["And\the\twent\twhistling\tupstairs. Somehow\t that\t little\t touch,\t his\t obvious\t effort\t to\t recall\t where\t he\t had\t slept, brought\t strangely\t home\t to\t Darcy\t the\t wonderful\t romance\t of\t which\t he\t was\t the still\t half-incredulous\t beholder.\t Sleep\t till\t close\t on\t dawn\t in\t a\t hammock,\t then\t the tramp\u2014or\t probably\t scamper\u2014underneath\t the\t windy\t and\t weeping\t heavens\t to the\tremote\tand\tlonely\tmeadow\tby\tthe\tweir!\tThe\tpicture\tof\tother\tsuch\tnights\trose before\t him;\t Frank\t sleeping\t perhaps\t by\t the\t bathing-place\t under\t the\t filtered twilight\t of\t the\t stars,\t or\t the\t white\t blaze\t of\t moon-shine,\t a\t stir\t and\t awakening\t at some\t dead\t hour,\t perhaps\t a\t space\t of\t silent\t wide-eyed\t thought,\t and\t then\t a wandering\t through\t the\t hushed\t woods\t to\t some\t other\t dormitory,\t alone\t with\t his happiness,\t alone\t with\t the\t joy\t and\t the\t life\t that\t suffused\t and\t enveloped\t him, without\t other\t thought\t or\t desire\t or\t aim\t except\t the\t hourly\t and\t never-ceasing communion\twith\tthe\tjoy\tof\tnature. They\twere\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tdinner\tthat\tnight,\ttalking\ton\tindifferent\tsubjects, when\tDarcy\tsuddenly\tbroke\toff\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\ta\tsentence. \\\"I've\tgot\tit,\\\"\the\tsaid.\t\\\"At\tlast\tI've\tgot\tit.\\\" \\\"Congratulate\tyou,\\\"\tsaid\tFrank.\t\\\"But\twhat?\\\" \\\"The\t radical\t unsoundness\t of\t your\t idea.\t It\t is\t this:\t All\t nature\t from\t highest\t to lowest\t is\t full,\t crammed\t full\t of\t suffering;\t every\t living\t organism\t in\t nature\t preys on\t another,\t yet\t in\t your\t aim\t to\t get\t close\t to,\t to\t be\t one\t with\t nature,\t you\t leave suffering\taltogether\tout;\tyou\trun\taway\tfrom\tit,\tyou\trefuse\tto\t recognize\t it.\tAnd you\tare\twaiting,\tyou\tsay,\tfor\tthe\tfinal\trevelation.\\\" Frank's\tbrow\tclouded\tslightly. \\\"Well?\\\"\the\tasked,\trather\twearily. \\\"Cannot\t you\t guess\t then\t when\t the\t final\t revelation\t will\t be?\t In\t joy\t you\t are supreme,\t I\t grant\t you\t that;\t I\t did\t not\t know\t a\t man\t could\t be\t so\t master\t of\t it.\t You have\t learned\t perhaps\t practically\t all\t that\t nature\t can\t teach.\t And\t if,\t as\t you\t think, the\tfinal\trevelation\tis\tcoming\tto\tyou,\tit\twill\tbe\tthe\trevelation\tof\thorror,\tsuffering, death,\tpain\tin\tall\tits\thideous\tforms.\tSuffering\tdoes\texist:\tyou\thate\tit\tand\tfear\tit.\\\" Frank\theld\tup\this\thand. \\\"Stop;\tlet\tme\tthink,\\\"\the\tsaid.","There\twas\tsilence\tfor\ta\tlong\tminute. \\\"That\tnever\tstruck\tme,\\\"\the\tsaid\tat\tlength.\t\\\"It\tis\tpossible\tthat\twhat\tyou\tsuggest is\t true.\t Does\t the\t sight\t of\t Pan\t mean\t that,\t do\t you\t think?\t Is\t it\t that\t nature,\t take\t it altogether,\tsuffers\thorribly,\tsuffers\tto\ta\thideous\tinconceivable\textent?\tShall\tI\tbe shown\tall\tthe\tsuffering?\\\" He\tgot\tup\tand\tcame\tround\tto\twhere\tDarcy\tsat. \\\"If\t it\t is\t so,\t so\t be\t it,\\\"\t he\t said.\t \\\"Because,\t my\t dear\t fellow,\t I\t am\t near,\t so splendidly\t near\t to\t the\t final\t revelation.\t To-day\t the\t pipes\t have\t sounded\t almost without\t pause.\t I\t have\t even\t heard\t the\t rustle\t in\t the\t bushes,\t I\t believe,\t of\t Pan's coming.\tI\thave\tseen,\tyes,\tI\tsaw\tto-day,\tthe\tbushes\tpushed\taside\tas\tif\tby\ta\thand, and\tpiece\tof\ta\tface,\tnot\thuman,\tpeered\tthrough.\tBut\tI\twas\tnot\tfrightened,\tat\tleast I\tdid\tnot\trun\taway\tthis\ttime.\\\" He\ttook\ta\tturn\tup\tto\tthe\twindow\tand\tback\tagain. \\\"Yes,\tthere\tis\tsuffering\tall\tthrough,\\\"\the\tsaid,\t\\\"and\tI\thave\tleft\tit\tall\tout\tof\tmy search.\t Perhaps,\t as\t you\t say,\t the\t revelation\t will\t be\t that.\t And\t in\t that\t case,\t it\t will be\tgood-bye.\tI\thave\tgone\ton\tone\tline.\tI\tshall\thave\tgone\ttoo\tfar\talong\tone\troad, without\thaving\texplored\tthe\tother.\tBut\tI\tcan't\tgo\tback\tnow.\tI\twouldn't\tif\tI\tcould; not\ta\tstep\twould\tI\tretrace!\tIn\tany\tcase,\twhatever\tthe\trevelation\tis,\tit\twill\tbe\tGod. I'm\tsure\tof\tthat.\\\" The\t rainy\t weather\t soon\t passed,\t and\t with\t the\t return\t of\t the\t sun\t Darcy\t again joined\t Frank\t in\t long\t rambling\t days.\t It\t grew\t extraordinarily\t hotter,\t and\t with\t the fresh\t bursting\t of\t life,\t after\t the\t rain,\t Frank's\t vitality\t seemed\t to\t blaze\t higher\t and higher.\tThen,\tas\tis\tthe\thabit\tof\tthe\tEnglish\tweather,\tone\tevening\tclouds\tbegan\tto bank\t themselves\t up\t in\t the\t west,\t the\t sun\t went\t down\t in\t a\t glare\t of\t coppery thunder-rack,\tand\tthe\twhole\tearth\tbroiling\tunder\tan\tunspeakable\toppression\tand sultriness\t paused\t and\t panted\t for\t the\t storm.\t After\t sunset\t the\t remote\t fires\t of lightning\tbegan\tto\twink\tand\tflicker\ton\tthe\thorizon,\tbut\twhen\tbed-time\tcame\tthe storm\t seemed\t to\t have\t moved\t no\t nearer,\t though\t a\t very\t low\t unceasing\t noise\t of thunder\twas\taudible.\tWeary\tand\toppressed\tby\tthe\tstress\tof\tthe\tday,\tDarcy\tfell\tat once\tinto\ta\theavy\tuncomforting\tsleep. He\t woke\t suddenly\t into\t full\t consciousness,\t with\t the\t din\t of\t some\t appalling explosion\tof\tthunder\tin\this\tears,\tand\tsat\tup\tin\tbed\twith\tracing\theart.\tThen\tfor\ta moment,\t as\t he\t recovered\t himself\t from\t the\t panic-land\t which\t lies\t between sleeping\tand\twaking,\tthere\twas\tsilence,\texcept\tfor\tthe\tsteady\thissing\tof\train\ton","the\t shrubs\t outside\t his\t window.\t But\t suddenly\t that\t silence\t was\t shattered\t and shredded\t into\t fragments\t by\t a\t scream\t from\t somewhere\t close\t at\t hand\t outside\t in the\t black\t garden,\t a\t scream\t of\t supreme\t and\t despairing\t terror.\t Again,\t and\t once again\t it\t shrilled\t up,\t and\t then\t a\t babble\t of\t awful\t words\t was\t interjected.\t A quivering\tsobbing\tvoice\tthat\the\tknew,\tsaid: \\\"My\tGod,\toh,\tmy\tGod;\toh,\tChrist!\\\" And\t then\t followed\t a\t little\t mocking,\t bleating\t laugh.\t Then\t was\t silence\t again; only\tthe\train\thissed\ton\tthe\tshrubs. All\t this\t was\t but\t the\t affair\t of\t a\t moment,\t and\t without\t pause\t either\t to\t put\t on clothes\tor\tlight\ta\tcandle,\tDarcy\twas\talready\tfumbling\tat\this\tdoor-handle.\tEven\tas he\t opened\t it\t he\t met\t a\t terror-stricken\t face\t outside,\t that\t of\t the\t man-servant\t who carried\ta\tlight. \\\"Did\tyou\thear?\\\"\the\tasked. The\tman's\tface\twas\tbleached\tto\ta\tdull\tshining\twhiteness. \\\"Yes,\tsir,\\\"\the\tsaid.\t\\\"It\twas\tthe\tmaster's\tvoice.\\\" Together\tthey\thurried\tdown\tthe\tstairs,\tand\tthrough\tthe\tdining-room\twhere\tan orderly\t table\t for\t breakfast\t had\t already\t been\t laid,\t and\t out\t on\t to\t the\t terrace.\t The rain\tfor\tthe\tmoment\thad\tbeen\tutterly\tstayed,\tas\tif\tthe\ttap\tof\tthe\theavens\thad\tbeen turned\toff,\tand\tunder\tthe\tlowering\tblack\tsky,\tnot\tquite\tdark,\tsince\tthe\tmoon\trode somewhere\t serene\t behind\t the\t conglomerated\t thunder-clouds,\t Darcy\t stumbled into\tthe\tgarden,\tfollowed\tby\tthe\tservant\twith\tthe\tcandle.\tThe\tmonstrous\tleaping shadow\tof\thimself\twas\tcast\tbefore\thim\ton\tthe\tlawn;\tlost\tand\twandering\todors\tof rose\tand\tlily\tand\tdamp\tearth\twere\tthick\tabout\thim,\tbut\tmore\tpungent\twas\tsome sharp\tand\tacrid\tsmell\tthat\tsuddenly\treminded\thim\tof\ta\tcertain\tch\u00e2let\tin\twhich\the had\t once\t taken\t refuge\t in\t the\t Alps.\t In\t the\t blackness\t of\t the\t hazy\t light\t from\t the sky,\tand\tthe\tvague\ttossing\tof\tthe\tcandle\tbehind\thim,\the\tsaw\tthat\tthe\thammock\tin which\tFrank\tso\toften\tlay\twas\ttenanted.\tA\tgleam\tof\twhite\tshirt\twas\tthere,\tas\tif\ta man\tsitting\tup\tin\tit,\tbut\tacross\tthat\tthere\twas\tan\tobscure\tdark\tshadow,\tand\tas\the approached\tthe\tacrid\todor\tgrew\tmore\tintense. He\t was\t now\t only\t some\t few\t yards\t away,\t when\t suddenly\t the\t black\t shadow","seemed\tto\tjump\tinto\tthe\tair,\tthen\tcame\tdown\twith\ttappings\tof\thard\thoofs\ton\tthe brick\tpath\tthat\tran\tdown\tthe\tpergola,\tand\twith\tfrolicsome\tskippings\tgalloped\toff into\tthe\tbushes.\tWhen\tthat\twas\tgone\tDarcy\tcould\tsee\tquite\tclearly\tthat\ta\tshirted figure\tsat\tup\tin\tthe\thammock.\tFor\tone\tmoment,\tfrom\tsheer\tterror\tof\tthe\tunseen, he\t hung\t on\t his\t step,\t and\t the\t servant\t joining\t him\t they\t walked\t together\t to\t the hammock. It\t was\t Frank.\t He\t was\t in\t shirt\t and\t trousers\t only,\t and\t he\t sat\t up\t with\t braced arms.\t For\t one\t half-second\t he\t stared\t at\t them,\t his\t face\t a\t mask\t of\t horrible contorted\t terror.\t His\t upper\t lip\t was\t drawn\t back\t so\t that\t the\t gums\t of\t the\t teeth appeared,\tand\this\teyes\twere\tfocused\tnot\ton\tthe\ttwo\twho\tapproached\thim\tbut\ton something\tquite\tclose\tto\thim;\this\tnostrils\twere\twidely\texpanded,\tas\tif\the\tpanted for\tbreath,\tand\tterror\tincarnate\tand\trepulsion\tand\tdeathly\tanguish\truled\tdreadful lines\t on\t his\t smooth\t cheeks\t and\t forehead.\t Then\t even\t as\t they\t looked\t the\t body sank\tbackwards,\tand\tthe\tropes\tof\tthe\thammock\twheezed\tand\tstrained. Darcy\t lifted\t him\t out\t and\t carried\t him\t indoors.\t Once\t he\t thought\t there\t was\t a faint\tconvulsive\tstir\tof\tthe\tlimbs\tthat\tlay\twith\tso\tdead\ta\tweight\tin\this\tarms,\tbut when\t they\t got\t inside,\t there\t was\t no\t trace\t of\t life.\t But\t the\t look\t of\t supreme\t terror and\tagony\tof\tfear\thad\tgone\tfrom\this\tface,\ta\tboy\ttired\twith\tplay\tbut\tstill\tsmiling in\t his\t sleep\t was\t the\t burden\t he\t laid\t on\t the\t floor.\t His\t eyes\t had\t closed,\t and\t the beautiful\tmouth\tlay\tin\tsmiling\tcurves,\teven\tas\twhen\ta\tfew\tmornings\tago,\tin\tthe meadow\tby\tthe\tweir,\tit\thad\tquivered\tto\tthe\tmusic\tof\tthe\tunheard\tmelody\tof\tPan's pipes.\tThen\tthey\tlooked\tfurther. Frank\t had\t come\t back\t from\t his\t bath\t before\t dinner\t that\t night\t in\t his\t usual costume\t of\t shirt\t and\t trousers\t only.\t He\t had\t not\t dressed,\t and\t during\t dinner,\t so Darcy\tremembered,\the\thad\trolled\tup\tthe\tsleeves\tof\this\tshirt\tto\tabove\tthe\telbow. Later,\tas\tthey\tsat\tand\ttalked\tafter\tdinner\ton\tthe\tclose\tsultriness\tof\tthe\tevening,\the had\t unbuttoned\t the\t front\t of\t his\t shirt\t to\t let\t what\t little\t breath\t of\t wind\t there\t was play\t on\t his\t skin.