The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-12-28
sTAvE FOUR.
The Last of the Spirits.

garment, which concealed it's head,
it's face, It's form, and left nothing
Of 1t visible save one outstretched
hand. But for this it would have
been difficult to detach it's figure
from the night, and separate it from
the darkness by which it was sur
rounded.
He felt that 1t was tall and
stately when it came beside him,
and that its mysterious presence
filled him with a solemn dread. He
knew no more, for the Spirit neith-
er spoke nor moved.
81 am in the presence of the
Ghost of Christmas Yet To Gomez"
said Scrooge.
The Spirit answered not, but
pointed onward with it's hand.
"You are about to show me shad-
ows of the things that have not
happened, but will happen in the
time before u.s. Scrooge pursued.
rs that so, Spirit?'
The upper portion of the garment
was contracted for an instant in it's
folds, as if the Spirit had inclined
it's head. That was the only an
swer he received.
Although well used to ghostly
company by this time, Scrooge
feared the SILENT shape so much
that his legs trembled beneath him,
and he found that he could hardly
stand when he prepared to follow
it. The Spirit paused moment, as
observing his condition, and giving
him time to recover.
But ScroOge was all the worse
for this. 1t thrilled him with a
vague uncertain horror, to know
that behind the dusky shroud, there
were ghostly eyes intently fixed up
on him. while he, though he stretch
ed his own to the utmost, could see
nothing but spectral hand and
one great heap of black.
"Ghost Of the Future." he ex-
claimed, 81 fear you more than any
spectre have seen. But as | know
your purpose is to do me good, and
as | hope to live to be another man
from what | was, l am prepared to
bear your company, and do it with
thankful heart. VIII you not
speak to me?"
1t gave him no reply. The hand
was pointed straight before them.
Lead on" said Scrooge. Lead
on! The night is waning fast, and
IL is precious time to me, know.
Lead on. Spirit"
The phantom moved away as it
had come toward him. Scrooge
followed in the shadow of it's dress.
which bore him up, he thought, and
carried him along.
- They scarcely seemed to enter
~ the city; for the city rather seemed
to spring up about them, and COM
pass them of it's own act. But
there they were in the heart of 1t;
on Change amongst the mer-
chants; who hurried up and down,
and chinked the money in their
! pockets, and conversed in groups,
and looked at their watches, and
trifled thoughtfully with their great
gold seals; and so forth, as Scrooge
had seen them often.
The Spirit stopped beside one
= little knot of business men. OBJ
serving that the hand was point
ed to them. Scrooge advanced to
listen to their talk.
"No." said a great fat man with
a monstrous chin, Il don't know
much about it either way. only
know he's dead"
when did he die?" inquired an
other.
Last night, l believe"
No
him?" asked third. taking vast
quantity of snuff out OF very
large snuff box. 81 thought he'd
never die
God knows" said the first, with
yawn
What has he done with his
money!" asked a red-faced gentle
man with pendulous excrecence
on the end of his nose, that shook
like the gills of turkey-cock
Il haven't heard" said the man
with the large chin, yawning again.
LEFT it to his company. perhaps.
He hasn't left it to me- That's all
l know"
This pleasantly was received
with general laugh.
IT'S likely to be q very cheap
funeral" said the same speaker;
"for upon my life | don't know of
anybody to go to 1t. Suppose we
make up party and volunteer"
Il don't mind going if lunch is
provided observed the gentleman
with the excrecence on his nose.
"But | must be fed, If | make one"
Another laugh.
well, | am the most disinter-
ested among you, after ALL" said
the first speaker. for never wear
black gloves, and never eat lunch
But I'll offer to so, II anybody else
will When | come to think of 1t.
I'm not at all sure that | wasn't his
most particular friend; for we used
to stop and speak whenever we
met, Bye, bye!"
Speakers and listeners strolled
away, and mixed with other groups.
Scrooge knew the men, and looked
toward the Spirit for an explana.
ton.
The Phantom glided on into a
street, It's finger pointed to two
persons meeting, Scrouge listened
again, thinking that explanation
might lie here.
lie knew these men, also, per
fectly. They were men of business;
very wealthy, and of great inn
portance, He had made point al
ways OF standing we'll In their es-
TEEN; in business point of view
How are you?" said one.
How arc your" returned the
other
WELL said the first. "Old
Scratch has got his own at last,
hey?"
so am told" returned the sec.
ond. Gold. isn't it,"
"Seasonable for Christmas time
Won ora rn. ~ oI,..... o..