Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-06-05
LOUISE'S GHOST.

"This caSe Is most peculiar, Mr.. Rook, Z"
said the doctor. 1T will require all your
skill and courage. have today returned
from Eastmondwick In Lincolnshire, a lit
tle country place, where lives gentleman,
Mr.. Gerald Ashbut. His friends say he IL
mad. Ho himself says no Is kaunted."
suggested that a 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. las a specialist In cases of insan-
ity. believe no Is no more mad than you
or /, but cannot cure him. You must do
that. Listeni i'-as WAS about TO speak.
"I have told his friends who have charge
OF him that doctor friDd OF mine, DIR.
Jardin, possesses wonderful skill In such
cases. I have arranged for him To 60 down
tomorrow to Eastmondwick TO 800 the
man. DIR. Jardin is-yourselfl
You'll reside In the village for a week
or ten days, visiting your patient daily.
Keep your eyes open Mr.. Rook. What I
suspect must not say"
81 am mad, mad, mad Doctor, am
haunted! Look at mel 1t Is the ghost
which robs INC Of my very lifeblood, 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, n fine
old place some hundreds of years old, In
which I found him, with large, gloomy,
oak paneled rooms, and long, dark corri-
dors, such rs might just DO expected to
suit ghosts tastes as q residence.
life seemed to promise 80 much, went
on Mr.. Ashbut wearily. II had money,
health; the sweetest girl earth ever saw
had promised to be my wife. Them he
shuddered.
"She ded?" asked.
"Shot herself.
"Why?"
"Through me! I was the cause.-the
accursed cause Of it all Oh, Louise,
Louise forgive me! Haven't 1 suffered
enoughp'
Louise (she was Of italian BLOODY had, 1t
appeared, shot herself In fit Of passion
after a 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, big
apartment, fitted up with every conven-
fence. Hero 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
was alone with my patient In his room.
''Mr. Ashbut," said, II have come to
q decision as to the treatment you require.
You will do what tell you and say not u
word to any one."
took small flask Of oil from my pock-
ct, and walking to one of the windows
poured the oil upon the slide. The win
dow would open noiselessly. From one of
my pockets brought small rope ladder.
At IL that night 1 crcpt like cat into
the room through the window and closed
1t behind me-
"You will take this draft, I" 1 said, pour
ing few drops out into awineglass, "and
Jump into bed. Then leave all to me'
He obeyed me like child, and in loss
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 the
darkest corner waited-waited for the
ghost to come. 1t did.
In the very place Mr.. Ashbut had men
toned, while my hand grasped my revolv-
er-and, 1 must say, my heart beat bit
faster than usual--I saw the white figure
of a woman standing there-faint, dimly
glimmering, but distinct.
Half an hour later I stole out at the
window, closed it behind me, unlocked
my ladder and with it in my pocket walk
ed to my lodgings.
The clock in the house turret was toll
ing II tho next night when Mr.. Ashbut
again let me in at his window. had Wis
tied him before during the day and had ar
ranged our plan.
The place was in perfect darkness.
"Be brave" said. He was shivering
all over, and could hear his teeth chatter
ing He lay down on the bed fully dress
ed crouohed in corner.
Again that faint, mysterious figure!
A sudden jerk of string held in my
hands threw on the gas.
The ghost stood there transf1xed, while
I stepped between 1t and an open panel In
the wall-a live solid woman in white
dress, prepared with glimmering phos-
phorescent stuff.
ga very substantial ghost, Mr.. Ash
but" remarked. "One handsomely paid
by your uncle to play her part. You sec,
If you went mad, your wo2khy uncle would
be your guardian and manage your estate.
II you died, he would have your property.
He invented Louise's ghost. Your raving
while you had that fever suggested the
1doa to him. boston Globe.