\t The\t sleeves\t were\t rolled\t up\t now,\t the\t front\t of\t the\t shirt\t was unbuttoned,\t and\t on\t his\t arms\t and\t on\t the\t brown\t skin\t of\t his\t chest\t were\t strange discolorations\t which\t grew\t momently\t more\t clear\t and\t defined,\t till\t they\t saw\t that the\tmarks\twere\tpointed\tprints,\tas\tif\tcaused\tby\tthe\thoofs\tof\tsome\tmonstrous\tgoat that\thad\tleaped\tand\tstamped\tupon\thim.","THE\tWOMAN'S\tGHOST\tSTORY[I] BY\tALGERNON\tBLACKWOOD \\\"Yes,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\tfrom\ther\tseat\tin\tthe\tdark\tcorner,\t\\\"I'll\ttell\tyou\tan\texperience\tif you\t care\t to\t listen.\t And,\t what's\t more,\t I'll\t tell\t it\t briefly,\t without\t trimmings\u2014I mean\twithout\tunessentials.\tThat's\ta\tthing\tstory-tellers\tnever\tdo,\tyou\tknow,\\\"\tshe laughed.\t \\\"They\t drag\t in\t all\t the\t unessentials\t and\t leave\t their\t listeners\t to disentangle;\tbut\tI'll\tgive\tyou\tjust\tthe\tessentials,\tand\tyou\tcan\tmake\tof\tit\twhat\tyou please.\t But\t on\t one\t condition:\t that\t at\t the\t end\t you\t ask\t no\t questions,\t because\t I can't\texplain\tit\tand\thave\tno\twish\tto.\\\" We\tagreed.\tWe\twere\tall\tserious.\tAfter\tlistening\tto\ta\tdozen\tprolix\tstories\tfrom people\t who\t merely\t wished\t to\t \\\"talk\\\"\t but\t had\t nothing\t to\t tell,\t we\t wanted \\\"essentials.\\\" \\\"In\t those\t days,\\\"\t she\t began,\t feeling\t from\t the\t quality\t of\t our\t silence\t that\t we were\t with\t her,\t \\\"in\t those\t days\t I\t was\t interested\t in\t psychic\t things,\t and\t had arranged\t to\t sit\t up\t alone\t in\t a\t haunted\t house\t in\t the\t middle\t of\t London.\t It\t was\t a cheap\tand\tdingy\tlodging-house\tin\ta\tmean\tstreet,\tunfurnished.\tI\thad\talready\tmade a\t preliminary\t examination\t in\t daylight\t that\t afternoon,\t and\t the\t keys\t from\t the caretaker,\twho\tlived\tnext\tdoor,\twere\tin\tmy\tpocket.\tThe\tstory\twas\ta\tgood\tone\u2014 satisfied\t me,\t at\t any\t rate,\t that\t it\t was\t worth\t investigating;\t and\t I\t won't\t weary\t you with\tdetails\tas\tto\tthe\twoman's\tmurder\tand\tall\tthe\ttiresome\telaboration\tas\tto\twhy the\tplace\twas\talive.\tEnough\tthat\tit\twas. \\\"I\t was\t a\t good\t deal\t bored,\t therefore,\t to\t see\t a\t man,\t whom\t I\t took\t to\t be\t the talkative\told\tcaretaker,\twaiting\tfor\tme\ton\tthe\tsteps\twhen\tI\twent\tin\tat\t11\tP.M.,\tfor I\thad\tsufficiently\texplained\tthat\tI\twished\tto\tbe\tthere\talone\tfor\tthe\tnight. \\\"'I\t wished\t to\t show\t you\t the\t room,'\t he\t mumbled,\t and\t of\t course\t I\t couldn't exactly\trefuse,\thaving\ttipped\thim\tfor\tthe\ttemporary\tloan\tof\ta\tchair\tand\ttable. \\\"'Come\tin,\tthen,\tand\tlet's\tbe\tquick,'\tI\tsaid. \\\"We\t went\t in,\t he\t shuffling\t after\t me\t through\t the\t unlighted\t hall\t up\t to\t the\t first floor\t where\t the\t murder\t had\t taken\t place,\t and\t I\t prepared\t myself\t to\t hear\t his inevitable\t account\t before\t turning\t him\t out\t with\t the\t half-crown\t his\t persistence","had\tearned.\tAfter\tlighting\tthe\tgas\tI\tsat\tdown\tin\tthe\tarm-chair\the\thad\tprovided\u2014 a\tfaded,\tbrown\tplush\tarm-chair\u2014and\tturned\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tto\tface\thim\tand\tget through\twith\tthe\tperformance\tas\tquickly\tas\tpossible.\tAnd\tit\twas\tin\tthat\tinstant\tI got\tmy\tfirst\tshock.\tThe\tman\twas\tnot\tthe\tcaretaker.\tIt\twas\tnot\tthe\told\tfool,\tCarey, I\thad\t interviewed\tearlier\tin\tthe\t day\tand\tmade\t my\t plans\twith.\tMy\theart\tgave\ta horrid\tjump. \\\"'Now\twho\tare\tyou,\tpray?'\tI\tsaid.\t'You're\tnot\tCarey,\tthe\tman\tI\tarranged\twith this\tafternoon.\tWho\tare\tyou?' \\\"I\tfelt\tuncomfortable,\tas\tyou\tmay\timagine.\tI\twas\ta\t'psychical\tresearcher,'\tand a\tyoung\twoman\tof\tnew\ttendencies,\tand\tproud\tof\tmy\tliberty,\tbut\tI\tdid\tnot\tcare\tto find\tmyself\tin\tan\tempty\thouse\twith\ta\tstranger.\tSomething\tof\tmy\tconfidence\tleft me.\t Confidence\t with\t women,\t you\t know,\t is\t all\t humbug\t after\t a\t certain\t point.\t Or perhaps\tyou\tdon't\tknow,\tfor\tmost\tof\tyou\tare\tmen.\tBut\tanyhow\tmy\tpluck\tebbed in\ta\tquick\trush,\tand\tI\tfelt\tafraid. \\\"'Who\t are\t you?'\t I\t repeated\t quickly\t and\t nervously.\t The\t fellow\t was\t well dressed,\t youngish\t and\t good-looking,\t but\t with\t a\t face\t of\t great\t sadness.\t I\t myself was\t barely\t thirty.\t I\t am\t giving\t you\t essentials,\t or\t I\t would\t not\t mention\t it.\t Out\t of quite\tordinary\tthings\tcomes\tthis\tstory.\tI\tthink\tthat's\twhy\tit\thas\tvalue. \\\"'No,'\the\tsaid;\t'I'm\tthe\tman\twho\twas\tfrightened\tto\tdeath.' \\\"His\tvoice\tand\this\twords\tran\tthrough\tme\tlike\ta\tknife,\tand\tI\tfelt\tready\tto\tdrop. In\t my\t pocket\t was\t the\t book\t I\t had\t bought\t to\t make\t notes\t in.\t I\t felt\t the\t pencil sticking\tin\tthe\tsocket.\tI\tfelt,\ttoo,\tthe\textra\twarm\tthings\tI\thad\tput\ton\tto\tsit\tup\tin, as\t no\t bed\t or\t sofa\t was\t available\u2014a\t hundred\t things\t dashed\t through\t my\t mind, foolishly\t and\t without\t sequence\t or\t meaning,\t as\t the\t way\t is\t when\t one\t is\t really frightened.\t Unessentials\t leaped\t up\t and\t puzzled\t me,\t and\t I\t thought\t of\t what\t the papers\tmight\tsay\tif\tit\tcame\tout,\tand\twhat\tmy\t'smart'\tbrother-in-law\twould\tthink, and\twhether\tit\twould\tbe\ttold\tthat\tI\thad\tcigarettes\tin\tmy\tpocket,\tand\twas\ta\tfree- thinker. \\\"'The\tman\twho\twas\tfrightened\tto\tdeath!'\tI\trepeated\taghast. \\\"'That's\tme,'\the\tsaid\tstupidly. \\\"I\t stared\t at\t him\t just\t as\t you\t would\t have\t done\u2014any\t one\t of\t you\t men\t now listening\tto\tme\u2014and\tfelt\tmy\tlife\tebbing\tand\tflowing\tlike\ta\tsort\tof\thot\tfluid.\tYou needn't\t laugh!\t That's\t how\t I\t felt.\t Small\t things,\t you\t know,\t touch\t the\t mind\t with","great\tearnestness\twhen\t terror\tis\tthere\u2014real\tterror.\t But\t I\t might\t have\t been\t at\t a middle-class\ttea-party,\tfor\tall\tthe\tideas\tI\thad:\tthey\twere\tso\tordinary! \\\"'But\tI\tthought\tyou\twere\tthe\tcaretaker\tI\ttipped\tthis\tafternoon\tto\tlet\tme\tsleep here!'\tI\tgasped.\t'Did\u2014did\tCarey\tsend\tyou\tto\tmeet\tme?' \\\"'No,'\t he\t replied\t in\t a\t voice\t that\t touched\t my\t boots\t somehow.\t 'I\t am\t the\t man who\twas\tfrightened\tto\tdeath.\tAnd\twhat\tis\tmore,\tI\tam\tfrightened\tnow!' \\\"'So\tam\tI!'\tI\tmanaged\tto\tutter,\tspeaking\tinstinctively.\t'I'm\tsimply\tterrified.' \\\"'Yes,'\the\treplied\tin\tthat\tsame\todd\tvoice\tthat\tseemed\tto\tsound\twithin\tme.\t'But you\tare\tstill\tin\tthe\tflesh,\tand\tI\u2014am\tnot!' \\\"I\t felt\t the\t need\t for\t vigorous\t self-assertion.\t I\t stood\t up\t in\t that\t empty, unfurnished\troom,\tdigging\tthe\tnails\tinto\tmy\tpalms\tand\tclenching\tmy\tteeth.\tI\twas determined\t to\t assert\t my\t individuality\t and\t my\t courage\t as\t a\t new\t woman\t and\t a free\tsoul. \\\"'You\tmean\tto\tsay\tyou\tare\tnot\tin\tthe\tflesh!'\tI\tgasped.\t'What\tin\tthe\tworld\tare you\ttalking\tabout?' \\\"The\tsilence\tof\tthe\tnight\tswallowed\tup\tmy\tvoice.\tFor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tI\trealized that\tdarkness\twas\tover\tthe\tcity;\tthat\tdust\tlay\tupon\tthe\tstairs;\tthat\tthe\tfloor\tabove was\t untenanted\t and\t the\t floor\t below\t empty.\t I\t was\t alone\t in\t an\t unoccupied\t and haunted\thouse,\tunprotected,\tand\ta\twoman.\tI\tchilled.\tI\theard\tthe\twind\tround\tthe house,\t and\t knew\t the\t stars\t were\t hidden.\t My\t thoughts\t rushed\t to\t policemen\t and omnibuses,\t and\t everything\t that\t was\t useful\t and\t comforting.\t I\t suddenly\t realized what\ta\tfool\tI\twas\tto\tcome\tto\tsuch\ta\thouse\talone.\tI\twas\ticily\tafraid.\tI\tthought\tthe end\tof\tmy\tlife\thad\tcome.\tI\twas\tan\tutter\tfool\tto\tgo\tin\tfor\tpsychical\tresearch\twhen I\thad\tnot\tthe\tnecessary\tnerve. \\\"'Good\tGod!'\tI\tgasped.\t'If\tyou're\tnot\tCarey,\tthe\tman\tI\tarranged\twith,\twho\tare you?' \\\"I\twas\treally\tstiff\twith\tterror.\tThe\tman\tmoved\tslowly\ttowards\tme\tacross\tthe empty\t room.\t I\t held\t out\t my\t arm\t to\t stop\t him,\t getting\t up\t out\t of\t my\t chair\t at\t the same\tmoment,\tand\the\tcame\tto\thalt\tjust\topposite\tto\tme,\ta\tsmile\ton\this\tworn,\tsad face. \\\"'I\ttold\tyou\twho\tI\tam,'\the\trepeated\tquietly\twith\ta\tsigh,\tlooking\tat\tme\twith\tthe saddest\teyes\tI\thave\tever\tseen,\t'and\tI\tam\tfrightened\tstill.'","\\\"By\t this\t time\t I\t was\t convinced\t that\t I\t was\t entertaining\t either\t a\t rogue\t or\t a madman,\t and\t I\t cursed\t my\t stupidity\t in\t bringing\t the\t man\t in\t without\t having\t seen his\t face.\t My\t mind\t was\t quickly\t made\t up,\t and\t I\t knew\t what\t to\t do.\t Ghosts\t and psychic\t phenomena\t flew\t to\t the\t winds.\t If\t I\t angered\t the\t creature\t my\t life\t might pay\tthe\tprice.\tI\tmust\thumor\thim\ttill\tI\tgot\tto\tthe\tdoor,\tand\tthen\trace\tfor\tthe\tstreet. I\t stood\t bolt\t upright\t and\t faced\t him.\t We\t were\t about\t of\t a\t height,\t and\t I\t was\t a strong,\t athletic\t woman\t who\t played\t hockey\t in\t winter\t and\t climbed\t Alps\t in summer.\tMy\thand\titched\tfor\ta\tstick,\tbut\tI\thad\tnone. \\\"'Now,\t of\t course,\t I\t remember,'\t I\t said\t with\t a\t sort\t of\t stiff\t smile\t that\t was\t very hard\tto\tforce.\t'Now\tI\tremember\tyour\tcase\tand\tthe\twonderful\tway\tyou\tbehaved.\t. .\t.' \\\"The\t man\t stared\t at\t me\t stupidly,\t turning\t his\t head\t to\t watch\t me\t as\t I\t backed more\tand\tmore\tquickly\tto\tthe\tdoor.\tBut\twhen\this\tface\tbroke\tinto\ta\tsmile\tI\tcould control\t myself\t no\t longer.\t I\t reached\t the\t door\t in\t a\t run,\t and\t shot\t out\t on\t to\t the landing.\t Like\t a\t fool,\t I\t turned\t the\t wrong\t way,\t and\t stumbled\t over\t the\t stairs leading\tto\tthe\tnext\tstory.\tBut\tit\twas\ttoo\tlate\tto\tchange.\tThe\tman\twas\tafter\tme,\tI was\t sure,\t though\t no\t sound\t of\t footsteps\t came;\t and\t I\t dashed\t up\t the\t next\t flight, tearing\tmy\tskirt\tand\tbanging\tmy\tribs\tin\tthe\tdarkness,\tand\trushed\theadlong\tinto the\tfirst\troom\tI\tcame\t to.\t Luckily\t the\t door\t stood\t ajar,\t and,\t still\t more\t fortunate, there\twas\ta\tkey\tin\tthe\tlock.\tIn\ta\tsecond\tI\thad\tslammed\tthe\tdoor,\tflung\tmy\twhole weight\tagainst\tit,\tand\tturned\tthe\tkey. \\\"I\twas\tsafe,\tbut\tmy\theart\twas\tbeating\tlike\ta\tdrum.\tA\tsecond\tlater\tit\tseemed\tto stop\t altogether,\t for\t I\t saw\t that\t there\t was\t some\t one\t else\t in\t the\t room\t besides myself.\t A\t man's\t figure\t stood\t between\t me\t and\t the\t windows,\t where\t the\t street lamps\tgave\tjust\tenough\tlight\tto\toutline\this\tshape\tagainst\tthe\tglass.\tI'm\ta\tplucky woman,\tyou\tknow,\tfor\teven\tthen\tI\tdidn't\tgive\tup\thope,\tbut\tI\tmay\ttell\tyou\tthat\tI have\t never\t felt\t so\t vilely\t frightened\t in\t all\t my\t born\t days.