The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-01-01
Selrrt MisreIIuulJ.
A NEW YEARS GHOST.

The wind races wildly through the
town, making weird. moaning sound
in desolate places near the coast, where
great, dark rocks cast their uncanny
shadows, and around the village ga
bles. The few stars which glimmer
between the heavy clouds look pAc
and shivering, but the village windows
are red with light, and it is evident
that an event of no small Importance
is at hand. Lanterns glcam along the
main street, footsteps echo ON the
ground, for there is only the lightcst
sprinkling of snow over the rough hub
bles But lanterns and footsteps all
wind towards the village store just now,
where every evening the sailor and
farmer. and even the squire, the aris-
tocracy, as well as the humber portion
of the town, congregatc to discuss tie
weather, the crops, the news, and to re-
late thrilling stories of adventures at
sea. .-.a.tE
Tonight's conversation is unusually
brisk and interesting The parson him
self is there, and condescends to joke a
little with the cozy group at the back
of the glowing stove, while waiting for
his purchases to be weighed and tied
up in separate brown paper parcels,
and, in spite of himself, waits ii mo-
ment to hear the announcement of a
thrilling ghost story, told with the as
surance that it is Il solemn fact, by
brown old sailor. who shakes his gold
earrings as he proceeds in his recital,
with a great deal Of nervous energy.
'.Now, this is ez true rs | set in this
cheer, gentlemen, he announces grave
ly at the end Of nearly every sentence.
And though he is not sitting at all.
but leaning his stalwart length over a
flour barrel, no one seems to doubt.
The squire looks as gravely Interested
as the boys. The parson smiles, but
it is noticeable that the smile affects
only one side of his mouth, and is as
lacking in amusement rs is the open
mouth of the man who is waiting for
the torccps of the dentist in the adver-
tisement of the toothache medicine
which adorns the smoky wall The
teller seems to be as awe-stricken him
self as his hearers. The effect Of thn
tale is heightened by the dead silence
Of the place. the dimness of the lamp
light. the weird shadows in the corners,
| and meandering wreaths of smoke
which curl up toward the dingy ratters
overhead, and encirrle the head of the
Did story-tcllcr. giving him the look OF
IN enchant II or genius Of old working
over the fire.
There is the trouble Of the sea. the
| wailing Of the wind. The story ended,
| 1 long-drawn breath goes around the
| circle. The parson gives utterance to
1 nervous little laugh, then suddenly
becoming alive to his dignity and his
duty. speaks against the folly ofsuper-
stiton. with which he declares the
| whole town to be alive.
"Wall. 'ta'nt no wonder, parson
when ghosts is seen walkin these here
streets on dark nights" spoke mp an.
| other old fisherman. Il see John Nor
tons ghost last night as plain as see
YOU this blessed minute | went daOwl
to my boat house there to the lan'in
about eight o'clock, an a comm back
Jest ez | waz against them tcw tail pine
trees afore you git to my haouse, there
he was standin' N lookin' me in the
face. The moon shone right onto his
! features, n lor! there wa no more