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

tney We Deen seem n nearln all SORTS
o things, n l didn' make no account of
their ghosts, no more n nothin' at all.
'.Who was John Norton?' Inquired the
parson, who was newcomer.
"A sea cap'in who got wrecked some
eight years ago, and as promising young
man as We ever raised in the town, said
/ the squire, slowly 1t was his first voy-
age as captain, and those who were saved
say that he stood by the ship until the
very last minute He was found frozen
to death on the wreck after the storm was
over by vessel which was bound for Bos-
ton. John was known by the captain of
this vessel, and he brought the body into
port with him, and it was sent on here
and buried -
''Then there is no doubt but what the
man is really dead, . said the parson.
Sailors have sometimes the faculty of
coming to life again, you know; that is,
he added with due seriousness there
are false reports of their death. How
many sailors have come back to Bormouth
safe and sound. who have been reported
| drowned p
Never but one sence I've been old
enough to remember said the old man.
who had hitherto been silent THAT was
Luke Higgins, n he a done his self n
the taOwn both favor if he'd a died It's
them kind o chaps what dew turn up,
not starlin' good fellers like John. John,
he was a dretful loss
'0h, there's no possibility of Johns
being alive; said the squire, nervously
II saw him buried myself, poor fellow
He was engaged to my daughter, Elsie,
and she, poor girl, has done nothing but
mourn for him all these years. | object
ed to the match at first, but before he
went away on his last voyage l became
fully alive to his good qualities. He was
brave manly fellow.
/ Enter Mrs, Blagg, the wife of fisher
man, quite out of breath, and looking very
wild.
"What is it, Mary Jane? You look as
if you d seed a ghost, too, . said her hus-
band, who was one of the circle by the fire.
80 l have, Lemuel, true ez you are
alive. l come right face to face with John
Norton comm through the field from our
house to the main road. | see him Just
as plain as see you folks naow, but I
didn' wait to see him long, l ken tell We,
but just scud by him like lightnin' n
told Miss Elsie all about it. | wuz dret-
full scarf, but thought she orter kneow
about it, so | KEEP up till | got. there, n
then | went off intew kinder faint.
Bein' sorter weak after fit er phthisic, |
couldn stan ii.
'"Haow did he look?' inquired one man,
under his breath.
''Dreatful natural, only kind a white
n peaked, n kinder halted n looked
straight at me kinder wild n s'prised.
They say ghosts don't never ike to be
overlook, N don't pose he spected to
meet nobody in that lonesome field.
sBut how could you see his face so dis
tinctly on so dark night?'' said the
squire, seeming considerably disturbed.
'Good grashus, you don't s'spose |
went through that there field without no
lantern? Still, after giving him one good
look, | wuz so Aueshed that dropped the
lantern on the spot, n run screechin'
along as fast as | could You'll hev to
git that there lantern, Lemuel, for it
wouldn't dew to lose it, nohaow; can t af-
ford tow git moo one.
well, good people, y said the squire,
we mustn't let ghosts interfere with our
New Year festivities. 1t is time that all
invited guests should be at my house; and
here am, the host, away from home,
Aud the squire hurried cut of the store
and along the dusky wood until he came
to brilliantly lighted old mansion on the
hill.
1t had long been his custom to give
house warning, as he called it, on New
Years Eve. Nearly all the town were
hidden to these festivities, and they were
enjoyed hugely by young and old, rich
and poor. Some of the old families
thought the squire somewhat democratic
in his way of giving entertainments, and
rather turned up their noses at the small
sailors and fisherman families; but
neither the sailors nor the fishermen took
it to heart, and everything went merry as
marriage bell, as a general thing
The squire entered the house, greeted
few guests who had already arrived, and
then sought Elsie, his daughter, who was
standing by the window at the end Of the
long hall, looking pale and distressed.
Don't be troubled by Mary Jane
Blagg's nonsense, dear, he said, she is
foolish woman, and is always imagining
all sorts of mysterious things.
But, father, I've had such strange
dreems of late. / don't believe in such
things, of course, but they say several
other people have seen the-apparition.
Nonsense it is all imagination. May
be one of the Port Nortons is about here
just now. There is strong family re
semblance between them all, you know.
The mystery viii be explained in few
days am sure.
Elsie cleared her brow. and entering the