The morning call., 1893-04-30

night as the one when our unlucky ]
passenger disappeared. [ was again on
deck, about amidships. when l saw this
same man come up the companion. walk
AT, then forward and then go aft again and
not return. As soon as | could move l
rushea ait and spoke to the man at the
wheel. lie seemed .daZed. Did you see
man come aft?' The sailor nodded with
out speaking. Who was it?' l demanded.
linen, with an effort, the man found his
voice and declared it to be Nj, the pas
senger who had so mysterously disap-
reared. was badly shaken up. but had
all hands called and the ship again searched,
but with no result
"a thorough hunt next morning gave no
better result. but the next night again
saw my lost passenger come up the compan-
ION, walk ait and return, then go aft and
disappear. Again the man at the wheel
saw him. and again search of The ship
was barren OF result 1t began to
get around among the crew, and we
were all ID a quandary over the mystery.
The next night he did not appear. 1t was
very dark and cloudy, as it continued
to be for several nights. At last. how
ever, one night he again came up
the companion, walked aft and returned.
AS he was again going aft l started after
him, when he instantly disappeared.
Greatly bewidered l turned hastily around.
and the next minute caught sight of him
again walking aft. l ran after him and
came up to him, bat he disappeared again,
and as stopped / saw him some distance
ahead, walking aft; then he disappeared
entirely.
u couldn't stand 1.-THE apparitiou. what
ever IL was, made one or two appearances
AFTER that, but there was no attempt to
catch it, and when L reached San Francisco
quit the sea, and never made another Voy-
age until, as passenger, left the country
to come here"
A good many stories of encounters with
ghosts have come to my ears from one
source or another, but perhaps the best in
lts method OF dealing with the unwelcOme
Vlsltant is that told by Anna Dickinson to
a friend of mine, of the experienced little
Quaker maiden in the City of Brotherly
Love-
The ghostly hero of this tale had his
a6oGe In certain otherwise highly desir-
aOie house On pleasant street in the city.
tenant after tenant engaged this dwelling
ana took possession. almost as soon to
abandon II and seek other quarters This
went on until it was generally understood
mat the house was haunted, and then 1t
IL sto00 empty, for years
Az last 1t was taken and occupied by n
Quaker family. VINO. to the surprise of
everybody. remained. The family con-
sisted oil the good man, his wife and n fair
young daughter Servants they could keep
none. The months passed. Gradually the
young glrl came to be avoided by the other
girls because her house was haunted, and
sue was not afraid of the ghost. even said
she felt sorry for it. At last Anna Dickin-
son became acquainted with the little
Quaker maiden, liked her and desired to
visit her in her home. She received small
encouragement but taking permission
Tor an Invitation, boldly went over one
evening. after tea, to pay her new friend
call. The two girls sat chatting together
In a pleasant sitting room, the father and
lnOther having gone out. and presently 8
door opened. Thin king it had come I'M
latched, Anna arose to shut 1t, as she was
nearer it than her young hostess. "Do not
close IT, said the latter so Anna resumed
her seat. Then an empty rocking. chair
pegan TO rock vigorously. Anna began to
ieel very queer, but her friend took no no.
tlee for time. At last, however, as the
rocking became insistent, she turned and
mildly eXp0stulated.
Thee sees" she said, that [ have a
guest. and must entertain her this even
ing" The chairs motion became more
gentle until, after some time, it ceased, and
then. the door opened ard closed again
The young girl vouchsafPd no explanation
then. and Anna refrained from asking ques-
lions. AS time passed, however, and the
friendship strengthened between the two
girls she learned the whole story and its
sequel.
The ghost had made its appearance as
soon as the family was fairly settled, fire.
guentlng. apparently from choice, the rooms
where the young girl oftenest sat. Particu-
larly 1t favored certain rocking-chair in
the sltting-roOm where Anna spent her first
evening. secure IN her own kindly intent
toward every creature, the Quaker maiden
had felt no fear Of her strange visitor and
even, as evening after evening passed
and 1t still rocked restIessly, began
10 feel herself remiss in hospitality
toward it. and 10 cast about in her
mind for means OF entertaining it. So
one evening she said. suddenly, 'Would
thee like me TO read to thee ?" Taking the
silence that followed for consent she began
TO read aloud from SCOTS Lady of the
Lake" and every evening through that
winter she read to her unseen guest, until
the rocking would cease and the restless
spirit snored comfortably in the chair
AT last he brave little girl came to under
stand that the ghost wanted her 10 follow
II. so one night che left her chair, saving.
II will go with thee" Then il led her she
following closely, until. in a far corner of
the great unused attic. where none of them
had been since they had lived in the house.
she found. dangling from a rafter The rope
by means of which, before the little girl
was porn, young man, the only son of the
family who then had occupied the house.
had hanged himself. in e fit of Madness
his CHASTITY object she took down, and il
was decently buried from sight in the back
yard, after which the ghostly visits ceased.
the poor soul evidently able to rest once the
symbol OF its disgraeeful usbering from this
lie vas hidden from view.
Ihis seems 10 ME one of the pfettiest
stories lever heard. Who shall say how much
We might all learn had we but the simplicity