Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-06-11
HIS TERRIBLE DRIVE.
stage Driver Who Could Not Shake on
the Apparition.

the Apparition.
One trip Of an eastern Maine stage
driver will never be forgotten, either
by himself or those who witnessed the
denouement lie was possessed of con
siderable courage, but unfortunately
boasted of much more that he didn't
possess. His route lay over lonely
part OF the country, and several ancient
graveyards were close to the highway
His daily trips were not completed until
late In the evening.
Now, It CHANGED that certain ruddy.
checked damsel resided in farmhouse
standing conveniently close to the road
along which he daily passed, and said
iainsei grew to be exceedingly agree
able to this bachelor stage driver. He
would whip up smartly until the little
house wns reached, and then, after a
half-hour Of her society, he would be in
just the mood to easily make up the
time in the next ten miles.
One night he hitchcd, as usual, and,
finding his lady love presiding at the
spinning wheel (Which useful pastime
turpasses any other display of maid
ems charms, as many a gray-haired
grandfather of to-day can testify, he
so ardently pressed his attentions that
the important question was settled
somewhat precipitately, and, the time
being up, he caught up his cap from the
basket of rolls, where he had dropped
IT. and started up his horses at spank
ing gait.
He was in that ecstatic mood peculiar
to youths who have won the prize by
cutting out the "other fellow" and was
rattling along briskly, passing the first
burying place just as the moon dropped
behind bank of clouds.
Suddenly he became aware OF some
thing close to his left side-a form,
long, shadowy and white. He turned
to look at it more closely, when 1t in
stantly evaded him by keeping just be-
yond range, apparently dodging back
as he tried to get view of it. He
whipped up smartly, thinking to dis
tance the thing, whatever it might be
but it took OH q more ghost-like shape
and appeared to be wildly in pursuit
making long plunges through the air.
The blissful feeling of the last hour
hour was fast disappearing. 1t was
night and lonesome, unfrequented
wood, dotted with graveyards, and this
awful presence hanging in the rear'
What could 1t be and what could II
want?
They were nearing the last buryine
ground. A hope seized the terrified
stage driver The ghost might bt
meandering forth to make neighbor
ly call upon some ancient acqualntanc,
of bygone days, and, If so, 1t might droI
into this yard. AS they ratified pas
the broken gate he sought to assist i
in this decision by entrcating in {
husky whisper: "Begonel Begone!
But the frisky ghost was evidently no
in a mood for graveyard calls. Thei
the stage driver struck sharply blow
after blow Mt his ghostly passenger, bu
his fist shot through empty space, fille'
ogain instantly by the long, white
shadawy form. Thoroughly terrified
ut last, the fellow sprang into the box
lashed his horses into a gallop and
covering down, he made his ten mile
with that ghastly passenger floating
along close to his side, tantalizing, be
yond his reach.
AS the stage came dashing up to tn
door Of the post office he sprnng out
and, white-faced and wild-eyed, toll
his story in broken, gasping sentence
to the waiting villagers.
Before he had finished some on
stepped out from the crowd Of excite
listeners and plucked long, white oil
iect from his cap just over his left enl
held 1t up to the gaze of the crowd, an
instantly a shout went up when th
discovery was made that the cause q
his fright was a long, soft, white rol
which he had unconsciously purloine
from the basket of his lady love.--Lew
iston Journal.