ghost of one of the
quality.
'N,sSv, look here, ghost" says l.
Don't you begin of calling names, be.
cause fsvo can play at that game, and
know 1ile trick of it. Sure, I've as
good Il right to be here as you have
end better. Indeed. you've no business.
to be here at all. The castle don't be.
long to you now, and you've kept all
decent folk out of it ever since you got
that piece of lead between your RIB
Why don't you keep quiet and easy in
your comfortable grave, and leave the
old place alonc?'
How dare you address inc thus?"
says the ghost. "Yon-a mean, com
mon soldier! dare yomspeak to me like
this-to me, gentleman, the head of
an ancient house, to whom you might,
in days gone by, have been the basest
| mental in his scrvica?"
This wasn't civil, but kept my
temper.
YES, ghost" says I, chats right
enough. All that might have been long
ago, before you was done for; but, sure,
times has changed since then, and /
dare do q deal now that would have
been liberty once"
Vile dog! said the ghost 81 will
parley with you no longer. Bnt once
more, beware how you trcspass here
again. If discover you within these
walls tomorrow night your doom is
de6th. Farewellr'
"a goodnight 10 your honor" says
/, getting up for the first time so as to
be bit civil now he was departing.
Then j heard him go crealling and
groaning along the passage till the
sound of him was lost in the distance.