Evening star., 1901-11-16

afternoon he snapped his fingers suddenly
and after that went about whistliag-
fortnight before the day fixed for the wed
ding he drove into the --ty again, but this
time to the office of his other brother, tths
merchant.
II want" he said "the loan of f1 ,O00.t4,,.
Nothing easier" said his brother.
Here are ESQ. OF the remainder 1 shall
keep fJ0 as interest for the first year at !
per cent and the odd f10o should purchase
premium of insurance for f2,00o which
will retain security against accidents
This seemed not only fair but brethefly.
John pocketed his ESQ, shook his creditor
affectionateiy by the hand. and hurrI- u
westward IT,
The marriage was celebrated with graa.
pomp; and in the evening the king, who
had been shedding tears at intervals
throughout the ceremonies, accompanied his
daughter to the haunted house. The prIn-
cess was pale. John, on the contrary, WIG
sat facing her father in the state coach
smiled with a cheerfuIness which, undo.
the circumstances, seemed a trife ill-bred
The wedding guests followed in twenty four
charfotS. Their cards of invitation had sail
= to 53o pm, and it was now 8 o'clock;
but they could not resist the temptation II
see the last of the poor dear thing" az
they agreed to call the bride.
The king sat silent during the drive: he
was preparing his farewell speech which
he meant to deliver in the porch But. ar
irving and perceiving a crowd about it, and
also Ito his vast astonishmenD red oaKe
in the doorway with two footmen behind
him, he coughed down his exordium and
led his daughter into the hall, amid show
ers of rice and confetti. The bridegroom
followed; and so did the wedding guests,
since no one opposed them.
The hall and staircase were decorated
with palms and pot plants, flags and en-
blems of lllyria, and in the great drawing
room-which they entered while John per-
suaded the king to a seat-they found many
rows of morocco covered chairs. a minia-
ture stage with drop representing the
play scene in Hamlet a row of foot
lights, boudofr grand piano and man
seated at the keyboard, whom they reeog-
nized as performer in much demand at
suburban dances. i,i'i
The company had scarcely seated itself
before strange light began to illuminate
that end of the room at which the Stage
stood, and Immediately the curtain rose to
the overture of NJ. Offenbachs s ''Orphee aux
ENTERS, the pianist continuing with great
spirit until a round of applause greeted
the entrance of the two spectral perform-
erS. ..
Its effect upon them was in the highest
degree disconcertfng. They set down the
coffin, and, after a brief and hurried con-
ference in an undertone, the black-mlts-
tachfoed ghost advanced to the footlightS,
singled out John from the audience, end,
with terrific scowl demanded to know
the reason of this extraordinary gathering.
Come; come; my dear SIR answered
JOH.I our contract, II you Will study 1t,
allows me to invite whom L choose; it
merely insists that my bride and I must be
present, as you see We are. Pray go On
with your past, and assure yourself it is
no use to try the high horse with me- s,
Ine dark ghost looked at his partner, who
shuffled uneasily. Il told you,'' said he, I'VE
should have trouble with this fellow 1
had presentiment of it when ne came to
spend the night here without bringing a
bulldog. That frightening of the bulldog
al
effective bit of business
Hereupon the dark ghost took another
tone. Our fair. but unfortunate victim
has sore throat tonight" he announced
The performance is consequently post
poned-' and he seated himself sulEily
upon the coffin, when the 1imclignt man
from the wings promptly bathad him in a
flood of the most beautiful rose color. "Oh
this is intolerable!' he exclaimed, starting
to his feet.
1T is not frst-rate, I agree" said John
but such as it is, we had better go
through with it. Should the company
afterward and show the brand on the
cork" Here he tapped the leg which he
had been careful to bring with him.
Before this evidence of contract the
ghosts resistance collapsed. They seated
themselves on the coffin and began the
casting of dice; the performance proceeded.
but in half-hearted and perfunctory man
ner, notwithstanding the vivacious efforts
of the limelight man.
The tall ghost struck his brow and fed
from the stage. There were cries of ~sCall
him back! but John explained that this
was part of the drama and no encores
would be allowed Whereupon the audience
fell to Kissing the villain, who now sat
alone with the most lifelike expression of
maIignity.
''Oh, hang itr he expostulated after
awhile. 81 am doing this under protest,
and you need not make it worse for fel-
low. l draw the line at Kissing"
Its the usual thing" explained John.
affably.
But when the ghostly lady walked on,
ana, in the act of falling on her fathers
body, was interrupted by the pianist, who
handed up an immense bouquet the per-
formers held another hurried colloauy
LOOK here said the dark-browed VII
lain. stepping forward and addressing John,
What will You take to call 1t quits?''
III take" said John, ''the key which
the lady has just handed YOU And If
the treasure is at all commensurate with
the fuss you have been making about il.
well let bygones be bygones'-
Well. 1t was, and John, having counted
1t out behind the curtain, came forward and
asked the pianist to play God Save the
King. and so, having bowed his guests
TO the door, took possession of the haunted
mouse and lived in it many years with his
bride, in high renown and prosperity.