Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-05-13

| house on this most suspicious visit or
his Miss Meggs from window watched
him from the gate until he stepped up
on the portico with its broidery of hon
eysuckles, and she blushed furiously
when she turned and caught herself in
the mirror behind the back windows
of the parlor looking at him. Not for
the world would Miss Melissy Meggs
| have anyone know that she was peep
| ing at man from her window, and
when she saw herself doing that which
she wou.~ not for the world be seen
doing, she was greatly agltased.
She had not observed at first, but
after this rude shock she saw that Hi
ram wore buttonhole bouquet and a
blue necktie and she wondered why
Mr. Haybattle was SO given to fri
volity.
But Hiram thought o. none Of these
things. His soul was as fresh as the
pink in his buttonhole, and his eyes
were as blue as his necktie, for was he
not on the very threshold of the heart
of the one woman in all the world for
him. There could be no other, and he
would not have any other If taere
were. 1t was Melissy Meggs or ever
lasting bachelorhood, and he felt in
his very bones that the good Lord had
never intended his servant, Hiram
Haybattle to be a half-colnpleted job.
The little old-fashioned music box
Was playing a sweet, reposeful tune
from it's place on the handicapped
center table, on each side of which sat
Miss Melissy Meggs and Hiram Hay
lattle. They had been talking for az
| hour, perhaps, and it YES apparent
that, whereas Hiram had originally
been on one side Of the table, his no k
ing chair had gradually rocked itself
around front and was slowly getting
nearer Miss Melissy, a puculiafity OF
rocking cheirs not confined exclusively
to this one occupied by Hiram.
What the old house needs Hiram
was saying with AN earnestness that
hid his freckles in sea of crimson
glory, sis somebody to-"
But it has ghost, has it not?' in
terrupted Miss Meggs, somewhat ner-
vously for she feared and yet hoped
that Hiram was going to say some
thing.
Hiram laughed and pushed his chair
out in front of the table.
80 you have heard of 1t, too, have
you?" he said well, | had hoped
that | would not have to explain how
foolish 1t was. OF course you don't
believe in ghosts?"
Miss Melissy was nervous, anyhow,
and what with Hiram and the ghosts
she didn't know exactly what she was
doing.
II don't know as to that Mr.. Hay
battle" she said. do you really have
u ghost? | could well understand how
one or even more might thrive in such
big house as yours.
This made Hiram real hilarious, so
much so that Miss Meggs showed some
signs of disapproval and shock
"Only one, assure you, Miss Mel
issy, only one" he almost roared. THE
ghost and | occupy the old house all
to ourselves. The servants have their
quarters back. so we can cut up high
links, you know. It's jolly, this liv-
ing with ghost In the middle of the
night it Is great fun to wake up and
see it standing over you, locking down
into your face, and then to have it
fade away on hollow footsteps"
Really Miss Meggs had never seen
Hiram in such q mood. Nor had he
ever been so, for on this evening he
! was going to lay the ghost forever,
and Mrs Haybattle was to preside over
Hayhattle house. and the very nenrness
OF the fulfilling of his hopes was
enough to make him unlike anybody
had ever seen him.
Miss Meggs scarcely knew whether
to smile or to frown. She had always
felt respect for ghosts, which she
wished to continue to cherish, and yet
Hir3 ms story was ieonoclastic in the
extreme, and she ,Ather felt Kindly to-
Did you say, Mr.. Haybattle, that
there vas only" she began, when
suddenly she gave what sounded to
| Hiram more like G. nttle yelp than q
little shrek, and jumped away from
him rs II he were mouse.
why. Miss Meggs-Miss Melissy---
Melissy," he exclaimed, in a voice of
varying emotions, what is 1t? What
has happened" and Hiram rose and
started toward her, ready to do or die
in her service.
But she waved him back as she re-
covered her wonted balance and re-
sumed her chair
please be seated Mr., Haybattle."
she said, with frig!d fornallty, and
somewhat IL the mysterious manner
OF the inpusitor viii h was even more
iLs>I liCably to Hlam than the previ-
Gus outhurs.
II viewer, he was pleased to be seat
cd, and he sat with his hand on the
marble tCITed table. which sent cold
shiyers Up his sleeve. and the music
box clicked as II changed tunes and be-
gan PLAYING "Hark from the Tombs."
Tho luEubrieus notes actually oozel