Arizona silver belt., 1894-04-28
THE WOODS GHOST.

but 1t ia moro probable that ho did things in manner entirely different from anybody else because he wanted to be odd and wanted to make a scusa- ton. He was a wealthy man, and there fore he could do very nearly as he liked. He was naughty, ovcrbearing and irritable, always thought that If he had been the czar of Russia or the shah of Persia he would have played his role very we'll. He had built fine hoase on the banks of the Delaware, and at tho verge ot the Block woods, of which he was the owner. He was not mora than 45 years old and appear ed to be entirely alone in the world; at any rate. no one in Rockville ever heard that he had any relations.
 At the time of which write l was a young fellow of l6, of no sort of conse- quence whatever, and my name was, but is not now, Pardon Sashwood, though mother and everybody else call ed me Pardy. My mother was dress maker in the town and did big busi- ness. She never said anything about my father, and 1 did not know anything about him, and concluded that be had been hanged, or otherwise nipped in tho bud. and did not press my inquiries in regard to him. l was . regular resi- dent in Block Hall, as General Pawn chlfe called his elegant mansion. Gnd my inst duty is to explain how hap pened to be a dweller beneath its princely roof. was very fond of fish ing, a,.d my mother was very fond of eating fish, for 1 caught very nice ones in the river. One day sat upon q rock that projected out into the stream just below the generals mansion. Above me WAS sandy beach, and while l sat there the general drove down upon it in his buggy. with a high spirited horse. wondered what be was doing there with such q turnout
 The horse was tull of spirit, and the choloric driver seemed to be well sup piled with spirits, though of the arti- fcial sort. The animal pranocd and capered on the sand. and did not ar- pear to have learned that his master was as impatient as he was eccentric. The horse had a way of his own, and so had the general, ard as tho two ways did not run in tho same direction 1t created an unpleasanlness between them. At last the driver used his whip without the exercise of much discr ton, and the brute manifested himself in a very decided manner Then l decided that he was trying 10 drive tho horse into the water, where be was unwilling to go. But the general got the lest of 1t in the end and drove the olstiEnte creature straight into the river, Es though be intended to cross ;o the ether sIde. In few moments the animal bad to swim, but ho struck out trave- ly, the general applying the idsh all the time; in fact, he seemed to be whip ping him for his own satisfaction. HOW that the brute had yielded the point
 In another DomcGt the uggy which appeared to lc floating. suddenly top pied ever and spilled the occupant into the drink. He lost his hold upon if. and then l saw that he cou.d not swim
 The horse took circle around tho spot and swam leisurely to the shore dragging the buggy after him. Just below the rock on which 1 was seated was bateau. and lost no tine in rushing to it. l had some skill in the uso of the paddle, and soon reached the general. who was 1oundcriTg z aloat in the water like a grounded whale He was large man. aud ! saw that t would lo impossible to get him into the boat. l asked him to take hold of the stern 10 support himself while ! pad died 10 the beGch. He usCj oSPlct}yCs and insisted upon getting in,o the Loaf 1 told him would lave hinl to his fate If he did not do as l directed Tho threat carried him. and he held on to the boat till his feet touched the bot tom.
 "I win l;ill that horse! he cxclaim- cd when hc reached thc beach and had recovered Eis breath He is the ug- Hest lrute ever drove.
 He is not so much of a brute as you are general, 1 replied, Ton acted lilio heathen when you whipped him. and had half a mind to let you drown.
 Ho lool;cd at me in astonishmout Perhaps Le thought had earned the right to speak my mind. but whether hal or not expressed myself as plainly as thongh l had been the gem eral and he had been Pardy Sashwcod. Doubtless it was a new thing for any one to speak up to him.
 Boy, went you to rome and live with me. be said, and was amazed then.
 T won't do it, /" replied "I would net live under the same roof with such porcupine as you are for all your money"
 He actually leased me and he ex. pressed his obligations to me very hand soinely. but I stuck 10 my text. help cd him right his buggy, now that the Horse had cooled off, and he insisted on driving me home, which l permitted him to do. My mother saw me when got out of the buggy. The general told me to think of his offer and come to his house if l decided to accept it. My mother, after she had heard all about the affair in the river, insisted that l should accept the offer. l argued against it for long time, but finally yielded to her wishes. The next day belonged to the generals household, and Mrs. Cashley gave me hearty well come.
 General Fawnclitfe treated mo with a degree of consideration accorded to DO other person. helped him about his accounts and papers, though ] was permitted to attend tho academy. l really came to like him after awhile, and I know that l improved his man ners and morals to some extent. His narrow escape from drowning had strongly impressed him. 1 discovered.