The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-01-01

ghosts alorc. N he turned into the
woods road that leads to the old Nor.
ton place. He moves crnutf, but t wa t
like wall>in'. He kinder gIided off like
Il shadder, n his coat looked sorter
thin N white
wall, now, if | hadn't dashed" ex-
claimed a joll ly-looking farmer, rubbing
his stubby chin, excited. M wife n
her sister declared to Moses that they d
seed the same teller last night, wa alkin'
pist the house bout twilight, but since
that splritlalist woman has been here
in the village, they've been seein' m
hearin' all sorts O. things, n | didn't
make no account of their ghosts, no
more'n nothin' at all.
Nv ho was John Norton?" inquired
the parson, who was newcomer.
"a sea cap'in who got wrecked some
eight years ago, and as promising a
Young man as we ever raised in the
town." said the squire, slowly. 1t was
his first voyage as captain, and those
who We're saved say that he stood by
the ship until the very last minute.
He was found frozen to death on the
wreck after the storm was over by 4
vessel which was bound for Boston.
John was known by the captain Of this
vessel, and he brought the body into
port with him, and it was sent on here
and buried" 3"
Then there is no doubt but what
the man is really dead, said the par
son. Sailors have sometimes the fac
ulty OF coming to life again, YOU know;
that is" he added. with due serious
ness, there are false reports of their
death. How many sailors have come
back to Bormouth safe and sound. who
have been reported drowned"
"Never but one sence I've been old
enough to remember" said the old man,
who had hitherto been silent. ''That
was Luke Higgins, n he a done his
self n the town both favor if hed'a'
died. It's them kind o chaps what
dew turn mp, not starlll' good fellers
like j John. John, he was dretful loss.
"Oh, there's no possibility Of John 5
being alive" said the squire nervously
II saw him buried myself, poor fellow.
He was engaged to my daughter, Elsie,
and she, poor girl. has done nothing
but mourn for him all these years. |
objected to the match at first, but be-
fore he went away on his last voyage
l became fully alive to his good quail
ties. He was brave manly fellow >
Enter Mrs. Blagg, the wife of a fish.
crman. quite out of breath, and look.
ing very wild,
"What is it, Mary Jane! You lool,
as if you'd seed a ghost, too said her
husband, who was one Of the circle by
the fire.
$50 | have, Lemuel, true ez YOU are
alive. | come right face to face with
John Norton comm through the field
from our house to the main road. |
seed him just rs plain as | see you
folks naow, but | didn't wait to see him
long, | ken tell ye, but just scud by
him like lightnin', n told Miss Elsie
all about it. wuz dretful scarf, but
I thought she'd orter kneow about it
50 | KEEP up till got there, !, then
went off intew Il kinder faint. Bein
sorter weak after fit cr phthisic,
couldn't stan it.
"Haow did he look?'' inquired ono
man, under his breath.
"Dreatful natural, only kind a whit,
N peaked, n kinder halted N looked
straight at me kinder wild N s'prised
They say ghosts don't never like to be
overlook, n | don't s'pose he spected
t meet nobody in that lonesome field
But how could you see his face 5,
distinctly on so dark night?" said tht
squire, seeming considerably disturbed
Good grashus, you don't s'pose
went through that there field without
no lantern? Still, after giving him one
rood look. | wuz so fucshcd that
dropped the lantern on the spot, N run
srerchin along as fast as could
You'll nev to git that there lantern
I.nmuel. for if wouldn't dew to lose it
nohaow; can afford tow git moo one.
well. good people" said the squire
we mustn't let ghosts interfere Will
O If New Years festivities. 1t is tim,
that all invited guests should be at m,
house; and here | am, the host. away
from home"
And the squire hurried out of th'
store and along the dusky wood unit
he came to Il brilliantly-l lighted ole
mansion on the hill.
1t had long been his custom to Civ,
a house warning, as he called it. OF
New Years Eve. Nearly all the towl
were hidden to these festivities. ant
they We're enjoyed hugely by youn:
and old, rich and poor. Some of th
old families thought the squire some
what democratic in his way Of givin:
! entertainments. and rather turned ~
their noses at the small sailors an'
fsherman's families; but neither th
sailors nor the fishermen took it t.
heart, and everything went merry as
marriage bell, as general thing.
The squire entered the house, greet