\t I\t had\t locked\t myself\t in with\thim! \\\"The\tman\tleaned\tagainst\tthe\twindow,\twatching\tme\twhere\tI\tlay\tin\ta\tcollapsed heap\t upon\t the\t floor.\t So\t there\t were\t two\t men\t in\t the\t house\t with\t me,\t I\t reflected. Perhaps\tother\trooms\twere\toccupied\ttoo!\tWhat\tcould\tit\tall\tmean?\tBut,\tas\tI\tstared something\tchanged\tin\tthe\troom,\tor\tin\tme\u2014hard\tto\tsay\twhich\u2014and\tI\trealized\tmy mistake,\t so\t that\t my\t fear,\t which\t had\t so\t far\t been\t physical,\t at\t once\t altered\t its character\t and\t became\t psychical.\t I\t became\t afraid\t in\t my\t soul\t instead\t of\t in\t my heart,\tand\tI\tknew\timmediately\twho\tthis\tman\twas.","\\\"'How\tin\tthe\tworld\tdid\tyou\tget\tup\there?'\tI\tstammered\tto\thim\tacross\tthe\tempty room,\tamazement\tmomentarily\tstemming\tmy\tfear. \\\"'Now,\t let\t me\t tell\t you,'\t he\t began,\t in\t that\t odd\t faraway\t voice\t of\t his\t that\t went down\tmy\tspine\tlike\ta\tknife.\t'I'm\tin\tdifferent\tspace,\tfor\tone\tthing,\tand\tyou'd\tfind me\tin\tany\troom\tyou\twent\tinto;\tfor\taccording\tto\tyour\tway\tof\tmeasuring,\tI'm\tall over\tthe\thouse.\tSpace\tis\ta\tbodily\tcondition,\tbut\tI\tam\tout\tof\tthe\tbody,\tand\tam\tnot affected\t by\t space.\t It's\t my\t condition\t that\t keeps\t me\t here.\t I\t want\t something\t to change\tmy\tcondition\tfor\tme,\tfor\tthen\tI\tcould\tget\taway.\tWhat\tI\twant\tis\tsympathy. Or,\treally,\tmore\tthan\tsympathy;\tI\twant\taffection\u2014I\twant\tlove!' \\\"While\the\twas\tspeaking\tI\tgathered\tmyself\tslowly\tupon\tmy\tfeet.\tI\twanted\tto scream\t and\t cry\t and\t laugh\t all\t at\t once,\t but\t I\t only\t succeeded\t in\t sighing,\t for\t my emotion\t was\t exhausted\t and\t a\t numbness\t was\t coming\t over\t me.\t I\t felt\t for\t the matches\tin\tmy\tpocket\tand\tmade\ta\tmovement\ttowards\tthe\tgas\tjet. \\\"'I\tshould\tbe\tmuch\thappier\tif\tyou\tdidn't\tlight\tthe\tgas,'\the\tsaid\tat\tonce,\t'for\tthe vibrations\tof\tyour\tlight\thurt\tme\ta\tgood\tdeal.\tYou\tneed\tnot\tbe\tafraid\tthat\tI\tshall injure\t you.\t I\t can't\t touch\t your\t body\t to\t begin\t with,\t for\t there's\t a\t great\t gulf\t fixed, you\t know;\t and\t really\t this\t half-light\t suits\t me\t best.\t Now,\t let\t me\t continue\t what\t I was\ttrying\tto\tsay\tbefore.\tYou\tknow,\tso\tmany\tpeople\thave\tcome\tto\tthis\thouse\tto see\t me,\t and\t most\t of\t them\t have\t seen\t me,\t and\t one\t and\t all\t have\t been\t terrified.\t If only,\t oh,\t if\t only\t some\t one\t would\t be\t not\t terrified,\t but\t kind\t and\t loving\t to\t me! Then,\tyou\tsee,\tI\tmight\tbe\table\tto\tchange\tmy\tcondition\tand\tget\taway.' \\\"His\tvoice\twas\tso\tsad\tthat\tI\tfelt\ttears\tstart\tsomewhere\tat\tthe\tback\tof\tmy\teyes; but\tfear\tkept\tall\telse\tin\tcheck,\tand\tI\tstood\tshaking\tand\tcold\tas\tI\tlistened\tto\thim. \\\"'Who\t are\t you\t then?\t Of\t course\t Carey\t didn't\t send\t you,\t I\t know\t now,'\t I managed\tto\tutter.\tMy\tthoughts\tscattered\tdreadfully\tand\tI\tcould\tthink\tof\tnothing to\tsay.\tI\twas\tafraid\tof\ta\tstroke. \\\"'I\tknow\tnothing\tabout\tCarey,\tor\twho\the\tis,'\tcontinued\tthe\tman\tquietly,\t'and the\tname\tmy\tbody\thad\tI\thave\tforgotten,\tthank\tGod;\tbut\tI\tam\tthe\tman\twho\twas frightened\tto\tdeath\tin\tthis\thouse\tten\tyears\tago,\tand\tI\thave\tbeen\tfrightened\tever since,\tand\tam\tfrightened\tstill;\tfor\tthe\tsuccession\tof\tcruel\tand\tcurious\tpeople\twho come\tto\tthis\thouse\tto\tsee\tthe\tghost,\tand\tthus\tkeep\talive\tits\tatmosphere\tof\tterror, only\thelps\tto\trender\tmy\tcondition\tworse.\tIf\tonly\tsome\tone\twould\tbe\tkind\tto\tme \u2014laugh,\t speak\t gently\t and\t rationally\t with\t me,\t cry\t if\t they\t like,\t pity,\t comfort, soothe\t me\u2014anything\t but\t come\t here\t in\t curiosity\t and\t tremble\t as\t you\t are\t now doing\tin\tthat\tcorner.\tNow,\tmadam,\twon't\tyou\ttake\tpity\ton\tme?'\tHis\tvoice\trose\tto","a\tdreadful\tcry.\t'Won't\tyou\tstep\tout\tinto\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\troom\tand\ttry\tto\tlove\tme a\tlittle?' \\\"A\t horrible\t laughter\t came\t gurgling\t up\t in\t my\t throat\t as\t I\t heard\t him,\t but\t the sense\tof\tpity\twas\tstronger\tthan\tthe\tlaughter,\tand\tI\tfound\tmyself\tactually\tleaving the\tsupport\tof\tthe\twall\tand\tapproaching\tthe\tcenter\tof\tthe\tfloor. \\\"'By\t God!'\t he\t cried,\t at\t once\t straightening\t up\t against\t the\t window,\t 'you\t have done\t a\t kind\t act.\t That's\t the\t first\t attempt\t at\t sympathy\t that\t has\t been\t shown\t me since\t I\t died,\t and\t I\t feel\t better\t already.\t In\t life,\t you\t know,\t I\t was\t a\t misanthrope. Everything\twent\twrong\twith\tme,\tand\tI\tcame\tto\thate\tmy\tfellow\tmen\tso\tmuch\tthat I\t couldn't\t bear\t to\t see\t them\t even.\t Of\t course,\t like\t begets\t like,\t and\t this\t hate\t was returned.\t Finally\t I\t suffered\t from\t horrible\t delusions,\t and\t my\t room\t became haunted\t with\t demons\t that\t laughed\t and\t grimaced,\t and\t one\t night\t I\t ran\t into\t a whole\tcluster\tof\tthem\tnear\tthe\tbed\u2014and\tthe\tfright\tstopped\tmy\theart\tand\tkilled me.\tIt's\thate\tand\tremorse,\tas\tmuch\tas\tterror,\tthat\tclogs\tme\tso\tthickly\tand\tkeeps me\there.\tIf\tonly\tsome\tone\tcould\tfeel\tpity,\tand\tsympathy,\tand\tperhaps\ta\tlittle\tlove for\t me,\t I\t could\t get\t away\t and\t be\t happy.\t When\t you\t came\t this\t afternoon\t to\t see over\t the\t house\t I\t watched\t you,\t and\t a\t little\t hope\t came\t to\t me\t for\t the\t first\t time.\t I saw\t you\t had\t courage,\t originality,\t resource\u2014love.\t If\t only\t I\t could\t touch\t your heart,\t without\t frightening\t you,\t I\t knew\t I\t could\t perhaps\t tap\t that\t love\t you\t have stored\tup\tin\tyour\tbeing\tthere,\tand\tthus\tborrow\tthe\twings\tfor\tmy\tescape!' \\\"Now\t I\t must\t confess\t my\t heart\t began\t to\t ache\t a\t little,\t as\t fear\t left\t me\t and\t the man's\t words\t sank\t their\t sad\t meaning\t into\t me.\t Still,\t the\t whole\t affair\t was\t so incredible,\t and\t so\t touched\t with\t unholy\t quality,\t and\t the\t story\t of\t a\t woman's murder\tI\thad\tcome\tto\tinvestigate\thad\tso\tobviously\tnothing\tto\tdo\twith\tthis\tthing, that\t I\t felt\t myself\t in\t a\t kind\t of\t wild\t dream\t that\t seemed\t likely\t to\t stop\t at\t any moment\tand\tleave\tme\tsomewhere\tin\tbed\tafter\ta\tnightmare. \\\"Moreover,\t his\t words\t possessed\t me\t to\t such\t an\t extent\t that\t I\t found\t it impossible\t to\t reflect\t upon\t anything\t else\t at\t all,\t or\t to\t consider\t adequately\t any ways\tor\tmeans\tof\taction\tor\tescape. \\\"I\t moved\t a\t little\t nearer\t to\t him\t in\t the\t gloom,\t horribly\t frightened,\t of\t course, but\twith\tthe\tbeginnings\tof\ta\tstrange\tdetermination\tin\tmy\theart. \\\"'You\t women,'\t he\t continued,\t his\t voice\t plainly\t thrilling\t at\t my\t approach,\t 'you wonderful\t women,\t to\t whom\t life\t often\t brings\t no\t opportunity\t of\t spending\t your great\t love,\t oh,\t if\t you\t only\t could\t know\t how\t many\t of\t us\tsimply\t yearn\tfor\tit!\tIt would\tsave\tour\tsouls,\tif\tbut\tyou\tknew.\tFew\tmight\tfind\tthe\tchance\tthat\tyou\tnow","have,\tbut\tif\tyou\tonly\tspent\tyour\tlove\tfreely,\twithout\tdefinite\tobject,\tjust\tletting\tit flow\topenly\tfor\tall\twho\tneed,\tyou\twould\treach\thundreds\tand\tthousands\tof\tsouls like\tme,\tand\trelease\tus!\tOh,\tmadam,\tI\task\tyou\tagain\tto\tfeel\twith\tme,\tto\tbe\tkind and\tgentle\u2014and\tif\tyou\tcan\tto\tlove\tme\ta\tlittle!' \\\"My\theart\tdid\tleap\twithin\tme\tand\tthis\ttime\tthe\ttears\tdid\tcome,\tfor\tI\tcould\tnot restrain\tthem.\tI\tlaughed\ttoo,\tfor\tthe\tway\the\tcalled\tme\t'madam'\tsounded\tso\todd, here\tin\tthis\tempty\troom\tat\tmidnight\tin\ta\tLondon\tstreet,\tbut\tmy\tlaughter\tstopped dead\t and\t merged\t in\t a\t flood\t of\t weeping\t when\t I\t saw\t how\t my\t change\t of\t feeling affected\thim.\tHe\thad\tleft\this\tplace\tby\tthe\twindow\tand\twas\tkneeling\ton\tthe\tfloor at\t my\t feet,\t his\t hands\t stretched\t out\t towards\t me,\t and\t the\t first\t signs\t of\t a\t kind\t of glory\tabout\this\thead. \\\"'Put\t your\t arms\t round\t me\t and\t kiss\t me,\t for\t the\t love\t of\t God!'\t he\t cried.\t 'Kiss me,\toh,\tkiss\tme,\tand\tI\tshall\tbe\tfreed!\tYou\thave\tdone\tso\tmuch\talready\u2014now\tdo this!' \\\"I\tstuck\tthere,\thesitating,\tshaking,\tmy\t determination\ton\tthe\tverge\tof\taction, yet\tnot\tquite\table\tto\tcompass\tit.\tBut\tthe\tterror\thad\talmost\tgone. \\\"'Forget\t that\t I'm\t a\t man\t and\t you're\t a\t woman,'\t he\t continued\t in\t the\t most beseeching\tvoice\tI\tever\theard.\t'Forget\tthat\tI'm\ta\tghost,\tand\tcome\tout\tboldly\tand press\tme\tto\tyou\twith\ta\tgreat\tkiss,\tand\tlet\tyour\tlove\tflow\tinto\tme.\tForget\tyourself just\tfor\tone\tminute\tand\tdo\ta\tbrave\tthing!\tOh,\tlove\tme,\tlove\tme,\tLOVE\tME!\t and\t I shall\tbe\tfree!' \\\"The\t words,\t or\t the\t deep\t force\t they\t somehow\t released\t in\t the\t center\t of\t my being,\t stirred\t me\t profoundly,\t and\t an\t emotion\t infinitely\t greater\t than\t fear\t surged up\tover\tme\tand\tcarried\tme\twith\tit\tacross\tthe\tedge\tof\taction.\tWithout\thesitation\tI took\ttwo\tsteps\tforward\ttowards\thim\twhere\the\tknelt,\tand\theld\tout\tmy\tarms.\tPity and\t love\t were\t in\t my\t heart\t at\t that\t moment,\t genuine\t pity,\t I\t swear,\t and\t genuine love.\t I\t forgot\t myself\t and\t my\t little\t tremblings\t in\t a\t great\t desire\t to\t help\t another soul. \\\"'I\t love\t you!\t poor,\t aching,\t unhappy\t thing!\t I\t love\t you,'\t I\t cried\t through\t hot tears;\t'and\tI\tam\tnot\tthe\tleast\tbit\tafraid\tin\tthe\tworld.' \\\"The\tman\tuttered\ta\tcurious\tsound,\tlike\tlaughter,\tyet\tnot\tlaughter,\tand\tturned his\tface\tup\tto\tme.\tThe\tlight\tfrom\tthe\tstreet\tbelow\tfell\ton\tit,\tbut\tthere\twas\tanother light,\t too,\t shining\t all\t round\t it\t that\t seemed\t to\t come\t from\t the\t eyes\t and\t skin.\t He rose\t to\t his\t feet\t and\t met\t me,\t and\t in\t that\t second\t I\t folded\t him\t to\t my\t breast\t and","kissed\thim\tfull\ton\tthe\tlips\tagain\tand\tagain.\\\" All\tour\tpipes\thad\tgone\tout,\tand\tnot\teven\ta\tskirt\trustled\tin\tthat\tdark\tstudio\tas the\tstory-teller\tpaused\ta\tmoment\tto\tsteady\ther\tvoice,\tand\tput\ta\thand\tsoftly\tup\tto her\teyes\tbefore\tgoing\ton\tagain. \\\"Now,\t what\t can\t I\t say,\t and\t how\t can\t I\t describe\t to\t you,\t all\t you\t skeptical\t men sitting\t there\t with\t pipes\t in\t your\t mouths,\t the\t amazing\t sensation\t I\t experienced\t of holding\tan\tintangible,\timpalpable\tthing\tso\tclosely\tto\tmy\theart\tthat\tit\ttouched\tmy body\t with\t equal\t pressure\t all\t the\t way\t down,\t and\t then\t melted\t away\t somewhere into\t my\t very\t being?