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A GHOSTLY NIGHT

It was a moonlight night in November, wlien tlie very shadows seemed turned to ghosts. A party of young people were walking along a country road to tlie churcli in a cillage, a mile away, and were enjoying tlie walk, in the moonlight, as young people always do. Just now they were passing an old cemetery, no longer in use, but in wbicb were buried all tlie p;oneer settlers of tliat part of tlie country.

The surroundings being so ghostly and tlie night being so weird, the eonversation of the young people naturally tumed to the many old traditions lingering about the old burying-ground.

Several ghost stories were related, all horrible enougli to make cold chills run up and down one’s back. Prescntly one of the boys who had not as yet taken his turn at story telling, spoke up.

“ You fellows have prohably exaggerated your stories sonie," he said, “but NI tell you a tnie story about the cemetery. No doubt you’ve all heard of old Josiah Craig. You haven't? Weil, thats funny. 1 thought everybodv had heard of him. (In reality there had never been such a person as Josiah Craig.) “He was an old miser," went on the story teller, “and he lived around here about fifty years ago. Weil one morning he was found dead in bed and the cause of his death was not exactly known. Some said he had heart troublc, but tliat*s hardly probable, as he was never known to be afflieted with such a disease. But the most probable explanation for his death, is tliat he was mur-dered. tliough by whom is still a mystery. IIe’s buried in this cemetery right over there. That’s his monument,'* pointing to a large wbite stone near the road. “Weil. this fellow," he went on, “comes back occasionally, as his sleep is not peaceful, and it is thought tliat he wants to tell the sec ret of his death.” “Weil,” said one of the boys. “how do you know? IIave you seen him?” “No," said Harry Brown, the first speaker, “but I know a fellow who did,” winking at his chura who was walking beside him.

Presently tlie two friends might have been seen walking a little beliind the rest, engaged in an apparently very earnest comersation.

“We won’t go to churcli,” said Harry Brown, “but we'11 go borne and get a couple of slieets. Then wedl eonie back here and give these people the scare of their lives.” “Agreed,” said the other, and presently both disappeared, apparently uoobserved.

Meanwhile the others went on to churcli, and at about half past nine caine back in high spirits, with no thought of ghosts. But suddenly, wlien just opposite Joseph Craig s monument, one of tlie girls sereamed. The others took one look in the direc-tion of the monument, saw a wbite figurę standing there with uplifted arms, and wasted no time, but went running down the road.

The ghost was preparing to follow, joined by another ghost, apparently a friend, wlien from behind a near-by monument, rosę a still wbite object. The first two ghosts stood for two breatldess seconds, unable to move for fright. 'rhen the newcomer began to speak. “Vain mortals," it said in hollow, sepulchral tones, “why do you come here to disturb the peaceful slumber of the dead?” There was no answer and the first ghosts, suddenly miraculously transformed into liuman beings. jumped the fence, and started to run with the ghost after them, gaining at everv step.

Harry Brown, one of the first ghosts, fainted wlien he felt a cold, clammy band on his arm, and the other. his clium, after vainly endeavoring to climb a telephone pole in frantie hastę, followed his example. Wlien the two young men regained conseiousness, the ghost had disappeared.

The young people of this neighborhood no longer go past the old cemetery at night, preferring to go by another road, which, however, makes the distance to the village a mile farther.

If anyone is doubtful wlien told this story, Harry Brown points to his hair. which sińce tliat night has been prematurely streaked with gray. as proof of its truth.

But wliat is the explanation, you ask. Is the story really tnie? Was it a real ghost? Ask a certain young man who was in the party tliat night, and who disappeared shortly after reaching the yillage.

pafic fifty-three