The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-04-18
His, Father S
Ghost
3, EDITH v. ROSS

Albert Tweed and Henry Ashurst.
two chums eighteen years old. made
an agreement that whichever died first
would appear to the other. Later they
separated.
Twenty years passed Tweed. who
was steady chap. remained in the
place where he was born. Ashurst
went to Australia. From there he
wrote several letters to his friend. aft.
er which the correspondence ceased.
Frum that time forward Tweed heard
nothing Uf his friend. He did not be-
Aeve that Ashurst was dead. for II 80
he would have appeared to him. for
Tweed was full Of the idea that the
dead may come back to us. This be-
lief was owing to his disposition.
which was pusily Influenced by tales Of
such wonders
When Tweed was forty-three years
old he had wife aud three children.
the Oldest girl VI nineteen. Her "a
ther had told her Of this agreement OF
his youth. and she was at an age to be
interested In It. Now and again she
would ask her father II be had seen
the ghost Of his friend.
One spring he was called away from
home. When he returned. though Il
was no later than April. the weather
was very warm. as sometimes hap
pens In that month. He was fond of
sleeping out OF doors and considered
1t exceedingly healthy. His house
stood In the center Of large yard. and
his front porch made excellent sleep.
ing quarters. Bringing some blankets.
he placed them on hanging bed and
turned In
In the middle Of the night he was
awakened by a sound. There was moth
ing to Obstruct his view Of the lawE
before the house. and. the moon being
at the full and on the meridian. he
could see all about him as plain as
day. The figure Of a man was coming
mp the walk. but with tread that was
absolutely silent. One thing he noticed
Immediately y--that the walk of this
approaching person was that Of his
friend Ashurst. The figure came on up
to the steps and looked mp to the heav-
ems. This threw the light Of the moon
full on his face. and Tweed recognized
Ashurst just as he had seen bis friend
last. quarter OF a century before. II
he had grown older there was not snf-
ficient change to be noticea BILE. The
only difference in his appearance from
that remembered by Tweed was that
his face was livid
Having gaxed few moments at the
heavens. the figure came up the steps
with the same silent tread and on
reaching the porch turned toward
Tweed and had taken one step when
be seemed to the latter to be suddenly
enveloped In a glare of white light.
Tweed. who was sitting mp watching
the apparition. gave moan and fell
back unconscious
That moan made a sudden change
in the situation. Ethel Tweed ran out
Of the house and. throwing her arms
about her father. endeavored to bring
him back to consciousness. Father"
she cried. 1T isn't ghost at all! Do
speak to me-"
Tue gnOst advanced 10 assist ner,
but she motioned him away. and he
went into the house. Tweed opened
bis eyes and. seeing his daughter. gave
shudder. closed his eyes. opened
them again and gasped:.
"Harry's dead! He's been herer'
mo. father: he hasn't. It's mis-
take"
An electric light In the roof OF the
porch was cleaning in the fathers
eyes. He asked who turned Il on.
II did" said his dnuahter, and. sitting
beside him ON the swinging bed. she
told him that while he was away bis
friends son had appeared with note
OF Introduction. Young Ashurst and
Ethel had talked of their fathers
friendship and of the agreement that
had been made years before BelEg
young and thoughtless Ethel proposed
that they should play prank upon her
father The young man. who was a
few years her senior. objected. but