The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-16

These three were my principal leeatees.
If / had only known soonerl But how was
that possiblep
/ knew what would do. I had made
up my mind-and having no body was all
mind now-I would go at once to nv So
licitor's and have a codicil drawn I'D while
there was yet time. But stay, there was
no time 1t was too late. had quite for
gotten that / was only poor ghost, de-
materialized spirit, and that old idiot
Sharpitlaw was SO welded to routine and
old fashioned custom that he would GER
tainly regard a posthumous testament as
informal and as | was invisible he would
treat my signature as null and decidedly
void.
When next turned toward my amiable
and disinterested family circle, perceived
that the breakfast things had been re-
moved, and Tom Slowquicker sat in the
armchair, with my will spread out before
him
s'There's some one missing" he said,
looking around him magisterially. "Who
is it?"
'Only my sister Minnie" Vernon re-
marked casually az went to her this
morning, but she s so upset about his death
that she feels quite i'll and could not come
down TO breakfast
"Dont be absurd, - said Priscilla. s'Why,
she never gave him so much as civil
word. /" Then sotto voce to her brothers
"And that's what has upset her, expect.
She is afraid she has spoiled her chances OF
legacy"
oh, that spiteful Priscillal If I 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 I could do. would find
my friend the demon and see If arrange
ments could not be made for haunting
them.
But these precious words about Minnie
had sent balm into my tortured spirit, SO
that my incorporate heart throbbed, shak-
ing the venetians, and Tom asked where
the draft came from. would go to her
at once; SO I traversed the closed door
again, passing them all as the sigh of a
summer breeze, which is we know not
what or whence it comes or whittier it
goes-a breath from-well, no matter
where. don't exactly know myself.
Thus went up stairs and into Minnie's
room, where found the poor girl still in
bed, her cheeks pale, her eyes red with
weeping, all the signs upon her of a sleep
less night of sorrow, and pressed close to
her soft bosom she held a likeness of my
unworthy self which had given her once
long ago. And this was the girl who new
er spoke save to ridicule and poke fun at
me, whose dislike for me was almost pro-
verbal ins the family, ands yet the girl
whose love-with usual human perversity
IDxr O,~1I 49, In,
All, this knowledge of her hearts secret
was sweet to me! 1t gave me courage.
would comfort her. 1 would pour forth
my love. would tell her-stayl What
could tell her? Was not forgetting again
that I 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 a few moments I
should only succeed in terrifying my poor
love out of her senses
ALAG, was this the realization OF here
after, the punishment of early vanities
and sins: to see things just as they are
and yet to be SO miserably impotent to
alter them; to see, too, what might have
been and to beat out my weary spirit on
into eternity in vain longing for fruition
that can never come?
My funeral wag appointed to take place
the next day. 1t was very grand affair al
together, and cake and wine had been laid
in the parlor to entertain the guests upon
this festive occasion. Idare say should
have done the same had been burying a
relation, but somehow it hurt me to see
my best dry sherry being put away.
As accompanied the mourners down the
steps suddenly perceived my friend, the
demon, by my side. Vainly sought a
coach, but could find no room. turned
to him somewhat angrily and remarked.
''I say, you promised should go to my
own funeral, but don t seem to have been
considered in the arrangement at all"
ssYou forget that oorporeally you hold
the place of honor at the head of the pro-
cession. but in the spirit you can get in
here. There's only the doctor and the
clergyman.
Between the doctor and the parson!
Really, my dear demon, you are remark
able for most sardonic humor.'
Well, the men of medicine and religion
talked politics all the way, which l thought
inappropriate, but as they were both Con-
servatives they did not disagree. I am a
Liberal myself and began vociferously ex-
pounding Mr. Gladstone's policy, quite OBJ
livious that my gesticulations were unseen
or my words unheard by them.
Good job for. yourself you are dead, I"
said the demon. you're just the sort to
get into a jolly row with redhot poll
ticians. -
The cemetery was soon reached, and I
looked down and saw my coffin lowered
into the open grave
"Earth to GARTH
A few Jumps were thrown and fell upon
the lid with grewsome rattle and
awoke with start, and my eyes met
those of my brother Tom, who asked cheer
lily, ssWell, how do you do now, old fell
lowp' But turned from him, for could
not help thinking of him as had seen
him last, reading my will down in the
parlor-turned away and encountered my
darling little Minnie, who sat unobserved
in a remote corner of the room, and I felt,
oh, so grateful and happy at seeing her
there. I felt then that it was not all a
dream.
have used feigned names in this vera
oious tale because think she would not
like to know the strange experience which
led me to take courage to WOO and by and
by wed her.-Exohange.