The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-11
LOUISE'S GHOST.


said the doctor. SIT will require an your
skill and courage. j have today returned
fr-Jm Eastmondwick in Lincolnshire, a lit
tie country place, where lives a gentleman,
Mr.. Gerald Ashbut. His friends say he is
mad. He himself says he is haunted"
suggested that lunatic asylum at
tendant would probably prove more useful
to a gentleman Of that kind than should.
The doctor took no notice of my remark.
II have attended him many times, " he
went on. ''as a specialist in cases of insan-
ity. I believe he is no more mad than You
or I, but cannot cure him. You must do
that. Listen pas 1 was about to speak.
az have told his friends who have charge
of him that a doctor friend of mine, DR..
Jardin, possesses wonderful skill in such
cases. have arranged for him to go down
tomorrow to Eastmondwick to see the
man DR. Jardin is-yourselfI
you'll reside in the village for week
or ten days, visiting your patient daily.
Keep your eyes open, Mr.. Rock. What
suspect 1 must not say"
81 am mad, mad mad Doctor, I am
hauntedl Look at mel Tt is the ghost
which robs me of my very Likelihood, which
drags me down, which is killing me by
inches''
Goodness knows Mr.. Ashbut looked mad
enough. Tall, lean, with hands all bone
and long black hair hanging over his
bloodless face with deep furrowed lines on
his forehead; and wide, staring, deep sunk
eyes. He was only young fellow, too-27.
Two years before, Mr. Ashbut had come
into large estate, with the house, fine
old place some hundreds of years old, in
which L found him, with large, gloomy,
oak paneled rooms, and long, dark corri-
doris, such as might just be expected to
suit a ghosts tastes as a residence.
Life seemed to promise so much, went
on Mr.. Ashbut YEARLY. 81 had money,
health; the sweetest girl earth ever saw
had promised to be my wife. Then he
shuddered.
"She died2'' asked.
"Shot herself"
"Why?''
Through mel I was the cause.-the
accursed cause of it all Oh, Louise,
Louise, forgive mel Haven't 1 suffered
enoughY'
Louise (she was of italian blood had, it
appeared shot herself in fit of passion
after quarrel with him.
Day by day solemnly attended at the
old house as DR.. Jardin. was picking up
clews.
My patient lived in one room, q big
apartment, fitted up with every conven-
fence. Here he slept and lived, never step
ping OUT save for short walk in the
grounds surrounding the house. 1t was
upon the first floor. In its oak paneled
walls three windows looked upon the dis
NAL, neglected garden outside.
Every night the ghost appeared to Mr..
Ashbut in the same spot-the farthest end
of the room from the fireplace.
1t was the fourth day of my visit, and I
was alone with my patient in his room.
'Mr. Ashbut, I said, II have come to
a decision as to the treatment you require.
You will do what tell you and say not
word to any one"
I took a small flask of oil from my poclz-
ct, and walking to one of the windows
poured the oil upon the slide. The win
dow would open neiselessly. From ono ce
my pockets I brought a small rope ladder.
At II that night I crept like cat into
the room through the window and closed
| it behind me.
"You will take this draft said pour
/ ing few drops out into awineglass, land
! jump into bed. Then leave all to me"
He obeyed me like child, and in less
than five minutes his deep breathing,
sounding through the almost pitch dark
room, told me that the sleeping mixture
had taken effect. Then crouching in tho
| darkest corner, I vvaited-waited for the
| ghost to come. 1t did
In the very place Mr.. Ashbut had men
toned, while my hand grasped my rcvolv
Grand must say, my heart beat a lit
faster than usual saw the white figure
of a woman standing there-faint, dimly
glimmering, but distinct.
Half an hour later 1 stole out at the
window, closed it behind me, unirooked
my ladder, and with it III my pocket walk
ed to my lodgings
The clock in the house turret was toll
ing II the next night when MIR. = but
again let me in at his window. I had vis-
tied him before during the day and had ar
ranged our plan.
The place was in perfect darkness.
''Be brave, +" 1 said. He was shivering
all over and L could hear his teeth chatter
ing. He lay down on the bed fully dress
ed. I crouched in a corner.
Again that faint, mysi erious figurel
There it was-Louise, o. RATHER her ghost
A sudden jerk of a string 1 held in my
hands threw on the gs5s.
The ghost stood there transfxed, while
I stepped between it aud I'M open panel ia
the wall-a live, solid woman in whise
dress, prepared with a ghmmering phO5-
| phOrescent stuff.
GA very substantial ghost, Mr.. Ash
but, " I remarked. lone handsomely p
by your uncle to play her part. You So
if you went mad your worthy uncle wouc
be your guardian and manage your estate
If you died, he would have your property
He invented Louise's ghost. Your ravins
while you had that fever suggested tht
idea to him. boston Globe.
It will be gratifying to consumers Il
note that the quality of the baking pow
der most generally in use in their kitcf-
ems, the Royal, is confirmed by the high
est official authorities as altogether tie
hast of any in the market