The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-18

INV ftltlEAI ~ N4-lAIINrNI NI|44NNI
no living being nothing but the dead
IN the graveyard bcyond Suddenly
the horse stopped and snorted. Mr.
Dupont saw two white figures suddenly
dart into the road ono stood benide hI1
horse, and the other beclSoned him 70
descend from his wagon. His hair
rose. and his tongue seemed glued 70
his mouth The silence was terrible.
II those white beings would only speak;
but no sound canc from them. AZ last
in desperation he stammcred out:
who arc you. and what do ron
moan by stopping mo here In thisway3't
"wc arc spirits Of the departed dead.
n sepuichrnl voice replied, land We
have need 81 your services. descend
from your vehicle. do ns we bid you.
and on tho word Of ghost you shall
not 10 harmed. /"
Tho terrified lawyer descended and
stood BY the Speakers side, while the
other ghost tied his horse 70 a tree and
joined them.
yield yourself entirely 70 rs and
you shall DO snfe, " said the spokesman.
"You must needs walk far and must
allow us 70 blindfoid your eyes, IN order
that you may not discover before your
time the why 70 the land Of the shades.
No moro words must be spoken.
Obey"
Mr. nnpontswas 90 terrified TINT he
could not speak, and IA silence allowed
n cloth Is Ia bound over his eyes; then,
escorted by his Rhostly companions, he
began - walk. Il seemed 10 him that
hc would never be allowed TO stop;
seconds seemed agea; every attempt Of
his ia speak was checked BY impatient
groans Of his guides At Inst, after
walking half around the earth. aa Il
seemed u him, no realized that he was
being plotted up some stops. and BY tho
feeling 81 warmth lie knew that no had
left tho open air.
sThc justice Of tho peace may b
seated. said the ghost who had done
nil tho talking.
Mr.. Dupont sat down and the cloth
was quickly removed from his eyes, re-
veAling 10 his astonished gaze the in
terror 81 d room diinly lighted BY wax
candles. Every side was hung withs
black curtains, and on four blacls-cov-
cred stools facing him sat four white
robcd specters, while beside him stood
nnother dressed like his companions.
Before no had time to more than won
der al HIS strange surroundings, the
spokesman began:
MIR. Dupont, We have solemn duty
for you 70 perform. You arc q Justice
III the peace In the world Of the living,
and man denr TO rs on account of
your noble life; therefore are yon here
We have IN these abodea Of the dead
two young shaaes recently come from
the other world. Each u these died Of
Il broken heart because y stern parent
forbade them to marry What do you
think. sir, Of such a parent as that?r
Mr.. Dupont wiggled about uncasily
IN his chair. aud at last said: ~ think,
good Shade. II wns very wrong of him.
"NYe knew you would, resumed the
ghost, ssbecause you nre kind man.
and one who loves his children. Now
do we understand yon to shy that II tho
poor girl had been your child IL would
never have happcned2s
surely II never would. replied tho
frightened Mr.. Dupont.
I'VE have not misjudgcd you, them
replied the shade. while the other four
ghosts nodded approvingly. 1--WE have
summoned you III order that Won may
unite them Ia wodlocl, SO that III thfa
world ut least they may DO happy. Such
d marriage as this Is not common among
us. 40 we brought you here, . good JUS
tice 81 the peace, rather than d minis
ter, who might have been shocked at
these proceedings. You can marry
them Just as well as q clergyman. Now,
sir. win yon obligo us by marrying
these two shades9 II you will consent.
! you may depart At once 70 your home.
VIII you?s
Marry tho two shndes2 OF course he
would; anything TO get away from this
terrible spot And 50. without the pre-
caution Of STIMULATING hi. fee. be stana-
mcrcd out:
..Oh. yes, surely. anything you WISH :
No sooner had he given his consent
than one 81 tho black curtains was
drawn aside and two other beings In
white entered and stood before him.
The other shades rose, and Mr.. Dupont.
not wishing TO be the only one 10 keep
his seat, rose too. The good justice had
never married shades; he did not know
quite how I'd proceed They looked OK
actly alike; he did not know which wna
the bride and which the groosn He
wished he were well out Of Il, aud the
only way to gain his wish was to pro
coed quickly with the ceremony, and
so hs began at once. Some way be
managed to ret through. although he
could not have told afterwardH how Il
was done. He turned to the bride
when he said: do you take this woman
to be your welded wifeR'. and 10 tho
groom when he should have addressed
the bride; but NJ length. much to his
relief, the II do'' was said by each. and
the justice finished with the n pro-
nnunce yon man and wife.
Bnt all was not yet over No sooner
had the words left his lips than one 81
the beings before him threw aside its
ghostly robe. and there. ia 4 beautiful
wedding gown, stood hiss daughter,
Margaret Mr.. Dupont started Is
speak, but he only gasped. Tor around
him stood the other ghosts: they, too.
had thrown aside their robes and stood
revealed. Could be believe his eyes3
Yes, there was no mistake. he had mar
ried his daughter TO Charles Foster, IN
the presence Of his wife, his son and
three family friends; and the justice
knew enough Of law to realize that the
ceremony was binding. The black
curtains, too, were torn down. ana there