The morning times., 1897-03-08

1t was u harmless ghost. and Of a taci-
turn disposition Sometimes il would
speak, but on tlese tecasions its language
was Chiefly u.aIedictery Ii was ex-
tTeuelv nIethodic8l IN its habits, and was
TO be seen any time between niidni ght
and cock crow, and between 9 and 10
p. IL. In the early hours 1t sat ia the
diningroom smoking fantastic pipe, that
had been given o the squire by mis- friend
Sir Walter Raleigh, and the evening hours
it spent III peTambulating the terrace by
the sun dial, on the lookout for q lady who
had made an apr ointment sometwo hun drcd
years go, which she had failed to keep
This methodical arrangement of the
ghost had existed according To- authen-
tic accounts from the squire's death at
the end of the sixteenth century, and
his shade had never varied its program
within living memory. Conceive, there
fore, the CONSERVATION that reigned in
Neither Talkington when the report spread
that the ghost was mi Hssing. A large party
of visitors from Tontinc, Oak, had called
upon it at = a. m, and the guide had
been unable to give them value for their
shillings. They waited till / O'Clock,
but to no purpose, and although their
money was returned they left Neither Talk
ington the next morning in high dudgeon.
That night two missionaries and a pho
tographer armed with flashlight appar-
atus were in waiting by the sun dial, but
they waited in vain.
The disappearance of the ghost was
a severe blow to the town, for the shil-
ling admission had eased the burden Of
taxation for its inhabitants, and then
there was the loss of prestige. But It was
particularly hard on the landlord OF the
White Swan. He had paid a heavy price
for the business some two years ago on
the basis of custom to be brought by
the ghost, and without that he might
well put up his shutters, for the gentle
men who sold the camel'S hair put up
at the opposition house. There was also
butcher, baker, a nd possibly candle
stuck maker, on whom the matter would
press hard; sundry cooks, walters and
chanbermaids, to say nothing of the boots;
while the guide to the Grange found
starvation staring him in the face, for
he had seen perpetual tips ahead and
had made no provision for the unexpected.
AS the matter was one of Importance
to the whole community no objection was
meeting mine host of the White Swan,
Roger Wharton by name, referred to the
subject He pointed out that the ghost
of the Grange had brought honor and
renown to the town and had incidentally
lightened the taxes. Was it right that
they should meekly allow it to abscond,
thereby reducing Neither Talkngton from
its unique position to the level Of its
neighbors, and without q struggle sub
nit to the grieyous imposition of heavy
rates?
The vicar, who was in the chair, agreed
as to the laInentable state of things con-
sequent on the disappearance Of the ghost,
but submitted that nothing could be done.
They had no legal or moral power over
the shade OF the squire. 1t had made
no agreement to reside in Che Grange for
perpetuity, and although it had certainly
behaved unhandsomely in absconding with
out moments warming, they had no re-
dress.
Other speakers followed. 1t was pro-
posed that subcommittee should be
appointed to deal with the matter, and
names were suggested, but on these coun-
cilors asking in what direction they were
to pursue their inquiries and what We're
their powers, no satisfactory answer could
be given; SO they refused to act, and the
matter was left precisely where it was
before.
fortnight passed The ghost did not
return. Visitors ceased to flock to
Neither Talkington; the staff CT the White
Swan was reduced, and the guide to the
Grange was admitted to the workhouse.
The next meeting. of the parish council
took place and the squire's ghost stood
again on the agenda paper. When this