The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-02-15

ever the thing was settled, and Mr..
Humphreys accepted our report un-
questionably, but with great regret,
and the next morning Mabel was in
formed of the result. At last the
evening came, and we were in the
porch. Mabel had retired with a
headache, and the rest of us smoked
our cigars and followed our own
thoughts in silence. AS it neared
ten, arose leisurely, and strolled
off to the old apple tree. had been
there but a few minutes when I saw
a white figure approaching as if from
the adjoining place, and it came
straight to me and stopped at my
side.
I lifted my hat. "Good evening""
I said. %
The phantom responded with a
neat little ghostly courtesy. 'Mor-
tai, never tell a lie," it said.
'Will you shake hands? Truly
ghosts word can be believed"
The phantom gave me it's hand,
but after had held it decent length
oftime, tried to regain possession of
it.
s'Does the old gentleman believer"
asked the ghost
Eyes; it's all right-he won't buy
the house now. You can remain
alone in it in undisturbed posses
sion.''
II don't want to stay alone in
it,"
"Well, my sweet phantom, I don't
see how you're going to arrange it.
Haven't you got any relatives te
come and help you be gay?''
"No, none"
"That's bad. know the dust-pan
and fre-iron business is Jolly, and
then it does sound awfully cheerful to
have pals rolling down stairs; but
it's like playing billiards-gets mo-
notonous if you haven't any one to
play with.''
The ghost sighed.
"What's that for? INQUIRED.
Don't you like being a ghost?''
mo, not a Bit
"Dear me! Would you like to be
an ordinary mortal person?"
EYES,"
my! And get married?"
eyes, think SOL don't know"
"Well, I'm very fond of you, dear
little ghost.'
'1 don't believe you. You're fond
OF somebody else.''
''Well, we'll; you told me that be-
fore, and don't deny it; but, my
sweet little phantom, she don't care
t@twttcents for mo now: 's==sf7s775
"How do you know"
ooh, | know it very well.'
"Yoq're wrong. Why don't you
go and ask her?'
"1'm not going to insult her,
'Do you call that an ninsult?"
"Yes-from one in my position.
Sweet ghost,' I said coming nearer,
''let's make believe you're my
angel!' putting my arms around
her, and drawing her to me.
'Then you don't love herr"
"On the contrary, it's because I
love her so much that I want to
make believe you're Miss Mabel.'
The ghost submitted with a good
grace, but forgot her assumed ghost
liness. 'James!'' she said, and the
voice carried me back two years, and
my darling was revealed to me.
''Mabel, Mabel" I said, "what is
this? Does it mean you love me!''
eyes,
''But why did you play such a
prank on us all?''
II knew you still loved me, but
would never say so, and, besides, l
wanted a little fun.''
*'Bless you, it was fun, but you
might have been hurt. -
'Oh, no." she laughed; II wasn't
afraid. The others were SO brave,
and you were such coward-all
brain and no courage, you know
A month later was a clerk on
good salary, and six months later
Mabel and l were married. But the
secret of our wooing in the large
house and under the apple tree was
never told, and from that time forth
I had no fear Of ghosts-my own
particular, precious little ghost was
my shield and protection.