\t For\t it\t was\t like\t seizing\t a\t rush\t of\t cool\t wind\t and\t feeling\t a touch\t of\t burning\t fire\t the\t moment\t it\t had\t struck\t its\t swift\t blow\t and\t passed\t on.\t A series\tof\tshocks\tran\tall\tover\tand\tall\tthrough\tme;\ta\tmomentary\tecstasy\tof\tflaming sweetness\tand\twonder\tthrilled\tdown\tinto\tme;\tmy\theart\tgave\tanother\tgreat\tleap\u2014 and\tthen\tI\twas\talone. \\\"The\troom\twas\tempty.\tI\tturned\ton\tthe\tgas\tand\tstruck\ta\tmatch\tto\tprove\tit.\tAll fear\thad\tleft\tme,\tand\tsomething\twas\tsinging\tround\tme\tin\tthe\tair\tand\tin\tmy\theart like\t the\t joy\t of\t a\t spring\t morning\t in\t youth.\t Not\t all\t the\t devils\t or\t shadows\t or hauntings\tin\tthe\tworld\tcould\tthen\thave\tcaused\tme\ta\tsingle\ttremor. \\\"I\tunlocked\tthe\tdoor\tand\twent\tall\tover\tthe\tdark\thouse,\teven\tinto\tkitchen\tand cellar\tand\tup\tamong\tthe\tghostly\tattics.\tBut\tthe\thouse\twas\tempty.\tSomething\thad left\t it.\t I\t lingered\t a\t short\t hour,\t analyzing,\t thinking,\t wondering\u2014you\t can\t guess what\t and\t how,\t perhaps,\t but\t I\t won't\t detail,\t for\t I\t promised\t only\t essentials, remember\u2014and\t then\t went\t out\t to\t sleep\t the\t remainder\t of\t the\t night\t in\t my\t own flat,\tlocking\tthe\tdoor\tbehind\tme\tupon\ta\thouse\tno\tlonger\thaunted. \\\"But\tmy\tuncle,\tSir\tHenry,\tthe\towner\tof\tthe\thouse,\trequired\tan\taccount\tof\tmy adventure,\t and\t of\t course\t I\t was\t in\t duty\t bound\t to\t give\t him\t some\t kind\t of\t a\t true story.\tBefore\tI\tcould\tbegin,\thowever,\the\theld\tup\this\thand\tto\tstop\tme. \\\"'First,'\the\tsaid,\t'I\twish\tto\ttell\tyou\ta\tlittle\tdeception\tI\tventured\tto\tpractice\ton you.\tSo\tmany\tpeople\thave\tbeen\tto\tthat\thouse\tand\tseen\tthe\tghost\tthat\tI\tcame\tto think\tthe\tstory\tacted\ton\ttheir\timaginations,\tand\tI\twished\tto\tmake\ta\tbetter\ttest.\tSo I\t invented\t for\t their\t benefit\t another\t story,\t with\t the\t idea\t that\t if\t you\t did\t see anything\tI\tcould\tbe\tsure\tit\twas\tnot\tdue\tmerely\tto\tan\texcited\timagination.' \\\"'Then\twhat\tyou\ttold\tme\tabout\ta\twoman\thaving\tbeen\tmurdered,\tand\tall\tthat, was\tnot\tthe\ttrue\tstory\tof\tthe\thaunting?'","\\\"'It\t was\t not.\t The\t true\t story\t is\t that\t a\t cousin\t of\t mine\t went\t mad\t in\t that\t house, and\t killed\t himself\t in\t a\t fit\t of\t morbid\t terror\t following\t upon\t years\t of\t miserable hypochondriasis.\tIt\tis\this\tfigure\tthat\tinvestigators\tsee.' \\\"'That\texplains,\tthen,'\tI\tgasped\u2014\u2014 \\\"'Explains\twhat?' \\\"I\tthought\tof\tthat\tpoor\tstruggling\tsoul,\tlonging\tall\tthese\tyears\tfor\tescape,\tand determined\tto\tkeep\tmy\tstory\tfor\tthe\tpresent\tto\tmyself. \\\"'Explains,\t I\t mean,\t why\t I\t did\t not\t see\t the\t ghost\t of\t the\t murdered\t woman,'\t I concluded. \\\"'Precisely,'\tsaid\tSir\tHenry,\t'and\twhy,\tif\tyou\thad\tseen\tanything,\tit\twould\thave had\t value,\t inasmuch\t as\t it\t could\t not\t have\t been\t caused\t by\t the\t imagination working\tupon\ta\tstory\tyou\talready\tknew.'\\\"","THE\tPHANTOM\t'RICKSHAW BY\tRUDYARD\tKIPLING \\\"May\tno\till\tdreams\tdisturb\tmy\trest, Nor\tPowers\tof\tDarkness\tme\tmolest.\\\" \u2014Evening\tHymn. One\t of\t the\t few\t advantages\t that\t India\t has\t over\t England\t is\t a\t certain\t great Knowability.\t After\t five\t years'\t service\t a\t man\t is\t directly\t or\t indirectly\t acquainted with\tthe\ttwo\tor\tthree\thundred\tCivilians\tin\this\tProvince,\tall\tthe\tMesses\tof\tten\tor twelve\t Regiments\t and\t Batteries,\t and\t some\t fifteen\t hundred\t other\t people\t of\t the non-official\tcastes.\tIn\tten\tyears\this\tknowledge\tshould\tbe\tdoubled,\tand\tat\tthe\tend of\ttwenty\the\tknows,\tor\tknows\tsomething\tabout,\talmost\tevery\tEnglishman\tin\tthe Empire,\tand\tmay\ttravel\tanywhere\tand\teverywhere\twithout\tpaying\thotel-bills. Globe-trotters\t who\t expect\t entertainment\t as\t a\t right,\t have,\t even\t within\t my memory,\tblunted\tthis\topen-heartedness,\tbut,\tnone\tthe\tless,\tto-day\tif\tyou\tbelong to\tthe\tInner\tCircle\tand\tare\tneither\ta\tbear\tnor\ta\tblack\tsheep\tall\thouses\tare\topen\tto you\tand\tour\tsmall\tworld\tis\tvery\tkind\tand\thelpful. Rickett\t of\t Kamartha\t stayed\t with\t Polder\t of\t Kumaon,\t some\t fifteen\t years\t ago. He\t meant\t to\t stay\t two\t nights\t only,\t but\t was\t knocked\t down\t by\t rheumatic\t fever, and\t for\t six\t weeks\t disorganized\t Polder's\t establishment,\t stopped\t Polder's\t work, and\t nearly\t died\t in\t Polder's\t bed-room.\t Polder\t behaves\t as\t though\t he\t had\t been placed\tunder\teternal\tobligation\tby\tRickett,\tand\tyearly\tsends\tthe\tlittle\tRicketts\ta box\t of\t presents\t and\t toys.\t It\t is\t the\t same\t everywhere.\t The\t men\t who\t do\t not\t take the\t trouble\t to\t conceal\t from\t you\t their\t opinion\t that\t you\t are\t an\t incompetent\t ass, and\t the\t women\t who\t blacken\t your\t character\t and\t misunderstand\t your\t wife's amusements,\twill\twork\tthemselves\tto\tthe\tbone\tin\tyour\tbehalf\tif\tyou\tfall\tsick\tor into\tserious\ttrouble. Heatherlegh,\tthe\tDoctor,\tkept,\tin\taddition\tto\this\tregular\tpractice,\ta\thospital\ton his\t private\t account\u2014an\t arrangement\t of\t loose-boxes\t for\t Incurables,\t his\t friends called\t it\u2014but\t it\t was\t really\t a\t sort\t of\t fitting-up\t shed\t for\t craft\t that\t had\t been damaged\tby\tstress\tof\tweather.\tThe\tweather\tin\tIndia\tis\toften\tsultry,\tand\tsince\tthe tale\t of\t bricks\t is\t a\t fixed\t quantity,\t and\t the\t only\t liberty\t allowed\t is\t permission\t to","work\tovertime\tand\tget\tno\tthanks,\tmen\toccasionally\tbreak\tdown\tand\tbecome\tas mixed\tas\tthe\tmetaphors\tin\tthis\tsentence. Heatherlegh\tis\tthe\tnicest\tdoctor\tthat\tever\twas,\tand\this\tinvariable\tprescription to\tall\this\tpatients\tis\t\\\"lie\tlow,\tgo\tslow,\tand\tkeep\tcool.\\\"\tHe\tsays\tthat\tmore\tmen\tare killed\tby\toverwork\tthan\tthe\timportance\tof\tthis\tworld\tjustifies.\tHe\tmaintains\tthat overwork\tslew\tPansay\twho\tdied\tunder\this\thands\tabout\tthree\tyears\tago.\tHe\thas, of\tcourse,\tthe\tright\tto\tspeak\tauthoritatively,\tand\the\tlaughs\tat\tmy\ttheory\tthat\tthere was\ta\tcrack\tin\tPansay's\thead\tand\ta\tlittle\tbit\tof\tthe\tDark\tWorld\tcame\tthrough\tand pressed\thim\tto\tdeath.\t\\\"Pansay\twent\toff\tthe\thandle,\\\"\tsays\tHeatherlegh,\t\\\"after\tthe stimulus\t of\t long\t leave\t at\t Home.\t He\t may\t or\t he\t may\t not\t have\t behaved\t like\t a blackguard\t to\t Mrs.\t Keith-Wessington.\t My\t notion\t is\t that\t the\t work\t of\t the Katabundi\t Settlement\t ran\t him\t off\t his\t legs,\t and\t that\t he\t took\t to\t brooding\t and making\tmuch\tof\tan\tordinary\tP.\t&\tO.\tflirtation.\tHe\tcertainly\twas\tengaged\tto\tMiss Mannering,\tand\tshe\tcertainly\tbroke\toff\tthe\tengagement.\tThen\the\ttook\ta\tfeverish chill\t and\t all\t that\t nonsense\t about\t ghosts\t developed\t itself.\t Overwork\t started\t his illness,\tkept\tit\talight,\tand\tkilled\thim,\tpoor\tdevil.\tWrite\thim\toff\tto\tthe\tSystem\u2014 one\tman\tto\tdo\tthe\twork\tof\ttwo-and-a-half\tmen.\\\" I\t do\t not\t believe\t this.\t I\t used\t to\t sit\t up\t with\t Pansay\t sometimes\t when Heatherlegh\t was\t called\t out\t to\t visit\t patients\t and\t I\t happened\t to\t be\t within\t claim. The\t man\t would\t make\t me\t most\t unhappy\t by\t describing\t in\t a\t low,\t even\t voice\t the procession\t of\t men,\t women,\t children,\t and\t devils\t that\t was\t always\t passing\t at\t the bottom\t of\t his\t bed.\t He\t had\t a\t sick\t man's\t command\t of\t language.\t When\t he recovered\tI\tsuggested\tthat\the\tshould\twrite\tout\tthe\twhole\taffair\tfrom\tbeginning\tto end,\t knowing\t that\t ink\t might\t assist\t him\t to\t ease\t his\t mind.\t When\t little\t boys\t have learned\t a\t new\t bad\t word\t they\t are\t never\t happy\t till\t they\t have\t chalked\t it\t up\t on\t a door.\tAnd\tthis\talso\tis\tLiterature. He\t was\t in\t a\t high\t fever\t while\t he\t was\t writing,\t and\t the\t blood-and-thunder Magazine\t style\t he\t adopted\t did\t not\t calm\t him.\t Two\t months\t afterwards\t he\t was reported\tfit\tfor\tduty,\tbut,\tin\tspite\tof\tthe\tfact\tthat\the\twas\turgently\tneeded\tto\thelp an\t undermanned\t Commission\t stagger\t through\t a\t deficit,\t he\t preferred\t to\t die; vowing\t at\t the\t last\t that\t he\t was\t hag-ridden.\t I\t secured\t his\t manuscript\t before\t he died,\tand\tthis\tis\this\tversion\tof\tthe\taffair,\tdated\t1885:\u2014 My\tdoctor\ttells\tme\tthat\tI\tneed\trest\tand\tchange\tof\tair.\tIt\tis\tnot\timprobable\tthat","I\tshall\tget\tboth\tere\tlong\u2014rest\tthat\tneither\tthe\tred-coated\torderly\tnor\tthe\tmid-day gun\t can\t break,\t and\t change\t of\t air\t far\t beyond\t that\t which\t any\t homeward-bound steamer\tcan\tgive\tme.\tIn\tthe\tmeantime\tI\tam\tresolved\tto\tstay\twhere\tI\tam;\tand,\tin flat\tdefiance\tof\tmy\tdoctor's\torders,\tto\ttake\tall\tthe\tworld\tinto\tmy\tconfidence.\tYou shall\tlearn\tfor\tyourselves\tthe\tprecise\tnature\tof\tmy\tmalady;\tand\tshall,\ttoo,\tjudge for\tyourselves\twhether\tany\tman\tborn\tof\twoman\ton\tthis\tweary\tearth\twas\tever\tso tormented\tas\tI. Speaking\t now\t as\t a\t condemned\t criminal\t might\t speak\t ere\t the\t drop-bolts\t are drawn,\t my\t story,\t wild\t and\t hideously\t improbable\t as\t it\t may\t appear,\t demands\t at least\t attention.\t That\t it\t will\t ever\t receive\t credence\t I\t utterly\t disbelieve.\t Two months\t ago\t I\t should\t have\t scouted\t as\t mad\t or\t drunk\t the\t man\t who\t had\t dared\t tell me\t the\t like.\t Two\t months\t ago\t I\t was\t the\t happiest\t man\t in\t India.\t To-day,\t from Peshawar\tto\tthe\tsea,\tthere\tis\tno\tone\tmore\twretched.\tMy\tdoctor\tand\tI\tare\tthe\tonly two\twho\tknow\tthis.\tHis\texplanation\tis\tthat\tmy\tbrain,\tdigestion\tand\teyesight\tare all\t slightly\t affected;\t giving\t rise\t to\t my\t frequent\t and\t persistent\t \\\"delusions.\\\" Delusions,\t indeed!\t I\t call\t him\t a\t fool;\t but\t he\t attends\t me\t still\t with\t the\t same unwearied\tsmile,\tthe\tsame\tbland\tprofessional\tmanner,\tthe\tsame\tneatly-trimmed red\t whiskers,\t till\t I\t begin\t to\t suspect\t that\t I\t am\t an\t ungrateful,\t evil-tempered invalid.\tBut\tyou\tshall\tjudge\tfor\tyourselves. Three\t years\t ago\t it\t was\t my\t fortune\u2014my\t great\t misfortune\u2014to\t sail\t from Gravesend\t to\t Bombay,\t on\t return\t from\t long\t leave,\t with\t one\t Agnes\t Keith- Wessington,\t wife\t of\t an\t officer\t on\t the\t Bombay\t side.