Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-09-23
Slas Findlebury's
Ghost
And Why II Ceased to
Walk
By REBECcA STEVENS

Il By REBECcA STEVENS +
4-,-i4-ss-isss-ssisss-s-iis+i-si-i-i-i-i-ssiiss+s
Aida Lloyd painted heavily as she
came into her aunt's kitchen. for she
was very fat and quivered like mold
Of jelly when she moved She was an
| idle. shallow minded woman. much
given to gossip Of a harmless sort and.
as might be expected, she was a poor
housekeeper. Her husband. Finney
Lloyd. was little wisp Of man who
did odd jobs around the shipyard.
"Well Aunt Betsey." said Aida in
her slow drawl, ANY news?"
News of whatT' snapped Betsey
Findlebury.
"Oh, anything" was Alida's reply.
but her little eyes narrowed watch
fully as she swayed to and fro In the
Boston rocker
mo news" Mrs. Findlebury clipped
her words sharply. as she always did
when speaking to her niece.
For the past six months Aida had
carried much news from Betsey Fin
dlebury's neat white house.
Haven't you heard a word from
Uncle Silas?" asked Aida.
81 can't communicate with the
dead" persisted Aida.
"Of course" and Betsey's lips shut
tight
"Then Mrs. Moore was wondering
why you don't wear black for him or
lavender" went on Aida.
mamie Moore's always wondering
about something" retorted Betsey
dryly. "Once she wondered what Fin
ney Lloyd ever saw about you that
was wuth falling In love with"
Alida's fat cheeks Redeemed DULY.
Mamie MoOre's always been jealous
Of me marrying Finney." she said with
some difficulty.
Hum. Seeings she gave Finney
the mitten two years before you kept
company with him. don't see how
she's got anything to complain Of"
nodded Aunt Betsey. Nov. you was
talking about your Uncle Silas. Aida"
Mrs Lloyd glared resentfully at the
quiet little white haired woman knit
ting so serenely by the west window.
81 amt the only one Mamie Moore
talks about" she muttered as she got
upon her feet "She says. says she. i
hear that Silas Findlebury's ghost is
walking again. and. being us he was
my own uncle. | felt 1t duty to my
self. me having been a Findlebury. to
come over and find out about It."
Betsey's soft lips settled into a
straight line. and for q woment she
made no reply. Then:
"Your Uncle Sllas was drownded of
the White Rock six months ago-to
be exact on the 18th day Of February.
LeastwayS. we think he was drownded,
and now we're sure he was drownded
because he never came home. and the
empty boat. all stove In amidships.
came ashore one day. You know all
that know. Aida" Betsey was quite
pale when she finished.
Aida stared ut her with round eyes
well, Uumholt Pedrick declared he
saw Uncle Silas plowing the south field
in April" she said boldly. "at night"
"Fiddler' snapped Betsey GROSSLY.
"Weli. who plowed it then?" demand
ed Aida triumphantly. "Humbolt says
he's asked every man in Little River,
and there amt one that done It Who
did 1t. Aunt Betsey?"
"Goodby. Alida." said Mrs F1ndle-
bury coldly. I'm sorry you're In such
q hurry. but it's most supper time. and
l expect your dinner dishes amt wash
ed up yet and 1t might be that your
beds amt made saw pillow hang
ing out Of Finney's winder just now"
She smiled grimly US the door slammed
after Mrs. Loyd's bulky form.
When she was alone her sweet face
grew suddenly pinched as II with men
tai suffering. She hid her face In her
worn hands and rocked gently to and
fro.
"I wonder-l wonder who did it."
she murmured over and over again.
She wondered what Aida and her
inquisitive friends would say If they
knew that Silas Findlebury had quar-
relied bitterly with his wife the day
before he disappeared.
No one but herself knew Of that qunr-
rel. the outgrowth Of Silas' desire to
build n new barn on the place They
had been saving money for two years
to pay off the little mortgage remaining
on the farm. The $500. together with
S1S for the six months interest. would
build the barn that Silas declared he
needed for the proper housing of his
stock.
Betsey believed that the old barn
would do for awhile longer. She WAS
eager to remove the last encumbrnnce
from her home They had quarreled
for the first time during their happy
married life.
The very next day silas had announe-
ed his Intention Of going fishing. and
that was the last Betsey had seen Of
him. The money had been In his pock-
cts, for Silas placed no faith In banks.
Early In April Mrs. Findlebury
invoke one morning to find her south
deld plowed and narrowed. ready for
the corn. 1t had been Silas' habit to
have his corn In before the 10th. The
Geld was plowed on the 7th. and Bet
sey planted the corn herself on the 9th
and 9th.
Humbolt Pedrick declared that he
saw Silaa Findlebury driving two
white horses before white plow.
glowing bis swn cornfield at midnight.
he also said that silas was dressed IN
white robes and that a cold wind blew
over the field as he watched. Sudden
II he was stricken with the truth. II
was the ghost Of silas plowing his
own cornheld!
Betsey Ftndlebury grew very whine
when she heard what the gosstps were
saying, but she said nothing.
II she only knew whether Silas-but
what else could have happened to q
middle aged man Of his sober habits
The sound had been rorgh that day
and the sea was quite high, and neal
the mouth Of the river there was
strong tide. and White rock was a dan
L