Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-07
HER sPooK PROTECTOR.
The Ghost Upset. Prospective Maine Matri-
mony and Unmasked villain.


mony and Unmasked villain.
II you ever ride over this stage line
with Uncle Ike Jones-and you must do
II pretty quick. for the Bangor and
Aroostook road IS nearly compiete-per-
haps he viii tell you the ghost story that
attaches itself to a big farmhouse that
you'll pass. There's love IN It, and
tragedy, too. says the lewiston Journal.
t. There was a real nice girl who used to
live In that house. Her father had some
money. and every ops hoped that Ella
would find good husband somewhere.
We'll, all at once young man appeared
In that neighborhood No one had seen
him before. but he was bright-eyed, good
looking, ana he evidently had little
money. He told story OF health lost in
the city, secured board with a farmer. and
occupied himself trading horses and dick
ering senerally--a very convenient young
man 10 have in a community. OF course
he became acquainted with Ella, took her
20 the dances. and-well, we may skip
over all OF that and come directly to the
time when he called upon the young lady.
tacitly accepted as her successful sutton.
Then during his calls some most extra
ordinary demonstrations would take place.
/ can't begin 10 tell you half OF them. II
was quite generally agreed that ghost
was at the bottom OF IL.
The spirit was certainly muscular and
enterprlsing. At times 'twould sound as
though he were shoveling shingles off the
roof, ripping them up most viciously
Then there would be a rioting sound in the
attic. as though some one was tearing
up the floor and jogging the roof. Al
times there would occur horrible tattoo
In the air-tight stove beside which the
couple were sitting.
All this excited much comment In the
community and was the source of most
exquisite terror 10 the household wherein
II occurred.
There were no midnight tapplngs. swish
ing Of garments, and cold hand-clasps, or
any sncaky othor1ox ghostly manners In
the etiquette OF this spook-but he APP
peared 20 be healthy, athletic. deter
mined spirit who had purpose for to
perform.
What this purpose might be was not
even guessed at for some time.
At last the young lady's father, re-
marking that the curious demonstration
occurred only when the young man was
In the house the parent, l say, COM
mcnced 70 ponder on the coincidence.
lie finally concluded that there was
something about that young man that
wasn't just right. and at last, despite
tears and protestations on both sides. he
forced him TO cease his visits. and gave
stout orders 10 his daughter 10 see the
fellow no more.
After this there seemed to he no bust
ness for the emphatic ghost, and he hung
I'D his shovel and hammer.
A month or so later a keen-eyed man
rode I'D on the stage. made some Inquiries
in the neighborhood very quietly, and
suddenly nabbed the young man Of whom
1 have spoken.
La, la, How the community's hands
went UP!
Why. that young man had stolen
money. had deserted a WIFE and oh, he
was q bad stick. a very bad stick gem
orally.
Wasn't the girl lucky?
Want that ghost a treasurer For that
IS Just how they always looked at 1t in
that community-that he was resolved to
break up that courtship.
Perhaps he was an enemy or victim Of
the young mans; perhaps he was an an
cestral spook OF the young lady's, and
that is the more plausible supposition.