\t It\t does\t not\t in\t the\t least concern\t you\t to\t know\t what\t manner\t of\t woman\t she\t was.\t Be\t content\t with\t the knowledge\tthat,\tere\tthe\tvoyage\thad\tended,\tboth\tshe\tand\tI\twere\tdesperately\tand unreasoningly\t in\t love\t with\t one\t another.\t Heaven\t knows\t that\t I\t can\t make\t the admission\t now\t without\t one\t particle\t of\t vanity.\t In\t matters\t of\t this\t sort\t there\t is always\t one\t who\t gives\t and\t another\t who\t accepts.\t From\t the\t first\t day\t of\t our\t ill- omened\tattachment,\tI\twas\tconscious\tthat\tAgnes's\tpassion\twas\ta\tstronger,\ta\tmore dominant,\t and\u2014if\t I\t may\t use\t the\t expression\u2014a\t purer\t sentiment\t than\t mine. Whether\tshe\trecognized\tthe\tfact\tthen,\tI\tdo\tnot\tknow.\tAfterwards\tit\twas\tbitterly plain\tto\tboth\tof\tus. Arrived\tat\tBombay\tin\tthe\tspring\tof\tthe\tyear,\twe\twent\tour\trespective\tways,\tto meet\t no\t more\t for\t the\t next\t three\t or\t four\t months,\t when\t my\t leave\t and\t her\t love took\tus\tboth\tto\tSimla.\tThere\twe\tspent\tthe\tseason\ttogether;\tand\tthere\tmy\tfire\tof straw\tburnt\titself\tout\tto\ta\tpitiful\tend\twith\tthe\tclosing\tyear.\tI\tattempt\tno\texcuse.\tI make\t no\t apology.\t Mrs.\t Wessington\t had\t given\t up\t much\t for\t my\t sake,\t and\t was prepared\tto\tgive\tup\tall.\tFrom\tmy\town\tlips,\tin\tAugust,\t1882,\tshe\tlearnt\tthat\tI\twas","sick\tof\ther\tpresence,\ttired\tof\ther\tcompany,\tand\tweary\tof\tthe\tsound\tof\ther\tvoice. Ninety-nine\twomen\tout\tof\ta\thundred\twould\thave\twearied\tof\tme\tas\tI\twearied\tof them;\tseventy-five\tof\tthat\tnumber\twould\thave\tpromptly\tavenged\tthemselves\tby active\t and\t obtrusive\t flirtation\t with\t other\t men.\t Mrs.\t Wessington\t was\t the hundredth.\t On\t her\t neither\t my\t openly-expressed\t aversion,\t nor\t the\t cutting brutalities\twith\twhich\tI\tgarnished\tour\tinterviews\thad\tthe\tleast\teffect. \\\"Jack,\tdarling!\\\"\twas\ther\tone\teternal\tcuckoo-cry,\t\\\"I'm\tsure\tit's\tall\ta\tmistake\u2014a hideous\t mistake;\t and\t we'll\t be\t good\t friends\t again\t some\t day.\t Please\t forgive\t me, Jack,\tdear.\\\" I\t was\t the\t offender,\t and\t I\t knew\t it.\t That\t knowledge\t transformed\t my\t pity\t into passive\tendurance,\tand,\teventually,\tinto\tblind\thate\u2014the\tsame\tinstinct,\tI\tsuppose, which\tprompts\ta\tman\tto\tsavagely\tstamp\ton\tthe\tspider\the\thas\tbut\thalf\tkilled.\tAnd with\tthis\thate\tin\tmy\tbosom\tthe\tseason\tof\t1882\tcame\tto\tan\tend. Next\tyear\twe\tmet\tagain\tat\tSimla\u2014she\twith\ther\tmonotonous\t face\tand\ttimid attempts\tat\treconciliation,\tand\tI\twith\tloathing\tof\ther\tin\tevery\tfiber\tof\tmy\tframe. Several\t times\t I\t could\t not\t avoid\t meeting\t her\t alone;\t and\t on\t each\t occasion\t her words\t were\t identically\t the\t same.\t Still\t the\t unreasoning\t wail\t that\t it\t was\t all\t a \\\"mistake\\\";\tand\tstill\tthe\thope\tof\teventually\t\\\"making\tfriends.\\\"\tI\tmight\thave\tseen, had\tI\tcared\tto\tlook,\tthat\t that\thope\tonly\t was\t keeping\ther\talive.\tShe\t grew\tmore wan\t and\t thin\t month\t by\t month.\t You\t will\t agree\t with\t me,\t at\t least,\t that\t such conduct\t would\t have\t driven\t any\t one\t to\t despair.\t It\t was\t uncalled\t for,\t childish, unwomanly.\t I\tmaintain\tthat\t she\twas\tmuch\tto\t blame.\tAnd\tagain,\tsometimes,\tin the\t black,\t fever-stricken\t night\t watches,\t I\t have\t begun\t to\t think\t that\t I\t might\t have been\t a\t little\t kinder\t to\t her.\t But\t that\t really\t is\t a\t \\\"delusion.\\\"\t I\t could\t not\t have continued\t pretending\t to\t love\t her\t when\t I\t didn't;\t could\t I?\t It\t would\t have\t been unfair\tto\tus\tboth. Last\t year\t we\t met\t again\u2014on\t the\t same\t terms\t as\t before.\t The\t same\t weary appeals,\tand\tthe\tsame\tcurt\tanswers\tfrom\tmy\tlips.\tAt\tleast\tI\twould\tmake\ther\tsee how\t wholly\t wrong\t and\t hopeless\t were\t her\t attempts\t at\t resuming\t the\t old relationship.\t As\t the\t season\t wore\t on,\t we\t fell\t apart\u2014that\t is\t to\t say,\t she\t found\t it difficult\t to\t meet\t me,\t for\t I\t had\t other\t and\t more\t absorbing\t interests\t to\t attend\t to. When\t I\t think\t it\t over\t quietly\t in\t my\t sick-room,\t the\t season\t of\t 1884\t seems\t a confused\t nightmare\t wherein\t light\t and\t shade\t were\t fantastically\t intermingled\u2014 my\t courtship\t of\t little\t Kitty\t Mannering;\t my\t hopes,\t doubts\t and\t fears;\t our\t long rides\ttogether;\tmy\ttrembling\tavowal\tof\tattachment;\ther\treply;\tand\tnow\tand\tagain a\t vision\t of\t a\t white\t face\t flitting\t by\t in\t the\t 'rickshaw\t with\t the\t black\t and\t white","liveries\t I\t once\t watched\t for\t so\t earnestly;\t the\t wave\t of\t Mrs.\t Wessington's\t gloved hand;\t and,\t when\t she\t met\t me\t alone,\t which\t was\t but\t seldom,\t the\t irksome monotony\t of\t her\t appeal.\t I\t loved\t Kitty\t Mannering,\t honestly,\t heartily\t loved\t her, and\twith\tmy\tlove\tfor\ther\tgrew\tmy\thatred\tfor\tAgnes.\tIn\tAugust\tKitty\tand\tI\twere engaged.\tThe\tnext\tday\tI\tmet\tthose\taccursed\t\\\"magpie\\\"\tjhampanies\tat\tthe\tback\tof Jakko,\t and,\t moved\t by\t some\t passing\t sentiment\t of\t pity,\t stopped\t to\t tell\t Mrs. Wessington\teverything.\tShe\tknew\tit\talready. \\\"So\tI\thear\tyou're\tengaged,\tJack\tdear.\\\"\tThen,\twithout\ta\tmoment's\tpause:\t\\\"I'm sure\tit's\tall\ta\tmistake\u2014a\thideous\tmistake.\tWe\tshall\tbe\tas\tgood\tfriends\tsome\tday, Jack,\tas\twe\tever\twere.\\\" My\t answer\t might\t have\t made\t even\t a\t man\t wince.\t It\t cut\t the\t dying\t woman before\t me\t like\t the\t blow\t of\t a\t whip.\t \\\"Please\t forgive\t me,\t Jack;\t I\t didn't\t mean\t to make\tyou\tangry;\tbut\tit's\ttrue,\tit's\ttrue!\\\" And\t Mrs.\t Wessington\t broke\t down\t completely.\t I\t turned\t away\t and\t left\t her\t to finish\t her\t journey\t in\t peace,\t feeling,\t but\t only\t for\t a\t moment\t or\t two,\t that\t I\t had been\tan\tunutterably\tmean\thound.\tI\tlooked\tback,\tand\tsaw\tthat\tshe\thad\tturned\ther 'rickshaw\twith\tthe\tidea,\tI\tsuppose,\tof\tovertaking\tme. The\tscene\tand\tits\tsurroundings\twere\tphotographed\ton\tmy\tmemory.\tThe\train- swept\tsky\t(we\twere\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\twet\tweather),\tthe\tsodden,\tdingy\tpines,\tthe muddy\t road,\t and\t the\t black\t powder-riven\t cliffs\t formed\t a\t gloomy\t background against\twhich\tthe\tblack\tand\twhite\tliveries\tof\tthe\tjhampanies,\tthe\tyellow-paneled 'rickshaw\tand\tMrs.\tWessington's\tdown-bowed\tgolden\thead\tstood\tout\tclearly.\tShe was\t holding\t her\t handkerchief\t in\t her\t left\t hand\t and\t was\t leaning\t back\t exhausted against\tthe\t'rickshaw\tcushions.\tI\tturned\tmy\thorse\tup\ta\tbypath\tnear\tthe\tSanjowlie Reservoir\t and\t literally\t ran\t away.\t Once\t I\t fancied\t I\t heard\t a\t faint\t call\t of\t \\\"Jack!\\\" This\tmay\thave\tbeen\timagination.\tI\tnever\tstopped\tto\tverify\tit.\tTen\tminutes\tlater\tI came\t across\t Kitty\t on\t horseback;\t and,\t in\t the\t delight\t of\t a\t long\t ride\t with\t her, forgot\tall\tabout\tthe\tinterview. A\t week\t later\t Mrs.\t Wessington\t died,\t and\t the\t inexpressible\t burden\t of\t her existence\twas\tremoved\tfrom\tmy\tlife.\tI\twent\tPlainsward\tperfectly\thappy.\tBefore three\t months\t were\t over\t I\t had\t forgotten\t all\t about\t her,\t except\t that\t at\t times\t the discovery\t of\t some\t of\t her\t old\t letters\t reminded\t me\t unpleasantly\t of\t our\t bygone relationship.\t By\t January\t I\t had\t disinterred\t what\t was\t left\t of\t our\t correspondence from\tamong\tmy\tscattered\tbelongings\tand\thad\tburnt\tit.\tAt\tthe\tbeginning\tof\tApril of\t this\t year,\t 1885,\t I\t was\t at\t Simla\u2014semi-deserted\t Simla\u2014once\t more,\t and\t was","deep\t in\t lover's\t talks\t and\t walks\t with\t Kitty.\t It\t was\t decided\t that\t we\t should\t be married\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tJune.\tYou\twill\tunderstand,\ttherefore,\tthat,\tloving\tKitty\tas\tI did,\t I\t am\t not\t saying\t too\t much\t when\t I\t pronounce\t myself\t to\t have\t been,\t at\t the time,\tthe\thappiest\tman\tin\tIndia. Fourteen\t delightful\t days\t passed\t almost\t before\t I\t noticed\t their\t flight.\t Then, aroused\t to\t the\t sense\t of\t what\t was\t proper\t among\t mortals\t circumstanced\t as\t we were,\tI\tpointed\tout\tto\tKitty\tthat\tan\tengagement-ring\twas\tthe\toutward\tand\tvisible sign\t of\t her\t dignity\t as\t an\t engaged\t girl;\t and\t that\t she\t must\t forthwith\t come\t to Hamilton's\tto\tbe\tmeasured\tfor\tone.\tUp\tto\tthat\tmoment,\tI\tgive\tyou\tmy\tword,\twe had\tcompletely\tforgotten\tso\ttrivial\ta\tmatter.\tTo\tHamilton's\twe\taccordingly\twent on\tthe\t15th\tof\tApril,\t1885.\tRemember\tthat\u2014whatever\tmy\tdoctor\tmay\tsay\tto\tthe contrary\u2014I\t was\t then\t in\t perfect\t health,\t enjoying\t a\t well-balanced\t mind\t and\t an absolutely\ttranquil\tspirit.\tKitty\tand\tI\tentered\tHamilton's\tshop\ttogether,\tand\tthere, regardless\t of\t the\t order\t of\t affairs,\t I\t measured\t Kitty's\t finger\t for\t the\t ring\t in\t the presence\t of\t the\t amused\t assistant.\t The\t ring\t was\t a\t sapphire\t with\t two\t diamonds. We\t then\t rode\t out\t down\t the\t slope\t that\t leads\t to\t the\t Combermere\t Bridge\t and Peliti's\tshop. While\t my\t Waler\t was\t cautiously\t feeling\t his\t way\t over\t the\t loose\t shale,\t and Kitty\twas\tlaughing\tand\tchattering\tat\tmy\tside\u2014while\tall\tSimla,\tthat\tis\tto\tsay\tas much\t of\t it\t as\t had\t then\t come\t from\t the\t Plains,\t was\t grouped\t round\t the\t Reading- room\t and\t Peliti's\t veranda\u2014I\t was\t aware\t that\t some\t one,\t apparently\t at\t a\t vast distance,\twas\tcalling\tme\tby\tmy\tChristian\tname.\tIt\tstruck\tme\tthat\tI\thad\theard\tthe voice\t before,\t but\t when\t and\t where\t I\t could\t not\t at\t once\t determine.\t In\t the\t short space\t it\t took\t to\t cover\t the\t road\t between\t the\t path\t from\t Hamilton's\t shop\t and\t the first\t plank\t of\t the\t Combermere\t Bridge\t I\t had\t thought\t over\t half-a-dozen\t people who\t might\t have\t committed\t such\t a\t solecism,\t and\t had\t eventually\t decided\t that\t it must\thave\tbeen\tsome\tsinging\tin\tmy\tears.\tImmediately\topposite\tPeliti's\tshop\tmy eye\t was\t arrested\t by\t the\t sight\t of\t four\t jhampanies\t in\t black\t and\t white\t livery, pulling\t a\t yellow-paneled,\t cheap,\t bazar\t 'rickshaw.\t In\t a\t moment\t my\t mind\t flew back\t to\t the\t previous\t season\t and\t Mrs.\t Wessington\t with\t a\t sense\t of\t irritation\t and disgust.\tWas\tit\tnot\tenough\tthat\tthe\twoman\twas\tdead\tand\tdone\twith,\twithout\ther black\t and\t white\t servitors\t re-appearing\t to\t spoil\t the\t day's\t happiness?