Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-11-30

dreadful penalty to pay sad mortl-
ficGtlon to hear what they said of me,
and to see myself as others saw me.
"Well, of course" my cousin Yer
non said, responding to some remark
in virtuously deprecatory tone. "Of
course, de mortuis NIL nisi bonum,
and all that sort of thing, you know,
but / can't help saying that Crawley
was always mean-horribly mean W.
Confound the fellowl And this was
man to whom I had left $500, forgiv.
ing him all the money he owed me,
which was as good as doubling the leg
acy!
"No, no not mean, Tom answered,
and blessed him for those words, but
he spoiled it all by adding, ga bit
careful, you know"
"Ah, 1 should think SO" says Pris.
ella. "You will hardly believe it, but
it's fact he never allowed me money
enough to keep house decently."
OF course, this was not true, as you
may imagine. She was always wanting
more money, and yet never succeeded
in purchasing anything remarkable.
And this was my sister Pris, whom l
had always thought so affectionate, SO
entirely devoted to me. Oh, it was
too horrible.
These three were my principal
legatees. If had only known sooner
But how was that possible?
l knew what l would do. l had
made up my nind-and having no
body, was all mind now-I would go
at once to my solicitors, and have
codieil drawn up while there was yet
time. But stay, there was no time it
was too late. L he'd quite forgotten
that 1 was only poor ghost, a
dematerialized spirit, and that old
idiot, Sharpitlaw, was SO welded to
routine and old-fnshioned custom that
he would certainly regard posthu.
nous testament as informal, and as I
was invisible he would treat my sigma
ture as null and decidedly void.
When next 1 turned toward my
amiable and disinterested family
circle, perceived that the breakfast
things had been removed, and Tom
Slowquicker sat in the armchair with
my will spread out before him.
"There's some one missing" he said,
looking around him magisterialy;
"who is it?"
"Only my sister Minnie" Venom
remarked casually. 81 went to her
this morning, but she's SO upset about
his death that she feels quite ill, and
could not come down to breakfast"
"Don't be absurd" said Priscilla;
"why she never gave him SO much as
q civil word" Then, sotto voce to her
brother: ''And that's what has upset
her, l expect. She is afraid she has
spoiled her chances of legacy"
Oh, that spiteful Priscillai If l
could only alter my will But it was
too late, for here was my executor
standing, or rather sitting in my place.
At least there was one thing / could
do; Iwould find my friend the demon,
and see if arrangements could not be
made for haunting theml
But these precious words about
Minnie had sent balm into my tor
tured spirit, so that my incorporate
heart throbbed, shaking the venetians,
and Tom asked where the draught
came from. l would go to her at once,
so traversed the closed door again,
passing them all as the sigh of sum
mer breeze, which is we know not
what, or whence it comes, or whittier
it goes-a breath from-weli, no mat.
ter where; 1 don't exactly know N.Y.
self.
Thus | went upstairs and into Min
MES room, where l found the poor
girl still in bed, her cheeks pale, her
eyes red with weeping, all the signs
upon her Of a sleepless night of sor.
row, and pressed close to her soft
bosom she held likeness of my un-
worthy self, which I had given her
once long ago. And this was the girl
who never spoke save to ridicule and
poke fun at me, whose dislike for me
was almost proverbial in the family;
and yet the girl whose love-with
usual human perversity-I would, have
given all the world to win.
All, this knowledge of her hearts
secret was sweet to me! 1t gave me
courage. l would comfort her. L
would pour forth my love. I would
tell her-staYl what could L tell her?
Was l not forgetting again that l was
only poor ghost merely the shadow
of shade? Was not unseen by her !?
And even were it possible for me to
make myself visible for few mo-
ments, 1 should only succeed in terri.
flying my poor love out of her senses.
Alas was this Che realization of a
hereafter? the punishment of early
vanlties and sins? 70 see things lust
as they are, and yet to be so miserably
impotent to alter them; to soc, too,
what might have been, and to beat out
my wearyzspirit on into eternity in
vain longing for a fruition that can
never come.
Ny funeral was appointed to take
place the next day. 1t was very grand
affair altogether, and cake and tea had
been laid in the parlor to entertain the
guests upon this festive occasion.
AS L accompanied the mourners
down the steps, 1 suddenly perceived
my friend the demon by my side.
l