The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-12-29

there are quiet nlrtatlons on the stairs and
in the halls, and after supper there is to
be dance in the great dining room.
Elsie looks paler''n sober n ever to-
night, don she?' asks one of the gossips
in the corner, of her crony
Yes, she duz, | was hopin that
she'd quit thinkin o Norton. N give
Tom Rollins, that's worn to shadder
waitin' fur her, some encouragement.
They did say, jest before John went away
that she was ruther turnin' the cold
shoulder on him. n favorin' Tom. but.
lor, there warn no truth in it, fur | see
she and John part the day he went away,
n though they was both quiet ernuff,
there warnt no eoldness between EN-. |
kin tell ye
''Did you hear heow John Porton's
ghost he'd been seen raund here by four or
FIVE different persons?' says another gos-
sip in mysterious whisper ''Elsie's
heerd on it, and she's terribly out about
it. .
.'Speakin' o ghosts. says Captain
Kiley, an old sailor who had more strange
experiences, known more mysterious hap
penings, than any other man in the town.
and that was saying a good deal; Il saw
dreadful strange apparition out tew sea
about twenty years ago.
do tell us about it. SAL several of
the young people in the same breath, leav-
ing their games and joining the circle
around the fire, for Captain Riley stories
were famous in the town.
'.Wall, naow, | s'pose Eve told the
story hundred times over at one time n
another in this place, but if you are anx--
ious to hear it can tell tell again.
Nearly all the people in the room were
anxious to hear it, and after tilting to and
fro in his chair several times, and clearing
his throat with a great deal of vigor, he
commenced to relate the thrilling tail of
ghost which appeared on shipboard during
one of his foreign voyages-the ghost of
sailor who had been wronged by the for
mer master of the vessel, and was myster-
iusly murdered on shore after the ship
reached port.
Elsie, her dark, large eyes dilating with
interest or emotion, Joined the listening
circle, though she usually either laughed
or frowned at the Captain weird recitals
''Let us take the lamps out Of the room,
the story will seem ever so much more
real, . says one of the laughing girls, who
enjoy nothing so much as the blood-curd
ling which arises from the contemplation
of the supernatural.
So the lamps are removed and the glory
of the scarlet Goals and Pickering freight
only half illumine the large room with its
dark wainscoatings and deep window en-
brasures. As the tale goes on the fire
grows lower and lower. Shadows gather
in the corners and creep in among the 81
lent group of listeners. The old mans
voice has a strange, weird quality in it,
like that of the sea when it whispers to
sands where there have been wrecks; like
that of the wind when it moans in the
chimneys, of haunted houses, or in ghostly
woods where some murder has been COM
mitted in years gone by.
Perfect silence reigns But Just as the
interest of the tale is as its height, and
the young people cling to each other with
awe-stricken looks, the FIRE flashing into
sudden life shines on face framed in one
of the window-panes, the face of one who
has been buried in the old grave yard be-
hind the church nearly eight years. The
eyes are fled upon Elsie with an eager,
searching glance for moment, and then
the fame and it vanish into the darkness
Elsie, who has met the glance with her
own eyes, utters wild, scared cry, and
falls fainting into the arms Of her compan-
ions. Shrieks sound from different por-
tions of the room.
John Norton, if ever see him in my
life. Why, his face was as plain as day
light, is heard in awed whispers from
every side.
The squire. who has been drawn to the
room by the screams of the women, on
learning the state of affairs, rushes imme-
diateIy to the front door; and there upon
the steps, with his hand upon the knob of
the door-bell, stands the ghost-John
Norton
The squire involuntarily takes a few
steps backward. and stands in speeehless
amazement and fear
Happy New Year, squire You don't
seem very glad to see me, came from
the ghost in hearty, moot unghostly
tone II am afraid frightened the la
dies in the parlor. 1t was so dark that |
lidn think should be seen.
''Who in the world are yOu2' inquired
the squire, looking somewhat relieved.
Don't you know John Norton ? Have
changed beyond recognition in these
eight years 2
But yOu-but John Norton is dead,
said the squire, with chilling remembrances
IF what he had read about materialistic
spirits in his mind
The ghost laughed merrily.
s'If am dead, am profoundly ignor-
INT of the fact, said he, and am sure
y John Norton.
Elsie who had recovered from her |