Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-06
,ed by JULIA RODGERS.
CAESARS GHOST.

S-AhSS<hAN . oHtocAs /,
aIr Ramsey was called to the phone
while he and his family we're In the
dinner When hn ssinrne mSsn 'i:is Wee
wore an unusually broad grin. Through
out the dinner he unconsciously would
and then. which caused the children to
look up Neutrality-suspicious. their nerri-
ment: But their only answer. was an
other deep chuckle and shake OF the
mead. FINALLY. In tho hubhub and ex-
element Of getting ready to. so to see
the incident. dig brother Jack, home
Tor Thsnksgiying from West Point.
m 1hlnss things lively for them, keeping
ana 'boyish playfulness.
After the. game, when they were ali.
s AZ s.e In the library Mr.. Ramsey
SAID 10; casually, while his eyes twinkied:
by the way, Caesar just pioned mic
that your aunt and uncle were called
away suddenly two days ago. and they
house house tonight. They wanted to sur
prise u.s., and have already prepared
fruits. cakes; nuts, etc, in abundance.
want us to have .corking time"
This threw the children,into tho wild
, ss. excitement Their joy WINS UNI
TbeS Siess eGv1ea Gut e gn9e Dicksa
Lets all cit around tho big old
i FIRE tell stories!'s"And
p pop t,. coynr| And turn an the lights
suggestions they hurled at each other
After dark that. night, as their ma.
chine Oh nc ,o drew up before an Old Southern
they all had tumbled out, Caesar t tho
f ga negro butler. opened up the huge
tho vide ID a Sn1i , Them They entered
make themselves com s baSfeoq bsfos TO
nHSe t The iGE sht sap %efe ead
,inguished, and the now now from re the
in ~ tha y, threw weird, fantastic. shadows
all laughing at ono OF dads stories
,Se, suddenly the laughter died upon
c cnear Itps-a bowl of fruit fell with a
his black skin turned asliy; his trem.
e n eiu lihSs refused &c to support him. and
phralyIed with fear: the cifIdre,,
seemed turned to stone. while bIa
pfother and dad looked al each other
Echoing ,throu shout The silent roo,,,
ioWed 2 hy io sa,, low. agoniEed wall. fol-
NOW nov r dsins IN the agony OF dcspair.
seemed like the voice of a humans ne bcin IL
ana ,To al, as the unearthiy noise continued
voicee: nheu with
They all seemed to be held .sne,l-
bound, until. with mighty effort Mr.
ffe1ihISey sprrang out into tho hall. Jack.
conscious negro. '"'t
The Notwithstanding cries seemed 10
come from the upper floor, and as they
arrived ;,rr there; an intense silence an
dragged up between them. b beea mao 40
moan. and at this the hideous sobe
i l,rng out out again and again. The chill.
the two white men above were almost
insane, insane as. door after door being open.
Verge se iS OF co ofHlthing. Caesar on the
Finally they arrived at tho stnro.
rooni Here a body seemed to be
w f5Sinlt,ea any beating agains. the door.
charged with the irerioubied unen rthi,,
s startsa M na ensn himself. Ramsey
attempted to stay him. HoarseIv- With
his eyes bullying from their snc,rcts
he pleaded: Co.
Fur Gawds sake. come away,
1 2Ht' dead se dat ent fhGss al9Sse we Is
AIasso, come away! But MA $50. Will,
q quick movement, opened the door.
whse su4Igsa cry rang on,
horror at the sight OF the "ghoss s"
the steps in, an effort TO escane eo the
two staring. CLASSY. glistening. dane
s shg eyes wni 4 small miserable half
into convulsions, was running around
wildly. a'ouiio
with laugh Of relief, the two men,
carried the cat down to. the anxious
children, where they fed it and let IL
sleep peacefully before the fire: but
Caesar would not approach il. Mr.
Itsmsey explained that 1t must have
Followed the maid two days before
when she went into tho storeroom to
set her mistress's trunk, and had been
accidentally shut up there
BUT Caesar shook his head unbeliey-
ingly.
"Nawsuh," he said deci-ively, ida,
Rhoss didn't fool me one bit. 1t
changed 30 it'd look like dc missis's
cat. but massa am lust blind 70 Idnt
rack. Dey nin't nuffln' / don't Know
ABOUT chooses. and 1t am de homes
trnf dat was sho' nuf ghoss!s
The Ramseys, relieved at the sud-
den outcome OF the little incident. con
tinued their merry making while the
cate peacefully .do1ed on. And SO theif.
thanksgiving Day ended, and, as they
admitted, that occurrance brought
home to them the fact Of how much
they had to- be thankful for. E5
Caesar impressively. related, the story
rI cling II assumed such startIinn'
changes and proportions that ever
after they looked UP to him az a cross
between a hero. magic man" and God
Composed by
RACHEL herman.
G7o Wilson Street, Danviiie, Va.