The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-13
THE WOODS GHOST.

but 1T is moro probable that he did
thlnSs III Il manner entirely different
nom anybody else because he wanted
to bo odd and wanted to make sensa-
tlon. Ho was wealthy man, and there
tore no could do very nearly as he
liked. Ho was naughty, overbearing
and irritable. I always thought that if
he had been the czar of Russia or the
shah of Persia ho would have played
his role very we'll. He had built fine
house OH tho banks of the Delaware,
and ut the verge of tho Block woods,
of which he was tho owner. He was
not moro than As 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 writo I was n
young fellow of 1G, 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 i'll the town and did big bust
ness. She never said anything about
my father, and did not know anything
about him, and l concluded that he had
been hanged, or otherwise nipped in the
bud. and did not press my inquiries in
regard to him. l was regular resi-
dent in Block Hall, as General Fawn-
clifo called his elegant mansion, and
my first duty is to explain how 1 hap
pened to be n dwcller beneath its
princely roof. was very fond Of fish
ing, and my mother was very fond of
eating fish, for l caught very nice ones
In the river. One day sat upon a rock
that projected out into the stream lust
below tho generals mansion Above
me was n sandy beach, and whilo sat
there the general drove down upon it
In his buggy, with high spirited
horse. | wondered what he was doing
there with such Il turnout
The horse was full of spirit, and the
choleric driver seemed to be we'll sup
piled with spirits, though of tho arti-
fetal sort. Tho animal pranced and
capercd on the sand, and did not APP
pear to havo learned that his master
was us impatient us he was eccentric
The horse had u way Of his own, and
SO had tho general, and as tho two
ways did not run in the Same direction
1t created an unplcasantness between
them. At last the driver used his whip
without the exercise of much discretion,
and the brute manifested himself in n
very decided manner. Then | decided
that he was trying to drive tho horse
into tho water, where he was unwilling
TO go. But tho general got the best of
1T III tho end and drove the obstinate
creature straight into tho river, as
though he intended to cross to.the other
side. In fow moments the animal
had to swim, but he struck out brave
ly, the general applying the lash all tho
time; III fact, he seemed to be whip
ping him for his own satisfaction. now
that tho brute had yielded tho point.
In another moment the buggy. which
appeared to be floating, suddenly top
pied over and spilled the occupant into
the drink. He lost his hold upon it,
and then l saw that he could not swim.
Tho horse took Il circle around the
spot and swan leisurcly to the shore,
dragging the buggy after him. Just
below the rock on which | was seated
was bateau and l lost no time in
rushing to it. had some skill in the
use of tho paddle, and soon reached
the general, who was laundering abont
in tho water like Il grounded whale.
he was largo man, and | saw that it
would be impossible to get him into the
boat. L asked him to take hold of the
stern to support himself while l pad
died to the beach. He used explosives
and insisted upon getting into the boat.
told him | would leave him to his fato
If he did not do as l directed. The
threat carried him, and he held Oh to
the boat till his feet touched the hot
tom.
Il will kill that horse!'' he exclaim-
ed when he reached the beach and had
recovered his breath. .Ho is the ug
hest brute l ever drove"
ao is not so much of brute as
You are, general" | replied. "You
acted like a heather when you whipped
him, and had half a mind to let Won
drown"
He looked ut me in establishment.
Perhaps he thought had earned tho
right to speak my mind, but whether
had or not l expressed myself ms
plainly as though L had been the gen
eral and no had been Pardy Sashwood.
Doubtless it was q new thing for any
one to speak up" to him.
boy, I want you to como and live
with me-, ho said, and was amazed
then.
II won't do it,, 1 replied. Il would
not live under the same roof with such
a porcupine as you are for all your
money"
He actually leased me, and he ex-
pressed his obligations to me very hand
somely, but l stuck to my text. help
ed him right his buggy, now that the
horse had cooled off, and no insisted on