\t Whoever employed\tthem\tnow\tI\tthought\tI\twould\tcall\tupon,\tand\task\tas\ta\tpersonal\tfavor\tto change\ther\tjhampanies'\t livery.\t I\t would\t hire\t the\t men\t myself,\t and,\t if\t necessary, buy\ttheir\tcoats\tfrom\toff\ttheir\tbacks.\tIt\tis\timpossible\tto\tsay\there\twhat\ta\tflood\tof undesirable\tmemories\ttheir\tpresence\tevoked. \\\"Kitty,\\\"\t I\t cried,\t \\\"there\t are\t poor\t Mrs.\t Wessington's\t jhampanies\t turned\t up","again!\tI\twonder\twho\thas\tthem\tnow?\\\" Kitty\t had\t known\t Mrs.\t Wessington\t slightly\t last\t season,\t and\t had\t always\t been interested\tin\tthe\tsickly\twoman. \\\"What?\tWhere?\\\"\tshe\tasked.\t\\\"I\tcan't\tsee\tthem\tanywhere.\\\" Even\t as\t she\t spoke,\t her\t horse,\t swerving\t from\t a\t laden\t mule,\t threw\t himself directly\tin\tfront\tof\tthe\tadvancing\t'rickshaw.\tI\thad\tscarcely\ttime\tto\tutter\ta\tword\tof warning\twhen,\tto\tmy\tunutterable\thorror,\thorse\tand\trider\tpassed\tthrough\tmen\tand carriage\tas\tif\tthey\thad\tbeen\tthin\tair. \\\"What's\tthe\tmatter?\\\"\tcried\tKitty;\t\\\"what\tmade\tyou\tcall\tout\tso\tfoolishly,\tJack? If\t I\t am\t engaged\t I\t don't\t want\t all\t creation\t to\t know\t about\t it.\t There\t was\t lots\t of space\tbetween\tthe\tmule\tand\tthe\tveranda;\tand,\tif\tyou\tthink\tI\tcan't\tride\u2014There!\\\" Whereupon\t willful\t Kitty\t set\t off,\t her\t dainty\t little\t head\t in\t the\t air,\t at\t a\t hand- gallop\t in\t the\t direction\t of\t the\t Band-stand;\t fully\t expecting,\t as\t she\t herself afterwards\t told\t me,\t that\t I\t should\t follow\t her.\t What\t was\t the\t matter?\t Nothing, indeed.\tEither\tthat\tI\twas\tmad\tor\tdrunk,\tor\tthat\tSimla\twas\thaunted\twith\tdevils.\tI reined\tin\tmy\timpatient\tcob,\tand\tturned\tround.\tThe\t'rickshaw\thad\tturned\ttoo,\tand now\t stood\t immediately\t facing\t me,\t near\t the\t left\t railing\t of\t the\t Combermere Bridge. \\\"Jack!\tJack,\tdarling.\\\"\t(There\twas\tno\tmistake\tabout\tthe\twords\tthis\ttime:\tthey rang\tthrough\tmy\tbrain\tas\tif\tthey\thad\tbeen\tshouted\tin\tmy\tear.)\t\\\"It's\tsome\thideous mistake,\tI'm\tsure.\tPlease\tforgive\tme,\tJack,\tand\tlet's\tbe\tfriends\tagain.\\\" The\t'rickshaw-hood\thad\tfallen\tback,\tand\tinside,\tas\tI\thope\tand\tdaily\tpray\tfor the\tdeath\tI\tdread\tby\tnight,\tsat\tMrs.\tKeith-Wessington,\thandkerchief\tin\thand,\tand golden\thead\tbowed\ton\ther\tbreast. How\t long\t I\t stared\t motionless\t I\t do\t not\t know.\t Finally,\t I\t was\t aroused\t by\t my groom\t taking\t the\t Waler's\t bridle\t and\t asking\t whether\t I\t was\t ill.\t I\t tumbled\t off\t my horse\t and\t dashed,\t half\t fainting,\t into\t Peliti's\t for\t a\t glass\t of\t cherry-brandy.\t There two\tor\tthree\tcouples\twere\tgathered\tround\tthe\tcoffee-tables\tdiscussing\tthe\tgossip of\t the\t day.\t Their\t trivialities\t were\t more\t comforting\t to\t me\t just\t then\t than\t the consolations\t of\t religion\t could\t have\t been.\t I\t plunged\t into\t the\t midst\t of\t the conversation\t at\t once;\t chatted,\t laughed\t and\t jested\t with\t a\t face\t (when\t I\t caught\t a glimpse\t of\t it\t in\t a\t mirror)\t as\t white\t and\t drawn\t as\t that\t of\t a\t corpse.\t Three\t or\t four men\t noticed\t my\t condition;\t and,\t evidently\t setting\t it\t down\t to\t the\t results\t of\t over","many\t pegs,\t charitably\t endeavored\t to\t draw\t me\t apart\t from\t the\t rest\t of\t the loungers.\tBut\tI\trefused\tto\tbe\tled\taway.\tI\twanted\tthe\tcompany\tof\tmy\tkind\u2014as\ta child\t rushes\t into\t the\t midst\t of\t the\t dinner-party\t after\t a\t fright\t in\t the\t dark.\t I\t must have\t talked\t for\t about\t ten\t minutes\t or\t so,\t though\t it\t seemed\t an\t eternity\t to\t me, when\tI\theard\tKitty's\tdear\tvoice\toutside\tinquiring\tfor\tme.\tIn\tanother\tminute\tshe had\t entered\t the\t shop,\t prepared\t to\t roundly\t upbraid\t me\t for\t failing\t so\t signally\t in my\tduties.\tSomething\tin\tmy\tface\tstopped\ther. \\\"Why,\tJack,\\\"\tshe\tcried,\t\\\"what\thave\tyou\tbeen\tdoing?\tWhat\thas\thappened?\tAre you\t ill?\\\"\t Thus\t driven\t into\t a\t direct\t lie,\t I\t said\t that\t the\t sun\t had\t been\t a\t little\t too much\tfor\tme.\tIt\twas\tclose\tupon\tfive\to'clock\tof\ta\tcloudy\tApril\tafternoon,\tand\tthe sun\thad\tbeen\thidden\tall\tday.\tI\tsaw\tmy\tmistake\tas\tsoon\tas\tthe\twords\twere\tout\tof my\tmouth:\tattempted\tto\trecover\tit;\tblundered\thopelessly\tand\tfollowed\tKitty,\tin\ta regal\t rage,\t out\t of\t doors,\t amid\t the\t smiles\t of\t my\t acquaintances.\t I\t made\t some excuse\t (I\t have\t forgotten\t what)\t on\t the\t score\t of\t my\t feeling\t faint;\t and\t cantered away\tto\tmy\thotel,\tleaving\tKitty\tto\tfinish\tthe\tride\tby\therself. In\tmy\troom\tI\tsat\tdown\tand\ttried\tcalmly\tto\treason\tout\tthe\tmatter.\tHere\twas\tI, Theobald\t Jack\t Pansay,\t a\t well-educated\t Bengal\t Civilian\t in\t the\t year\t of\t grace 1885,\t presumably\t sane,\t certainly\t healthy,\t driven\t in\t terror\t from\t my\t sweetheart's side\t by\t the\t apparition\t of\t a\t woman\t who\t had\t been\t dead\t and\t buried\t eight\t months ago.\t These\t were\t facts\t that\t I\t could\t not\t blink.\t Nothing\t was\t further\t from\t my thought\t than\t any\t memory\t of\t Mrs.\t Wessington\t when\t Kitty\t and\t I\t left\t Hamilton's shop.\t Nothing\t was\t more\t utterly\t commonplace\t than\t the\t stretch\t of\t wall\t opposite Peliti's.\t It\t was\t broad\t daylight.\t The\t road\t was\t full\t of\t people;\t and\t yet\t here,\t look you,\t in\t defiance\t of\t every\t law\t of\t probability,\t in\t direct\t outrage\t of\t Nature's ordinance,\tthere\thad\tappeared\tto\tme\ta\tface\tfrom\tthe\tgrave. Kitty's\tArab\thad\tgone\tthrough\tthe\t'rickshaw:\tso\tthat\tmy\tfirst\thope\tthat\tsome woman\tmarvelously\tlike\tMrs.\tWessington\thad\thired\tthe\tcarriage\tand\tthe\tcoolies with\t their\t old\t livery\t was\t lost.\t Again\t and\t again\t I\t went\t round\t this\t treadmill\t of thought;\t and\t again\t and\t again\t gave\t up\t baffled\t and\t in\t despair.\t The\t voice\t was\t as inexplicable\t as\t the\t apparition.\t I\t had\t originally\t some\t wild\t notion\t of\t confiding\t it all\t to\t Kitty;\t of\t begging\t her\t to\t marry\t me\t at\t once;\t and\t in\t her\t arms\t defying\t the ghostly\t occupant\t of\t the\t 'rickshaw.\t \\\"After\t all,\\\"\t I\t argued,\t \\\"the\t presence\t of\t the 'rickshaw\t is\t in\t itself\t enough\t to\t prove\t the\t existence\t of\t a\t spectral\t illusion.\t One may\t see\t ghosts\t of\t men\t and\t women,\t but\t surely\t never\t of\t coolies\t and\t carriages. The\twhole\tthing\tis\tabsurd.\tFancy\tthe\tghost\tof\ta\thill-man!\\\" Next\t morning\t I\t sent\t a\t penitent\t note\t to\t Kitty,\t imploring\t her\t to\t overlook\t my","strange\tconduct\tof\tthe\tprevious\tafternoon.\tMy\tDivinity\twas\tstill\tvery\twroth,\tand a\tpersonal\tapology\twas\tnecessary.\tI\texplained,\twith\ta\tfluency\tborn\tof\tnight-long pondering\tover\ta\tfalsehood,\tthat\tI\thad\tbeen\tattacked\twith\ta\tsudden\tpalpitation\tof the\t heart\u2014the\t result\t of\t indigestion.\t This\t eminently\t practical\t solution\t had\t its effect;\t and\t Kitty\t and\t I\t rode\t out\t that\t afternoon\t with\t the\t shadow\t of\t my\t first\t lie dividing\tus. Nothing\t would\t please\t her\t save\t a\t canter\t round\t Jakko.\t With\t my\t nerves\t still unstrung\t from\t the\t previous\t night\t I\t feebly\t protested\t against\t the\t notion, suggesting\t Observatory\t Hill,\t Jutogh,\t the\t Boileaugunge\t road\u2014anything\t rather than\tthe\tJakko\tround.\tKitty\twas\tangry\tand\ta\tlittle\thurt,\tso\tI\tyielded\tfrom\tfear\tof provoking\t further\t misunderstanding,\t and\t we\t set\t out\t together\t towards\t Chota Simla.\t We\t walked\t a\t greater\t part\t of\t the\t way,\t and,\t according\t to\t our\t custom, cantered\tfrom\ta\tmile\tor\tso\tbelow\tthe\tConvent\tto\tthe\tstretch\tof\tlevel\troad\tby\tthe Sanjowlie\t Reservoir.\t The\t wretched\t horses\t appeared\t to\t fly,\t and\t my\t heart\t beat quicker\tand\tquicker\tas\twe\tneared\tthe\tcrest\tof\tthe\tascent.\tMy\tmind\thad\tbeen\tfull of\t Mrs.\t Wessington\t all\t the\t afternoon;\t and\t every\t inch\t of\t the\t Jakko\t road\t bore witness\t to\t our\t old-time\t walks\t and\t talks.\t The\t boulders\t were\t full\t of\t it;\t the\t pines sang\t it\t aloud\t overhead;\t the\t rain-fed\t torrents\t giggled\t and\t chuckled\t unseen\t over the\tshameful\tstory;\tand\tthe\twind\tin\tmy\tears\tchanted\tthe\tiniquity\taloud. As\t a\t fitting\t climax,\t in\t the\t middle\t of\t the\t level\t men\t call\t the\t Ladies'\t Mile,\t the Horror\t was\t awaiting\t me.\t No\t other\t 'rickshaw\t was\t in\t sight\u2014only\t the\t four\t black and\t white\t jhampanies,\t the\t yellow-paneled\t carriage,\t and\t the\t golden\t head\t of\t the woman\t within\u2014all\t apparently\t just\t as\t I\t had\t left\t them\t eight\t months\t and\t one fortnight\tago!\tFor\tan\tinstant\tI\tfancied\tthat\tKitty\tmust\tsee\twhat\tI\tsaw\u2014we\twere so\tmarvelously\tsympathetic\tin\tall\tthings.\tHer\tnext\twords\tundeceived\tme\u2014\\\"Not a\tsoul\tin\tsight!\tCome\talong,\tJack,\tand\tI'll\trace\tyou\tto\tthe\tReservoir\tbuildings!\\\" Her\twiry\tlittle\tArab\twas\toff\tlike\ta\tbird,\tmy\tWaler\tfollowing\tclose\tbehind,\tand\tin this\torder\twe\tdashed\tunder\tthe\tcliffs.\tHalf\ta\tminute\tbrought\tus\twithin\tfifty\tyards of\t the\t 'rickshaw.\t I\t pulled\t my\t Waler\t and\t fell\t back\t a\t little.\t The\t 'rickshaw\t was directly\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\troad:\tand\tonce\tmore\tthe\tArab\tpassed\tthrough\tit,\tmy horse\t following.\t \\\"Jack,\t Jack,\t dear!\t Please\t forgive\t me,\\\"\t rang\t with\t a\t wail\t in\t my ears,\tand,\tafter\tan\tinterval:\t\\\"It's\tall\ta\tmistake,\ta\thideous\tmistake!\\\" I\t spurred\t my\t horse\t like\t a\t man\t possessed.\t When\t I\t turned\t my\t head\t at\t the Reservoir\t works\t the\t black\t and\t white\t liveries\t were\t still\t waiting\u2014patiently waiting\u2014under\t the\t gray\t hillside,\t and\t the\t wind\t brought\t me\t a\t mocking\t echo\t of the\t words\t I\t had\t just\t heard.\t Kitty\t bantered\t me\t a\t good\t deal\t on\t my\t silence throughout\tthe\tremainder\tof\tthe\tride.\tI\thad\tbeen\ttalking\tup\ttill\tthen\twildly\tand\tat","random.\t To\t save\t my\t life\t I\t could\t not\t speak\t afterwards\t naturally,\t and\t from Sanjowlie\tto\tthe\tChurch\twisely\theld\tmy\ttongue. I\t was\t to\t dine\t with\t the\t Mannerings\t that\t night\t and\t had\t barely\t time\t to\t canter home\tto\tdress.\tOn\tthe\troad\tto\tElysium\tHill\tI\toverheard\ttwo\tmen\ttalking\ttogether in\t the\t dusk\u2014\\\"It's\t a\t curious\t thing,\\\"\t said\t one,\t \\\"how\t completely\t all\t trace\t of\t it disappeared.