The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-21
THE TREE GHOST.

eeeu-a fearful crime-in short, q muir
9er-yet so far he felt no remorse. 1t
happened in this way:
dc was not naturally cruel nor wick
ed-only quick tempered and impulsive.
A law student, diligent and thorough. n
philosopher imbued with Schopenhauer.
ne leu dreary life, lacked money, gave
lessons and scarcely kept soul and body
together. The burden began to weigh
heavily on him, and at times he felt an
angry revolt against his circumstances, a
dissatisfaction that might-and did, as
we shall see-lead him to the lowest
depths of infamy.
one summer evening, hungry and pen
mless, raging Mt the thought of a pleas
ure party planned for the morrow, which
ne must give up for want of a little
money, he walked beyond the CITY gates.
and at about 8 o'clock he found himself
on long and lonely road which stretch
ed straight on till it was lost in the dusky
gloom.
Then like an evil omen there came n
heavy crash of thunder and great drops
OF rain began to fall. Jacques did not
tear the storm except as concerned his
u.
to spoil his garments nor catch an cx-
penslve attack of pneumonia No shelter
10 the right, us to the left, n barren plain.
AT last by good fortune he spied tree
standing alone, a crooked, twisted apple
tree. The tired man crouched under lis
branches. The fuzzy of the storm ralou-
bled. Everything, even nature, seemed
against poor jacques. Chilly, soaked,
exasperated, he shook his fist in the air
as the rain fell down like threads of steel.
"Such weather, such weather. After
little second person came grumbling
up to lean against the tree, with his back
to, Jacques, whom he had not perceived.
The newcomer seemed to be little tipsy.
for he ramb'ed on aloud il husky voice:
''This is fine! Those fellows PLAYED
me pretty trick i'll driving off with my
carriage and leaving me to walk home
alone with all this money in my pocket"
jacques, hearing these fatal words and
yielding to the temptation of his evil
passion, fell upon the stranger, stran-
gled him and empticd his purse. This
accomplished, he turned toward home.
The apple tree, which had not budgcd
during this incident, began to follow
him.
1t Is not customary occurrence for
an apple tree to follow man, and
therefore Jacques cannot be accused of
weakness if we admit that he felt lit
tie surprise. Hearing the roots sliding
behind him, he turned and behcld the
tree, dark shadow on the darkness.
81 am nervous" he thought. 'lJ is
fancy"
He continued to walk, and the tree con
tinued to follow him.
Either have gone mad, said Jacques,
cor this manifestation is an inexplicablc
freak of nature. But shall soon know,
for when 1 get into the city the people
will not let an apple tree go by without
making some remark"
But the people passed and made no re-
marks, and the tree did not appear to
mind them.
Jacques meditated.
"Well, them" he continued, cit Ger
tain that this apple tree is a vlsibl, iog
of remorse, such as BanQuos gho syn
to Macbeth and the commander t II
Juan, but this hallucination is thu b.
singular because feel no remorse 81
The tree seems to disregard receiv q
dition. Never mind! l have &C
money. After night'srest my II
have disappeared"
He quickened his step, not to Sc ~
from his apple tree, but because e vas
weary and longed for repose. Sc ore
the door he wondered if the APP H. rec
would enter. He even felt kin 81 IL.
terest about it on account Of thr nan
rowness of the hall, fearing the b III II,
might be broken. He rang, went H. ~
the door closed The tree renal ca oui-
side. Jacques smiled, not that rr, wee
annoyed him, only he thought the ani-
tor might have objected to sucl ON
panion.
In his own room he counted hi, II got
ten gain-a considerable sum ihe b.
suddenly thought of the tree mn lool,al
out. 1t was on the sidewalk
and fro. 1t even moved polite
allow two policemen TO pass
went TO bed and slept soundly III
ing.
Heavy knocks on his door awoke him.
"Oh All! Yes, to he sure!" twas his
friends, who ,lnc to seek him for the
pleasure ~ &. He threw on his gar
ment., ~. opened tie door, greeting
them :;ay.y. Then he finished his dress
ing while proposing lively plans for the
day. He slipped several goldpieces into
his pocket, and they started off together
to meet the rest of the company at the
place agreed on.
The apple tree, which waited respec-
fully for him on the sidewalk, began in
,mediately to follow him like a we'll brtl
'lackey. Jacques. who felt no grudG,