The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
HIS TERRIRLE DRIVE.
A Maine stage Driver who Could Not
shake On the White Appnrition at His Side.

From the LcwiStoa Erening Journal
One trip OF an eastern Maine stage driver will
never be forgotten. either by himself or those
who witnessed Ia" denouement. He was pos
sessed of considerable courage, bat unf"r-
possess. His route lay over n lonely part OF the
country. and several ancient graveyards were
completed until late in the evening.
Now, it CHANGED that n certain ruddy-cheeked
damsel resided In a farmhouse standiur con.
passed; and said damsel grew to lie exceedingly
agreeable TO this bachelor stage driver. He
would whip up smartly until thu, little house
Was reached, and then, after q half hour OF her
society, he would be IN just the mood to easily
One night he hitched as usual. and finding his
lady love presiding at the spinning wheel which
useful pastiine surpasses any other display OF II
maiden's charms. az many II Rray-hnired grand
father OF to-day can testify. lie so ardentiy
pressed his attentions that the important ques-
tlon was, settled somewhat precipitately, and,
tho time being up, he caught up his cap from
tho basket Of rolls where he had dropped'it and
lie was in that ]ecetatic mood peculiar to
youths who have won the ,prizc by emitting out
briskly. passing the first ~huryipg place Just as
the moon, dropped behind a bank OF clouds,
to his left side q foru, long, shadowy, and
white. lie turned TO look at II more closely.
when It instantly evahed him by keeping lust
tried to, get u view OF it. He whipped mp smart.
~, thinking TO distance the thing, whatever it
shape and appeared To be Wildly in pursuit.
making long Dlunges through tho air.
disappearing. 1t was night. and a lonesome,
untrcQuented wood, dotted with graveyarGs,
and this awful presence hanging in the rear!
he sped along he tried every experiment, at
tempting TO distance il by speed, but still =
came dancing after, lie tried turning his head
quickly as u fash, but all attempts 10 Outdoge
II were unavailing. The Thing cvaded his quick
est motion with what appeared like an airy
They were nearing the last %burying ground.
a hope seized tho terrified stage driver. The
ghost might be mcanderins forth TO make "A
neighboriy call upon some ancient acquaintance
Of bygono days, and, II. 50, IL might drop into
this yard Asthey ratified past The brnkrp gate
ing In a husky whisper; "Hegone, BcgOne"
But the risky ghost was eYidently not in a
mood for graveyard calls; Then the stage
his ghostly passenger, but his list shot through
empty space, flled again, Instantly by tho long,
white, shadowy form. Whipping mp his team,
no sprang ont and, turning sharply about AT,
tempted to get, somehow, u View OF his shAd-
owy passenger, The wagon MAS, empty, but
shape, still performing its fantastic motions as
he ran by the side a! the stage,
Perhaps the thing would pass on before he
could know his intention. 80 such thing II
only drew closet, appearing moro substantial,
the fellow sprang into the box, lashed his
horses into a gallon, and, covering down., no
made his tea miles with that gha't1y passenger
noAtlng along close TO bic eide, tautaltzingb be
yond his reach.
A. tho stage came dashing w 70 the door OF
the Post ONCE he spranR out, and, white faced
and Wild eyed, told his story In broken, glsping
sentences to the, waiting Villagers.
before he had finished some one stepped out
from the crowd OF excited listeners and plucked
= long, white object from his cap juSt over his
left ear, held Y up TO the gaze Of the crowd, and
,ns s = ssGTi went up Ss1I re dlsoSysrs
long. soft white roll. which he he'd unconscious
~ purlOlnsd from the bEskst0 Of hn lady love