The Dickinson press., 1893-01-21
IN. 81 was as wide awake as l am at

an. ~ was as wide awake as / am at
this moment. had been over to see
Mrs. Muir's sick child, and it was close
on 10 O'Clock when | got back. And
the minute crossed the threshold l
had that queer feeling OF some one be-
ing in the room creep all over me.
And there, sure enough, in the chair
opposite, where he used to sit thirty
good year ago, was your great-grand-
father Maple, with his old cue wig and
his suit of butternut brown, and the
very green spectacles he used to wear
for his weak eyes. And he took his
pipe out OF his mouth and looked at
me just as your Grandfather Maple
has looked at me q thousand, thou
sand times. And says /: Reuben, is
that your And SAYS he: Yes, Lois, it
is And says I: oh, Reuben, what
brings you back to this world?' And
says he: TO wipe out the stains of a
wicked world And says I: Are you
happy, Reuben?' And says he; Yes,
and that's the reason | want others
to be- And then l began to tremble
all over, and says 1: is it anything l
a do. Reuben?' And says he:
There's no more offending nor giving
offense in the other world, Lois, and
Job Crofton's soul and mine are at
variance no longer Says he: Let
there be peace, Lois, and let theyoung
man Gilbert be your grandchild's hus-
band And then he knocked the
bowl OF his pipe on the edge OF the
andiron, as I've seen him do it so
often; and he got up and he walked
out Of the room, Just for all the world
like a livingcreature. I've oftenheard
as ghosts car go through q key hole,
but your Grandfather Naples ghost
olened the door and forgot to shut it
after him into the bargain. So, when
| reused up enough to know what was
going on around me the floor was
covered with snow that had drifted in
and the candle was blown out"
ooh, grandmother! do you think
this was real?" cried Minny, with
startled eyes.
"Didn't | see it with my own eyes,
and hear it with my own ears?''
demanded old Mrs. Maple. otis your
grandfather's ghost! And | might
have known that if he wanted to ap.
pear he could, for he had obstinacy
enough for anything, rest his soul!
1Ou 1utty 4l0Iiy dllUcEC IFOllOu IL you
want to, tomorrow, Minny! And per-
haps your grandfather's ghost will be
easy then!"
So the young people were happily
married, and Gilbert came to live at
the farm, and managed all the old
lady's affairs for her. And she lived
to be q hundred years old before she
closed those keen, blue eyes of hers
upon the matters OF this mortal
world.
But III day, in turning over the
relics Of the roomy old garrett, Minny
came across u red chest, clamped
with brass, and family odorous OF
dried Lavender and rose leaves. She
opened it.
"Oh, Gilbert, look here!" cried she,
"my great-grandfather's best suit laid
up in camphor gum and sweet herbs
Why do you suppose that Grand.
mother Maple has kept it?"
81 don't know, ] am sure" said Gil
bert, with q mischievous twinkle ii
his eyes, "Perhaps for the youngel
generations to masquerade I'M"
Minny sprang to her feet, a sudder
light seeming to illuminate her Who'll,
face:
"Gilbert!" cried she, "did you"-
"No matter" said Gilbert, laughing
"shut up the box, Minny, your great
gr%andfather's ghost will never haun'
the house again"
And it meyer did.-Amy Randolph il
New York Ledger.