Evening star., 1896-03-28
HIS TERRIBLE DRIVE.
Maine Stage Driver Who Could No,
Shake Off the White Apparition.

Maine Stage Driver Who Could Not
Shake Off the White Apparition.
From the Lewiston Evening journal.
One trip of an eastern Maine stage driver
will never be forgotten, either by himself or
those who witnessed the derouement He
was possessed of considerable courage, but
unfortunately, boasted of much more that
he didn't possess. His route lay over a
lonely part of the country, and several an
cient graveyards were close to the high
way. His daily trips were not completed
until late in the evening.
Now, 1t CHANGED that a certain ruddy-
checked Camsel resided In a farm house
standing veniently close to the road
along which he daily passed, and said dam
sci grew to be exceedingly agreeable to this
bachelor stage driver. He would whip up
smartly until the little house was reached,
and tnen, after 4 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 hitched as usual, and find
ing his iady love presiding at the spinning
wheel (Which useful pastime surpasses any
other display Of a lnaidens charms, as
many a sIayhaired grandfather of today
can testify, Re SO ardentiy pressed his at
tentions that the important question was
settled Somewhat preciptately, and, the
time being up, he caught up his cap from
the basket of rolls where he had dropped
1t and stal ted up his ht rses at spanking
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 a
bank of clouds.
Suddenly Ee- became aware of something
close to his left side-a form, lorg, shadowy
and white He turned to look at it more
closely, when it instantly evaded him by
keeping just beyond range, apparently
1o6r hac cl< ha ia1f fn syat I'll oft
He whipped up smarty, thinking to dis
taEce the thing. whatever it might be. but
1t took on a more ghost-like shape and ap-
peared to be wildly in pursuit, making long
plunges through the air.
The blissful feeling of the last hour was
fast. disappearing. 1t was night. and a
lonesome. unfrequented wood, dotted with
graveyards. and this awful presence hang
ing in the rear! What could it be and what
could it want? AS he sped along he tried
every experiment, attempting to distance 1t
by speed. but still it came dancing after.
He tried turning his head quickly as a flash,
but all attempts to outdodge 1t were un-
availing. The thing evaded his quickest
molten with what appeared Ike an airy
swing to the rear.
They were nearing the last burying
grourd. A hope seized the terrified stage
driver. The ghost might be meander:ng
forth to make neighborly call upon some
ancient acquaintance of bygone days. and,
If so, 1t might drop iito this yard. AS they
assist 1t in this decision by entrea ting in a
husky whisper: "Begone! Begone!". But
the frisky ghost was evidently not IN a
mood for graveyard calls Then the stage
driver struck out sharply blow after blow
at his ghostly passenger, but his fist shot
through empty space, filed again instantly
by the long, white, shadowy form. Whip
ping up his team, he sprang out and, turn
ing sharply about attempted to get, some
how. view of his shadowy passenger. The
wagon was empty, but right by his side,
closer than before, was the shape still per-
forming its fantastic motions as he ran by
the side of the stage.
He stopped.
Perhaps the thing would pass on before
he could know his intention. No such thing
/ it only drew closer, appearing more sub
stantial. " hite and awful. Thoroughly ter
rfied at last. the fellow sprang into the
box. lashed his horses into gallop, and
| covering down, he made his ten miles with
| that CHASTITY passenger floating along close
| to his side, tantalizing. beyond his reach.
AS the stage came daShing up to the door
| of the post office, he sprang out, and. white
| faced and wild eyed told his story in brok-
Ell, gasping sentences to the waiting VII
layers.
Before he had finished some one stepped
| out from the crowd Of excited listeners and
plucked long, white object from his car
just over his left ear. held 1t up to the gaze
| of the crowd, and instantly a shout went
| up when the discovery v as made that the
| cause of his fright was long, soft. white
| roll, which he had unconsciously purloineC
| from the basket Of his lady love.