\t You\t know\t my\t wife\t was\t insanely\t fond\t of\t the\t woman\t (never\t could see\t anything\t in\t her\t myself)\t and\t wanted\t me\t to\t pick\t up\t her\t old\t 'rickshaw\t and coolies\t if\t they\t were\t to\t be\t got\t for\t love\t or\t money.\t Morbid\t sort\t of\t fancy\t I\t call\t it, but\tI've\tgot\tto\tdo\twhat\tthe\tMemsahib\ttells\tme.\tWould\tyou\tbelieve\tthat\tthe\tman she\t hired\t it\t from\t tells\t me\t that\t all\t four\t of\t the\t men,\t they\t were\t brothers,\t died\t of cholera,\ton\tthe\tway\tto\tHardw\u00e1r,\tpoor\tdevils;\tand\tthe\t'rickshaw\thas\tbeen\tbroken up\t by\t the\t man\t himself.\t Told\t me\t he\t never\t used\t a\t dead\t Memsahib's\t 'rickshaw. Spoilt\t his\t luck.\t Queer\t notion,\t wasn't\t it?\t Fancy\t poor\t little\t Mrs.\t Wessington spoiling\t any\t one's\t luck\t except\t her\t own!\\\"\t I\t laughed\t aloud\t at\t this\t point;\t and\t my laugh\t jarred\t on\t me\t as\t I\t uttered\t it.\t So\t there\t were\t ghosts\t of\t 'rickshaws\t after\t all, and\t ghostly\t employments\t in\t the\t other\t world!\t How\t much\t did\t Mrs.\t Wessington give\ther\tmen?\tWhat\twere\ttheir\thours?\tWhere\tdid\tthey\tgo? And\t for\t visible\t answer\t to\t my\t last\t question\t I\t saw\t the\t infernal\t thing\t blocking my\t path\t in\t the\t twilight.\t The\t dead\t travel\t fast\t and\t by\t short-cuts\t unknown\t to ordinary\t coolies.\t I\t laughed\t aloud\t a\t second\t time\t and\t checked\t my\t laughter suddenly,\tfor\tI\twas\tafraid\tI\twas\tgoing\tmad.\tMad\tto\ta\tcertain\textent\tI\tmust\thave been,\t for\t I\t recollect\t that\t I\t reined\t in\t my\t horse\t at\t the\t head\t of\t the\t 'rickshaw,\t and politely\t wished\t Mrs.\t Wessington\t \\\"good\t evening.\\\"\t Her\t answer\t was\t one\t I\t knew only\ttoo\twell.\tI\tlistened\tto\tthe\tend;\tand\treplied\tthat\tI\thad\theard\tit\tall\tbefore,\tbut should\t be\t delighted\t if\t she\t had\t anything\t further\t to\t say.\t Some\t malignant\t devil stronger\t than\t I\t must\t have\t entered\t into\t me\t that\t evening,\t for\t I\t have\t a\t dim recollection\tof\ttalking\tthe\tcommonplaces\tof\tthe\tday\tfor\tfive\tminutes\tto\tthe\tthing in\tfront\tof\tme. \\\"Mad\tas\ta\thatter,\tpoor\tdevil\u2014or\tdrunk.\tMax,\ttry\tand\tget\thim\tto\tcome\thome.\\\" Surely\tthat\twas\tnot\tMrs.\tWessington's\tvoice!\tThe\ttwo\tmen\thad\toverheard\tme speaking\t to\t the\t empty\t air,\t and\t had\t returned\t to\t look\t after\t me.\t They\t were\t very kind\t and\t considerate,\t and\t from\t their\t words\t evidently\t gathered\t that\t I\t was extremely\t drunk.\t I\t thanked\t them\t confusedly\t and\t cantered\t away\t to\t my\t hotel, there\t changed,\t and\t arrived\t at\t the\t Mannerings'\t ten\t minutes\t late.\t I\t pleaded\t the darkness\t of\t the\t night\t as\t an\t excuse;\t was\t rebuked\t by\t Kitty\t for\t my\t unlover-like tardiness;\tand\tsat\tdown.","The\t conversation\t had\t already\t become\t general;\t and,\t under\t cover\t of\t it,\t I\t was addressing\tsome\ttender\tsmall\ttalk\tto\tmy\tsweetheart\twhen\tI\twas\taware\tthat\tat\tthe further\t end\t of\t the\t table\t a\t short\t red-whiskered\t man\t was\t describing\t with\t much broidery\t his\t encounter\t with\t a\t mad\t unknown\t that\t evening.\t A\t few\t sentences convinced\t me\t that\t he\t was\t repeating\t the\t incident\t of\t half\t an\t hour\t ago.\t In\t the middle\tof\tthe\tstory\the\tlooked\tround\tfor\tapplause,\tas\tprofessional\tstory-tellers\tdo, caught\t my\t eye,\t and\t straightway\t collapsed.\t There\t was\t a\t moment's\t awkward silence,\tand\tthe\tred-whiskered\tman\tmuttered\tsomething\tto\tthe\teffect\tthat\the\thad \\\"forgotten\tthe\trest\\\";\tthereby\tsacrificing\ta\treputation\tas\ta\tgood\tstory-teller\twhich he\thad\tbuilt\tup\tfor\tsix\tseasons\tpast.\tI\tblessed\thim\tfrom\tthe\tbottom\tof\tmy\theart and\u2014went\ton\twith\tmy\tfish. In\t the\t fullness\t of\t time\t that\t dinner\t came\t to\t an\t end;\t and\t with\t genuine\t regret\t I tore\t myself\t away\t from\t Kitty\u2014as\t certain\t as\t I\t was\t of\t my\t own\t existence\t that\t It would\t be\t waiting\t for\t me\t outside\t the\t door.\t The\t red-whiskered\t man,\t who\t had been\t introduced\t to\t me\t as\t Dr.\t Heatherlegh\t of\t Simla,\t volunteered\t to\t bear\t me company\tas\tfar\tas\tour\troads\tlay\ttogether.\tI\taccepted\this\toffer\twith\tgratitude. My\tinstinct\thad\tnot\tdeceived\tme.\tIt\tlay\tin\treadiness\tin\tthe\tMall,\tand,\tin\twhat seemed\t devilish\t mockery\t of\t our\t ways,\t with\t a\t lighted\t head-lamp.\t The\t red- whiskered\tman\twent\tto\tthe\tpoint\tat\tonce,\tin\ta\tmanner\tthat\tshowed\the\thad\tbeen thinking\tover\tit\tall\tdinner\ttime. \\\"I\t say,\t Pansay,\t what\t the\t deuce\t was\t the\t matter\t with\t you\t this\t evening\t on\t the Elysium\t road?\\\"\t The\t suddenness\t of\t the\t question\t wrenched\t an\t answer\t from\t me before\tI\twas\taware. \\\"That!\\\"\tsaid\tI,\tpointing\tto\tIt. \\\"That\tmay\tbe\teither\t D.T.\t or\t eyes\t for\t aught\t I\t know.\t Now\t you\t don't\t liquor.\t I saw\tas\tmuch\tat\tdinner,\tso\tit\tcan't\tbe\tD.T.\tThere's\tnothing\twhatever\twhere\tyou're pointing,\t though\t you're\t sweating\t and\t trembling\t with\t fright\t like\t a\t scared\t pony. Therefore,\t I\t conclude\t that\t it's\t eyes.\t And\t I\t ought\t to\t understand\t all\t about\t them. Come\talong\thome\twith\tme.\tI'm\ton\tthe\tBlessington\tlower\troad.\\\" To\t my\t intense\t delight\t the\t 'rickshaw\t instead\t of\t waiting\t for\t us\t kept\t about twenty\t yards\t ahead\u2014and\t this,\t too,\t whether\t we\t walked,\t trotted,\t or\t cantered.\t In the\tcourse\tof\tthat\tlong\tnight\tride\tI\thad\ttold\tmy\tcompanion\talmost\tas\tmuch\tas\tI have\ttold\tyou\there. \\\"Well,\t you've\t spoilt\t one\t of\t the\t best\t tales\t I've\t ever\t laid\t tongue\t to,\\\"\t said\t he,","\\\"but\tI'll\tforgive\tyou\tfor\tthe\tsake\tof\twhat\tyou've\tgone\tthrough.\tNow\tcome\thome and\tdo\twhat\tI\ttell\tyou;\tand\twhen\tI've\tcured\tyou,\tyoung\tman,\tlet\tthis\tbe\ta\tlesson to\tyou\tto\tsteer\tclear\tof\twomen\tand\tindigestible\tfood\ttill\tthe\tday\tof\tyour\tdeath.\\\" The\t'rickshaw\tkept\tsteadily\tin\tfront;\tand\tmy\tred-whiskered\tfriend\tseemed\tto derive\tgreat\tpleasure\tfrom\tmy\taccount\tof\tits\texact\twhereabouts. \\\"Eyes,\tPansay\u2014all\teyes,\tbrain\tand\tstomach;\tand\tthe\tgreatest\tof\tthese\tthree\tis stomach.\t You've\t too\t much\t conceited\t brain,\t too\t little\t stomach,\t and\t thoroughly unhealthy\t eyes.\t Get\t your\t stomach\t straight\t and\t the\t rest\t follows.\t And\t all\t that's French\t for\t a\t liver\t pill.\t I'll\t take\t sole\t medical\t charge\t of\t you\t from\t this\t hour;\t for you're\ttoo\tinteresting\ta\tphenomenon\tto\tbe\tpassed\tover.\\\" By\t this\t time\t we\t were\t deep\t in\t the\t shadow\t of\t the\t Blessington\t lower\t road\t and the\t 'rickshaw\t came\t to\t a\t dead\t stop\t under\t a\t pine-clad,\t overhanging\t shale\t cliff. Instinctively\tI\thalted\ttoo,\tgiving\tmy\treason.\tHeatherlegh\trapped\tout\tan\toath. \\\"Now,\tif\tyou\tthink\tI'm\tgoing\tto\tspend\ta\tcold\tnight\ton\tthe\thillside\tfor\tthe\tsake of\ta\tstomach-cum-brain-cum-eye\tillusion.\t.\t.\t.\tLord\tha'\tmercy!\tWhat's\tthat?\\\" There\t was\t a\t muffled\t report,\t a\t blinding\t smother\t of\t dust\t just\t in\t front\t of\t us,\t a crack,\t the\t noise\t of\t rent\t boughs,\t and\t about\t ten\t yards\t of\t the\t cliffside\u2014pines, undergrowth,\tand\tall\u2014slid\tdown\tinto\tthe\troad\tbelow,\tcompletely\tblocking\tit\tup. The\tuprooted\ttrees\tswayed\tand\ttottered\tfor\ta\tmoment\tlike\tdrunken\tgiants\tin\tthe gloom,\tand\tthen\tfell\tprone\tamong\ttheir\tfellows\twith\ta\tthunderous\tcrash.\tOur\ttwo horses\t stood\t motionless\t and\t sweating\t with\t fear.\t As\t soon\t as\t the\t rattle\t of\t falling earth\t and\t stone\t had\t subsided,\t my\t companion\t muttered:\t \\\"Man,\t if\t we'd\t gone forward\t we\t should\t have\t been\t ten\t feet\t deep\t in\t our\t graves\t by\t now!\t 'There\t are more\tthings\tin\theaven\tand\tearth'\t.\t.\t.\tCome\thome,\tPansay,\tand\tthank\tGod.\tI\twant a\tdrink\tbadly.\\\" We\t retraced\t our\t way\t over\t the\t Church\t Ridge,\t and\t I\t arrived\t at\t Dr. Heatherlegh's\thouse\tshortly\tafter\tmidnight. His\t attempts\t towards\t my\t cure\t commenced\t almost\t immediately,\t and\t for\t a week\tI\tnever\tleft\this\tsight.\tMany\ta\ttime\tin\tthe\tcourse\tof\tthat\tweek\tdid\tI\tbless\tthe good\t fortune\t which\t had\t thrown\t me\t in\t contact\t with\t Simla's\t best\t and\t kindest doctor.\tDay\tby\tday\tmy\tspirits\tgrew\tlighter\tand\tmore\tequable.\tDay\tby\tday,\ttoo,\tI became\t more\t and\t more\t inclined\t to\t fall\t in\t with\t Heatherlegh's\t \\\"spectral\t illusion\\\" theory,\t implicating\t eyes,\t brain,\t and\t stomach.\t I\t wrote\t to\t Kitty,\t telling\t her\t that\t a slight\tsprain\tcaused\tby\ta\tfall\tfrom\tmy\thorse\tkept\tme\tindoors\tfor\ta\tfew\tdays;\tand","that\tI\tshould\tbe\trecovered\tbefore\tshe\thad\ttime\tto\tregret\tmy\tabsence. Heatherlegh's\t treatment\t was\t simple\t to\t a\t degree.\t It\t consisted\t of\t liver-pills, cold-water\tbaths\tand\tstrong\texercise,\ttaken\tin\tthe\tdusk\tor\tat\tearly\tdawn\u2014for,\tas he\tsagely\tobserved:\t\\\"A\tman\twith\ta\tsprained\tankle\tdoesn't\twalk\ta\tdozen\tmiles\ta day,\tand\tyour\tyoung\twoman\tmight\tbe\twondering\tif\tshe\tsaw\tyou.\\\" At\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tweek,\tafter\tmuch\texamination\tof\tpupil\tand\tpulse\tand\tstrict injunctions\tas\tto\tdiet\tand\tpedestrianism,\tHeatherlegh\tdismissed\tme\tas\tbrusquely as\the\thad\ttaken\tcharge\tof\tme.\tHere\tis\this\tparting\tbenediction:\t\\\"Man,\tI\tcertify\tto your\t mental\t cure,\t and\t that's\t as\t much\t as\t to\t say\t I've\t cured\t most\t of\t your\t bodily ailments.\tNow,\tget\tyour\ttraps\tout\tof\tthis\tas\tsoon\tas\tyou\tcan;\tand\tbe\toff\tto\tmake love\tto\tMiss\tKitty.\\\" I\twas\tendeavoring\tto\texpress\tmy\tthanks\tfor\this\tkindness.\tHe\tcut\tme\tshort: \\\"Don't\tthink\tI\tdid\tthis\tbecause\tI\tlike\tyou.\tI\tgather\tthat\tyou've\tbehaved\tlike\ta blackguard\t all\t through.\t But,\t all\t the\t same\t you're\t a\t phenomenon,\t and\t as\t queer\t a phenomenon\t as\t you\t are\t a\t blackguard.\t Now,\t go\t out\t and\t see\t if\t you\t can\t find\t the eyes-brain-and-stomach\tbusiness\tagain.\tI'll\tgive\tyou\ta\tlakh\tfor\teach\ttime\tyou\tsee it.\\\" Half\tan\thour\tlater\tI\twas\tin\tthe\tMannerings'\tdrawing-room\twith\tKitty\u2014drunk with\t the\t intoxication\t of\t present\t happiness\t and\t the\t foreknowledge\t that\t I\t should never\t more\t be\t troubled\t with\t It's\t hideous\t presence.