The Lamar register., 1893-07-08
THAT GRATEFUL GHOST.


sorbed in light and entertaining
work on transcendental physics. when
a stranger approached, and. tapping
me upon the shoulder, asked:
Are you the man who wrote an
article in the paper entitled, The
Haunted House of Shelbyville; or
Murder Revealed by Rapsn
l told him that was the guilty
person
..Do you believe in that kind of
thiug?"
Occasionally. Why do you ask?"
"Because | own haunted house
down the road. woman in white has
been making herself at homo there
for the last five years and has driven
away my tenants I'd like you to
take look at the promises and see
what you can dc"
The ghost must have exrsated us
We had scarcely entered tav house
before an unearthly gust of wind
blew out our lantern, and we had to
grope our way in the dark. Then
came the regulation raps and knock
ings. My companions trembled, but
l smiled hard, cynical smile and
pressed onward. | was accustomed
to these metaphysical manifesto
tions ever since my last brilliant ai-
venture in the haunted house Of Shell
byville.
Presently the room became uncon-
fortably bright. A phosphorescent
glare cast fitfal illumination
through the apartment. 1t emanated
from the luminous figure of woman
who stood before US She moved
gracefully across the floor. beckoning
us to follow. She was fair-looking.
full-grown ghost, rather pale. with
weary expression on her countenancc.
like that of my landlady when the
pic Her hollow, spectral glance
seemed to say: "At last you have
come I've been waiting for you for
long while,
Silently she led the way out of the
back door into the yard. sailed in
ghost-like fashion into the southwest
corner and suddenly disappeared into
the earth.
looked about me. My compan-
ions. alarmed, no doubt, had fed and
left me alone. Again | smiled the
aforementioned hard, cynical smile
| was above such petty cowardice. !
marked the spot into which the SPEC
tre had disappeared with a piece of
chalk. and calmly returned to the
hotel.
Next day we dug up the yard. Be-
meath the iiagstones lay a skeleton
of female, with the skull crushed
in. Murder had evidently been com
mitted. The coroner was notified
and took cognizance of the facts
remained in Hodgeburg long enough
to see the skeleton respectfully in
TERED. Then. having performed my
mission, started for home, happy
that had done my duty and conf
rest the luminous woman could enjoy
the delights of purgatory in peace
The conductor of the train came
for my ticket. which rendered him.
That lady is with you. is she
not?n he asked.
l looked round in surprise. By my
side sat woman who gazed at me
fondly and familiarly. Surely | was
dreaming! To my excited fancy she
bore the features of the luminous
woman. but the phosphorescent light
had disappeared and she looked quite
substantial and solid. Great heavens
Had the spirit OF the murdered
woman come to haunt me? The con-
ductor grunted impatiently.
no" | cried; "this woman is not
travelling in my care She looked
at me so beseechingly that / re-
gretted my ungallant remarks and
instinctively putting M hand in my
pocket l paid her fare. After all
might be laboring under an hallu-
cination, and this might Re woman
OF flesh and blood. l drew closer to
her.
The spectre concluded / was
pleased, and in the exuberance OF her
spirits, caressed me and nestled
closer to me. An old prude sitting
opposite to us and knowing nothing
about spiritual affinity, muttered
something about 'disgraceful be-
havior." and changed her seat. When
l reached my destination my ghost
went with me. We walked down the
street together. The first person l
met was Robinson, who winked his
eye significantly and whispered as he
passed:
..Sly dog! What will Maud say?"
/ began to feel uneasy. / was en-
gagged to be married to Maud. and it
now occurred to me, for the first