The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-20
HIRAN HAYBATTLFS GHOST.

New York Sun: No one would have
ever thought that Hiram Haybattle
was a man who had played a leading
part in a romantic tragedy, but he had,
and the marks of it were still on him,
though they we're in his heart and
invisible.
He was a bachelor of Sc years, and
was really most exemplary person,
besides being a deacon in his church
and the owner Of quite a tidy little
bit of well-paying property, quahty
which is never overlooked in religious
and moral communities. He was man
of most abstemious and quiet habits,
with red hair and perhaps two dozen
large-sized freckels, most OF them on
his capaciOuS nose. but several on MS
pink and fuzzy cheeks, as If they had
lodged there in transit His eyes were
blue, with a wlstful, waiting look, as IL
but l am anticipating my story.
Hiram occupied d lonely house on
small enninence overlooking the main
street of the town in which he was
proninent citizen; and this house had
come down to him as the heir of the
third generation of Haybattles. In all
previous years it had been a lonely
house and as soon as Hiram came into
possession ne determined to change its
entire character, and to make it the
scene of such gayeties as he could COM
tnand Incidentally there were rumors
afioat that the house was haunted, and
the youthful and irreverent were wont
to poke fun at Hiram's ha mt and
offer to go to the house hnd sit up OF
nights with it. Possibly there might
have been strange noises about the old
house, for few houses pass through
three generations which are not en-
titled to such privileges, but Hiram
never let these small eccentricitles dis
turb him The house was not for sale,
neither was 1t for rent, and there were
more than a few persons who would
have taken it off Hiram's hands at any
moment if he had been disposed to ac-
cept such relief.
AS rule, ghosts under these circum-
stances have not much use for a house,
and ordinarily vacate it without eject
ment proceedings. Whether Hirams
ghost left or remained, there were
rumors still afloat that Hiram was on
terms with a ''ha' mt, but it was in no
wise TO his discredit.
Living in the town adjoining Hiram's
was Miss Melissy Meggs, a woman in
every way as exemplary as was Hiram
Haybattle as a man, and when Hiram
attained the age of 40 years Miss
AIeggs was So. But not such a SO as
we are ordinarily accustomed to was
Miss Megg's SO. 1t was absolutely lack
ing in any of the characteristics OF
giddiness incidental to that time of
life among single persons, and when
on one of the occasions of Mr.. Hay
battles visits he came up to her house
Miss Meggs owned a most comfort
able property and was correspondingiy
looked up to IN the community, though,
of course, so exemplary a woman
would have been anyway-whistling
Rory O'More'' and wearing a flower
~ en-
overcome that she felt compelled to tell
the house girl to inform Mr.. Hay
battle that Miss Meggs was indisposed
and would he excuse her until after
tea?
Yet Miss Meggs appreciated the.
sterling qualities of Mr.. Haybattle and
she also realized that hers was lonely
life for a woman to live when provi-
dence mad no doubt intended that 1t
should be otherwise.
AS for Hiram, he thoroughly adored
Miss Melissy. He had met her two
years before he came into possession of
his own house during a visit she was
making to some friends of hers in
Hiram's town, and down deep into his
hitherto unimpressed soul there grew
a firm and unyielding determination to
make Melissy Meggs the mistress of the
Haybattle mansion as soon as it should
be his He was quite well aware that
d
world, nor was she gay and frivolous,
and because of the lack of those quail
ties did Hiram admire her, for he felt
oftentimeS that he was reckless and
rollicking, and unless he were balanced
there was no telling what might hap
pen.
A month after Hiram had moved into
the old house he was ready to go and
ask Miss MeggS to become Mrs. Hay
battle. and he felt as buoyant as a
bird for Hiram's conscience was clear
and his hope was nigh. The last time
he had seen Miss Neggs she had asked
him many questions about his future
home, and would he lease ii or sell it
or occupy it hirnself-Aiss Meggs was
about to say as bachelors hall, but
she bethougllt herself in time and was
saved from the shock OF such a speech.
Whether Miss Meggs had ever heard
Of Hiram's ghost or not does not APP
pear, but it is true that she had never
referred TO it in any manner. It is, of
course, more than likely that she had
heard OF it, for there must be some |
thing wrong With the woman in a
small community who doesn't know
everything in it. and certainly there
wasn't anything wrong with Miss
Meli55y Meggs.
house on this most suspicious visit
Of his Miss Meggs from a window
watched him from the gate until he
stepped up on the port:co with its
broidery of hpney-suckles, and she
FLUSHED furiousfy when she turned and
caught herself in the mirror behind
the back windows OF the parlor look !
ing at him. Not fer the world would
Miss Mellssy Meggs have anyone know
that she was peepdng at a man from |
her window, and when she saw herself !
doing that which she would not for the |
world be seen doing, she was greatly !
agftated.
She had not observed at first, but i
after this rude shock She saw that |
Hiram wore a buttonhole bouquet ard |
a blue neckrie and she wondered why |
Mr.. Haybattle was so given to frivol- !
ity
But Hiram thought Of none of these /
things. His soul was as fresh as the |
pink in his buttonhole, and Ids skies !
were as blue as his necktie, for was
he not on the very threshold Of the |
heart of the one woman in all the world /
for him. There co1dd be no other, and |
he would not have any other if te-ere /
were. 1t was MelfSsy Meggs or ever
lasting bachelorhood, and he felt in his /
very bones that the good Lord had |
never intended his servant Hiram Hay |
battle, TO DE a half-completed JOB.
The little old-fashioned music box |
was playing a sweet, repOssful tune /
from its place on the handicapped !
center table, on each side of which sat /
Miss Melissy Meggs and Hiram Hay /
l.afflp They ha hoe toll