New-York tribune., 1900-12-09
SOME WAYS OF THE WORLD.
A GHOST AND WHAT CAME OF HMM
GENUITY OF A GUEST

II was a bowling easterly. November gale, and
the guests al girls studio had been reduced by
stress Of weather 10 half dozen congenia spirits.
who were gathered together around a CHEEKY little
wood FIRE, enjoying their tea, hot mullins and one
Gnother's society, all the more by reason OF the
wild storm which ragged without
Girls" exclaimed the hostess suddenly. during
interlude OF silence 'et each relate the most
exciting adventure. the most interesting eN-
perience," she added with roguish glance at one
OF the number. who suspected of recent love
affair. that happened during the last year"
IT seemed just the time and place for story tell
ing; the suggestion found favor al once. and,
drawing lots 10 decide which should begin. the one
who chose the shortest slip Of paper began her
tale.
you all know" she said THAT I decided 20
try tutoring last summer 10 help along my college
expenses. and 1 answered advertisement for a
woman collegian 10 teach backward schoolboF
curing the summer. The place al country
house up in the Catskills and. l love the noun
tains IL seemed 10 suit me exactly BY some mis-
chance after engagement had been concluded
] lost the letter telling me which train 10 take
Fancying however, I would have no difficulty IN
finding my way 10 the house / decided not 10 wire
my new employers as I knew in wild country dis
tricts that a message entailed long carriage, and
took an early train on the DAY appointed. Although
Il was not raining when l started storm deyel-
oped soon afterward, which increased in intensity
as the day wore After having changed
my comfortable Hudson River train for shabby
little car belonging 10 branch railroad, which
bore me off into terra incognita, the rain came
down IN torrents, and the wind hew a hurricane
inst as II does now Finally ] reached my destina-
ton a lonely little roomed station bulcing
without another house I'm sight. 1 was evidently
not expected for there was no vehicle there or any
kind and the agent told me that the Eyre The
name OF the place was going TO. was SIX miles up
the mountain.
..ro s,av an the station was OF course out OF the
question The agent said: oh. Josiah Nhite'A
BE- along bimeby for his groceries, which comes on
this train and pr'aps he'll give you HI UP 'ne
mounting. he lives somewhere up there anu a
the storms too bad guess Meg Allen, VINO tsKes
care of old Tom Bostwerks, halfway up, Woulu
take you in for the night and make you COM
Portable
AS ne spoke a wagon numbered up and an old
man who proved 10 be tie aforesaid JOSIAH
walked into the station room shaking himself like
a wet Newfoundland dog. Ny situation was eA-
plained 10 him, and he consented 70 take me along
with HIS groceries in his wagon But only as Tar
as Meg's' ne stipulated. It's too far 20 the
Rest obe local name I found afterward. for the
Eyrie) I guess you're not the kind 10 be afraid
OF ghosts he added, Jocosely. What do you
meang' I asked oh, it's only nonsense inter-
rupted the stationmaster, who was eVloehuy
srx,ous "a get rid OF me Some folks say that the
old Van Bostwerk house Is haunted but Neg
Aliens lived there year an more, an reckon
she wouldn't stay unless It was all right IT aps
yer folks II come for you. he added, encourag-
i IL ,
TO have no choice, so. leaving my trunk in ms
care. TO be called for next day. and wrapping my
self in a stable blanket which JOSIAH 3oI5LH6,ls
bauled QUIT from under the seat, climbed lItO lhe
wagon and We started our expedition; ne ram
ca ne down IN sheets, and IN spite OF the blSnhet
md nv umbrella. which could hardly hold on
account OF the wind. ] Wet through ~Aen
reached 'Meg's,' 6nd was glad enough 70 De re
ceived into her friendly kitchen. She readily con-
scented 10 keen me for the night IN case was hOI
sent FOR and after giving me hot cup OF tea' anu
hanging my wet clothes up by the hIe. she & Pr0-
ceeded 10 get a room ready for my accom-
1noSation. Ii a large old country hoLSe'
aud / begged her 10 put me heAt heA.t,,eo 70 ne. L
well n YOU amt afraid OF splrlls, sHe
laughed they do say the room next 10 mine Is
b.,,1re6 hut amt never seen nOtnlllB hlysell-
] assured her was rnach nolS raSs- bejn1 an
80 ssrne aoor as herself. particularly as the room
10 q fireplace and she offered 10 Ight a lev
sticks take the cauPhess oue. .ll,, most com
s-,s,le and cheerful. and had my supper, OF
.S 0 ma bacon and biscuit. and went 10 Ded IeslnB
1hshhlu1 % - inow how long I had slept, when sud
denlv awoke. The storm hao cesse1, a. soS,n5 ~
Vas as still and black as deathL a 49, o,,1
eLs -. door and as the stealthy SOUND feachtd
sLl0 .a-s Sbe remarks ] had heard ana laueheo al
IN .be DAYTIME about the house being hauL'ei Su
Senlv struck terror 10 my soul; MaS 'sIl,: .Id,::
essrsf,-1ed with fright. I heard the steps SLOW
s, 80 ~ a tread-and with Il a clanking, as II a
chain were being dragged alons me .lT 81 Lno1 ,baf
w. Meg was in the next room, but when me
-T,t1v thar was so near me gave p long, r1ourIiu
sbrser after another. which brought Meg Allen
with lighted candle 70 my IesSus s.iiI a. - -. iifs
frst-and devouty hope, TIE ~aSilie ~ III hbT ny M
went OFF in a genuine attack OF lt
On partly by fright and partly by the lnaicroas 9i
relief of fnding that the suppoSeu lost ssal-' ",
no other than my landladys Dlg 5riUs 49,
bsd brolyen his chain and was wandering aoou'
the halls"