Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-27
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER AhN.
CMITHING is sturdy. albeit a very
- black art; yet its black is a good,
honest black, very easily washed of
which is more than can be said for many
other trades, arts and professions.
Your true blacksmith is usually a
strong man, something bowed of shoul-
der, perhaps; a man slow of speech, bold
OF eye, kindly of thought and, lastly
simple e-hearted.
Black George himself was no exception
TO his kind; what wonder was II, then,
that as the days heightened into weeks
my liking for him ripened into friend
ship?
To.us, sometimes lonely, voyagers upon
this broad highway OF life. journeying on
perchance, through desolate places, yet
hoping and dreaming ever of a glorious
beyond, how sweet and how blessed a
thing 1t is to meet some fellow wayfarer
and find in him a friend. honest and loyal
and brave, to walk with us in the sun,
whose voice may comfort us In the shad-
ow whose hand is stretched out to us
in the difficult places to aid us, or be
aided. So there came such friendship
between Black George and myself and 1
found him man, strong, simple and
lovable, and as such honor him to this
day.
The Ancient, on the contrary. seemed to
have set me In his 'black books" he
would no longer sit with me over a tan
kard outside "The Bulr' of an evening.
nor look in at the forge with a CHEEKY
nod and word, as had been his wont; he
seemed rather to shun my society. and,
IL did meet him by chance, would treat
me with the frigid dignity of a grand
seigneur. Indeed, the haughtiest, duke
that ever rolled In his chariot is far less
proud that your plain English rustic. and
far less difficult to propitiate. Thus.
though / had once had the temerity to
question him as to his altered treatment
Of me, the once had sufficed. He was
sitting, remember on the bench before
"The Bull" his hands crossed upon his
stick and his chin resting upon his hands
Peter" he had answered, regarding
me with a terrible eye. Peter, / be dis
appinted in ye" Hereupon rising. he
had raped loudly upon his snuff-box and
hobbled stiffiy away. And that ended the
matter. so far as was concerned. though
70 be sure. Simon had interceded in my
behalf with no better success; and thus
/ was still left wondering.
One day, however. as George and
were hard at work, i became aware OF
some one standing In the doorway behind
me, but at first paid no heed (for IL
was become the custom for folk to come
10 look at the man who lived all alone
In the haunted cottage).
"Peterl" said a voice at last. and turn
Ing I beheld the old man leaning upon
his stick and regarding me beneath his
lowered brows.
why, AnclentP' exclaimed. and held
out my hand. But he checked me with
a gesture. and fumblingly took out his
snuff-box.
Peter" said he fixing me with his
eye. were It seotchman OF were It
not2''
why. to be sure it was" 1 answered,
"a Scotch piper. as told you, and"
Peter" said the Ancient tapping his
snuff-box, 'it weren't no ghost, then-ay
or no."
mo" said I. nothing but a."
"Peterl' said the Ancient nodding sol
emnly. Peter, 'ates yel" and. turning
sharp about he tottered away upon his
stock.
"so-thats it!" said l. staring after the
old mans retreating figure.
Why ye see" said George, somewhat
dihidently. "ye see. Peter, CATER be so
old!-and all is friends be dead, and
he've come TO look on this 'ere ghost
as belongin' TO i'm Almost. Loves to SIT
an tell about 1t. e do; II be ali eve
got left to live for. as ye might say,
and now you've been and gone and said
as theer beant no ghost arter all. dye
see2"
"Ah, yes. l see." nodded, 81 see.
But you don't still believe IN this ghost.
DO YOU. osorEe2'
''N-o-o-o- not 'xactly," answered George
hesitatlng upon the word, cant say a.
pei, believe zasily, and yet Lord 'ow
sooN11Eur '''- - sass' are