\t Strong\t in\t the\t sense\t of\t my new-found\tsecurity,\tI\tproposed\ta\tride\tat\tonce;\tand,\tby\tpreference,\ta\tcanter\tround Jakko. Never\thave\tI\tfelt\tso\twell,\tso\toverladen\twith\tvitality\tand\tmere\tanimal\tspirits\tas I\tdid\ton\tthe\tafternoon\tof\tthe\t30th\tof\tApril.\tKitty\twas\tdelighted\tat\tthe\tchange\tin my\t appearance,\t and\t complimented\t me\t on\t it\t in\t her\t delightfully\t frank\t and outspoken\tmanner.\tWe\tleft\tthe\tMannerings'\thouse\ttogether,\tlaughing\tand\ttalking, and\tcantered\talong\tthe\tChota\tSimla\troad\tas\tof\told. I\twas\tin\thaste\tto\treach\tthe\tSanjowlie\tReservoir\tand\tthere\tmake\tmy\tassurance doubly\tsure.\tThe\thorses\tdid\ttheir\tbest,\tbut\tseemed\tall\ttoo\tslow\tto\tmy\timpatient mind.\tKitty\twas\tastonished\tat\tmy\tboisterousness.\t\\\"Why,\tJack!\\\"\tshe\tcried\tat\tlast, \\\"you\tare\tbehaving\tlike\ta\tchild!\tWhat\tare\tyou\tdoing?\\\" We\t were\t just\t below\t the\t Convent,\t and\t from\t sheer\t wantonness\t I\t was\t making my\t Waler\t plunge\t and\t curvet\t across\t the\t road\t as\t I\t tickled\t it\t with\t the\t loop\t of\t my","riding-whip. \\\"Doing,\\\"\t I\t answered,\t \\\"nothing,\t dear.\t That's\t just\t it.\t If\t you'd\t been\t doing nothing\tfor\ta\tweek\texcept\tlie\tup,\tyou'd\tbe\tas\triotous\tas\tI. 'Singing\tand\tmurmuring\tin\tyour\tfeastful\tmirth, Joying\tto\tfeel\tyourself\talive; Lord\tover\tnature,\tLord\tof\tthe\tvisible\tEarth, Lord\tof\tthe\tsenses\tfive.'\\\" My\t quotation\t was\t hardly\t out\t of\t my\t lips\t before\t we\t had\t rounded\t the\t corner above\tthe\tConvent;\tand\ta\tfew\tyards\tfurther\ton\tcould\tsee\tacross\tto\tSanjowlie.\tIn the\tcenter\tof\tthe\tlevel\troad\tstood\tthe\tblack\tand\twhite\tliveries,\tthe\tyellow-paneled 'rickshaw\tand\tMrs.\tKeith-Wessington.\tI\tpulled\tup,\tlooked,\trubbed\tmy\teyes,\tand, I\tbelieve,\tmust\thave\tsaid\tsomething.\tThe\tnext\tthing\tI\tknew\twas\tthat\tI\twas\tlying face\tdownward\ton\tthe\troad,\twith\tKitty\tkneeling\tabove\tme\tin\ttears. \\\"Has\tit\tgone,\tchild?\\\"\tI\tgasped.\tKitty\tonly\twept\tmore\tbitterly. \\\"Has\twhat\tgone?\tJack\tdear:\twhat\tdoes\tit\tall\tmean?\tThere\tmust\tbe\ta\tmistake somewhere,\t Jack.\t A\t hideous\t mistake.\\\"\t Her\t last\t words\t brought\t me\t to\t my\t feet\u2014 mad\u2014raving\tfor\tthe\ttime\tbeing. \\\"Yes,\tthere\tis\t a\t mistake\t somewhere.\\\"\t I\t repeated,\t \\\"a\t hideous\t mistake.\t Come and\tlook\tat\tIt!\\\" I\thave\tan\tindistinct\tidea\tthat\tI\tdragged\tKitty\tby\tthe\twrist\talong\tthe\troad\tup\tto where\t It\t stood,\t and\t implored\t her\t for\t pity's\t sake\t to\t speak\t to\t it;\t to\t tell\t It\t that\t we were\tbetrothed!\tthat\tneither\tDeath\tnor\tHell\tcould\tbreak\tthe\ttie\tbetween\tus;\tand Kitty\tonly\tknows\thow\tmuch\tmore\tto\tthe\tsame\teffect.\tNow\tand\tagain\tI\tappealed passionately\tto\tthe\tTerror\tin\tthe\t'rickshaw\tto\tbear\twitness\tto\tall\tI\thad\tsaid,\tand\tto release\tme\tfrom\ta\ttorture\tthat\twas\tkilling\tme.\tAs\tI\ttalked\tI\tsuppose\tI\tmust\thave told\tKitty\tof\tmy\told\trelations\twith\tMrs.\tWessington,\tfor\tI\tsaw\ther\tlisten\tintently with\twhite\tface\tand\tblazing\teyes. \\\"Thank\tyou,\tMr.\tPansay,\\\"\tshe\tsaid,\t\\\"that's\tquite\tenough.\tBring\tmy\thorse.\\\" The\t grooms,\t impassive\t as\t Orientals\t always\t are,\t had\t come\t up\t with\t the recaptured\thorses;\tand\tas\tKitty\tsprang\tinto\ther\tsaddle\tI\tcaught\thold\tof\tthe\tbridle entreating\ther\tto\thear\tme\tout\tand\tforgive.\tMy\tanswer\twas\tthe\tcut\tof\ther\triding- whip\tacross\tmy\tface\tfrom\tmouth\tto\teye,\tand\ta\tword\tor\ttwo\tof\tfarewell\tthat\teven now\t I\t cannot\t write\t down.\t So\t I\t judged,\t and\t judged\t rightly,\t that\t Kitty\t knew\t all;","and\tI\tstaggered\tback\tto\tthe\tside\tof\tthe\t'rickshaw.\tMy\tface\twas\tcut\tand\tbleeding, and\tthe\tblow\tof\tthe\triding-whip\thad\traised\ta\tlivid\tblue\tweal\ton\tit.\tI\thad\tno\tself- respect.\tJust\tthen,\tHeatherlegh,\twho\tmust\thave\tbeen\tfollowing\tKitty\tand\tme\tat\ta distance,\tcantered\tup. \\\"Doctor,\\\"\t I\t said,\t pointing\t to\t my\t face,\t \\\"here's\t Miss\t Mannering's\t signature\t to my\torder\tof\tdismissal\tand\t.\t.\t.\tI'll\tthank\tyou\tfor\tthat\tlakh\tas\tsoon\tas\tconvenient.\\\" Heatherlegh's\tface,\teven\tin\tmy\tabject\tmisery,\tmoved\tme\tto\tlaugh. \\\"I'll\t stake\t my\t professional\t reputation\\\"\u2014he\t began.\t \\\"Don't\t be\t a\t fool,\\\"\t I whispered.\t\\\"I've\tlost\tmy\tlife's\thappiness\tand\tyou'd\tbetter\ttake\tme\thome.\\\" As\t I\t spoke\t the\t 'rickshaw\t was\t gone.\t Then\t I\t lost\t all\t knowledge\t of\t what\t was passing.\tThe\tcrest\tof\tJakko\tseemed\tto\theave\tand\troll\tlike\tthe\tcrest\tof\ta\tcloud\tand fall\tin\tupon\tme. Seven\t days\t later\t (on\t the\t 7th\t of\t May,\t that\t is\t to\t say)\t I\t was\t aware\t that\t I\t was lying\tin\tHeatherlegh's\troom\tas\tweak\tas\ta\tlittle\tchild.\tHeatherlegh\twas\twatching me\tintently\tfrom\tbehind\tthe\tpapers\ton\this\twriting\ttable.\tHis\tfirst\twords\twere\tnot very\tencouraging;\tbut\tI\twas\ttoo\tfar\tspent\tto\tbe\tmuch\tmoved\tby\tthem. \\\"Here's\tMiss\tKitty\thas\tsent\tback\tyour\tletters.\tYou\tcorresponded\ta\tgood\tdeal, you\tyoung\tpeople.\tHere's\ta\tpacket\tthat\tlooks\tlike\ta\tring,\tand\ta\tcheerful\tsort\tof\ta note\tfrom\tMannering\tPapa,\twhich\tI've\ttaken\tthe\tliberty\tof\treading\tand\tburning. The\told\tgentleman's\tnot\tpleased\twith\tyou.\\\" \\\"And\tKitty?\\\"\tI\tasked\tdully. \\\"Rather\t more\t drawn\t than\t her\t father\t from\t what\t she\t says.\t By\t the\t same\t token you\tmust\thave\tbeen\tletting\tout\tany\tnumber\tof\tqueer\treminiscences\tjust\tbefore\tI met\t you.\t Says\t that\t a\t man\t who\t would\t have\t behaved\t to\t a\t woman\t as\t you\t did\t to Mrs.\tWessington\tought\tto\tkill\thimself\tout\tof\tsheer\tpity\tfor\this\tkind.\tShe's\ta\thot- headed\t little\t virago,\t your\t mash.\t Will\t have\t it\t too\t that\t you\t were\t suffering\t from D.T.\twhen\tthat\trow\ton\tthe\tJakko\troad\tturned\tup.\tSays\tshe'll\tdie\tbefore\tshe\tever speaks\tto\tyou\tagain.\\\" I\tgroaned\tand\tturned\tover\ton\tthe\tother\tside. \\\"Now\t you've\t got\t your\t choice,\t my\t friend.\t This\t engagement\t has\t to\t be\t broken off;\tand\tthe\tMannerings\tdon't\twant\tto\tbe\ttoo\thard\ton\tyou.\tWas\tit\tbroken\tthrough D.T.\t or\t epileptic\t fits?\t Sorry\t I\t can't\t offer\t you\t a\t better\t exchange\t unless\t you'd","prefer\thereditary\tinsanity.\tSay\tthe\tword\tand\tI'll\ttell\t'em\tit's\tfits.\tAll\tSimla\tknows about\t that\t scene\t on\t the\t Ladies'\t Mile.\t Come!\t I'll\t give\t you\t five\t minutes\t to\t think over\tit.\\\" During\t those\t five\t minutes\t I\t believe\t that\t I\t explored\t thoroughly\t the\t lowest circles\t of\t the\t Inferno\t which\t it\t is\t permitted\t man\t to\t tread\t on\t earth.\t And\t at\t the same\ttime\tI\tmyself\twas\twatching\tmyself\tfaltering\tthrough\tthe\tdark\tlabyrinths\tof doubt,\t misery,\t and\t utter\t despair.\t I\t wondered,\t as\t Heatherlegh\t in\t his\t chair\t might have\t wondered,\t which\t dreadful\t alternative\t I\t should\t adopt.\t Presently\t I\t heard myself\tanswering\tin\ta\tvoice\tthat\tI\thardly\trecognized: \\\"They're\tconfoundedly\tparticular\tabout\tmorality\tin\tthese\tparts.\tGive\t'em\tfits, Heatherlegh,\tand\tmy\tlove.\tNow\tlet\tme\tsleep\ta\tbit\tlonger.\\\" Then\tmy\ttwo\tselves\tjoined,\tand\tit\twas\tonly\tI\t(half\tcrazed,\tdevil-driven\tI)\tthat tossed\tin\tmy\tbed,\ttracing\tstep\tby\tstep\tthe\thistory\tof\tthe\tpast\tmonth. \\\"But\tI\tam\tin\tSimla,\\\"\tI\tkept\trepeating\tto\tmyself.\t\\\"I,\tJack\tPansay,\tam\tin\tSimla, and\t there\t are\t no\t ghosts\t here.\t It's\t unreasonable\t of\t that\t woman\t to\t pretend\t there are.\tWhy\tcouldn't\tAgnes\thave\tleft\tme\talone?\tI\tnever\tdid\ther\tany\tharm.\tIt\tmight just\tas\twell\thave\tbeen\tme\tas\tAgnes.\tOnly\tI'd\tnever\thave\tcome\tback\ton\tpurpose to\tkill\ther.\tWhy\tcan't\tI\tbe\tleft\talone\u2014left\talone\tand\thappy?\\\" It\twas\thigh\tnoon\twhen\tI\tfirst\tawoke:\tand\tthe\tsun\twas\tlow\tin\tthe\tsky\tbefore\tI slept\u2014slept\t as\t the\t tortured\t criminal\t sleeps\t on\t his\t rack,\t too\t worn\t to\t feel\t further pain. Next\tday\tI\tcould\tnot\tleave\tmy\tbed.\tHeatherlegh\ttold\tme\tin\tthe\tmorning\tthat he\t had\t received\t an\t answer\t from\t Mr.\t Mannering,\t and\t that,\t thanks\t to\t his (Heatherlegh's)\t friendly\t offices,\t the\t story\t of\t my\t affliction\t had\t traveled\t through the\tlength\tand\tbreadth\tof\tSimla,\twhere\tI\twas\ton\tall\tsides\tmuch\tpitied. \\\"And\t that's\t rather\t more\t than\t you\t deserve,\\\"\t he\t concluded\t pleasantly,\t \\\"though the\t Lord\t knows\t you've\t been\t going\t through\t a\t pretty\t severe\t mill.\t Never\t mind; we'll\tcure\tyou\tyet,\tyou\tperverse\tphenomenon.\\\" I\tdeclined\tfirmly\tto\tbe\tcured.\t\\\"You've\tbeen\tmuch\ttoo\tgood\tto\tme\talready,\told man,\\\"\tsaid\tI;\t\\\"but\tI\tdon't\tthink\tI\tneed\ttrouble\tyou\tfurther.\\\" In\t my\t heart\t I\t knew\t that\t nothing\t Heatherlegh\t could\t do\t would\t lighten\t the burden\tthat\thad\tbeen\tlaid\tupon\tme.","With\t that\t knowledge\t came\t also\t a\t sense\t of\t hopeless,\t impotent\t rebellion against\tthe\tunreasonableness\tof\tit\tall.\tThere\twere\tscores\tof\tmen\tno\tbetter\tthan\tI whose\tpunishments\thad\tat\tleast\tbeen\treserved\tfor\tanother\tworld\tand\tI\tfelt\tthat\tit was\t bitterly,\t cruelly\t unfair\t that\t I\t alone\t should\t have\t been\t singled\t out\t for\t so hideous\ta\tfate.\tThis\tmood\twould\tin\ttime\tgive\tplace\tto\tanother\twhere\tit\tseemed that\tthe\t'rickshaw\tand\tI\twere\tthe\tonly\trealities\tin\ta\tworld\tof\tshadows;\tthat\tKitty was\t a\t ghost;\t that\t Mannering,\t Heatherlegh,\t and\t all\t the\t other\t men\t and\t women\t I knew\t were\t all\t ghosts\t and\t the\t great,\t gray\t hills\t themselves\t but\t vain\t shadows devised\tto\ttorture\tme.\tFrom\tmood\tto\tmood\tI\ttossed\tbackwards\tand\tforwards\tfor seven\t weary\t days,\t my\t body\t growing\t daily\t stronger\t and\t stronger,\t until\t the\t bed- room\tlooking-glass\ttold\tme\tthat\tI\thad\treturned\tto\teveryday\tlife,\tand\twas\tas\tother men\t once\t more.\t Curiously\t enough,\t my\t face\t showed\t no\t signs\t of\t the\t struggle\t I had\tgone\tthrough.\tIt\twas\tpale\tindeed,\tbut\tas\texpressionless\tand\tcommonplace\tas ever.\tI\thad\texpected\tsome\tpermanent\talteration\u2014visible\tevidence\tof\tthe\tdisease that\twas\teating\tme\taway.\tI\tfound\tnothing. On\t the\t 15th\t of\t May\t I\t left\t Heatherlegh's\t house\t at\t eleven\t o'clock\t in\t the morning;\t and\t the\t instinct\t of\t the\t bachelor\t drove\t me\t to\t the\t Club.\t There\t I\t found that\t every\t man\t knew\t my\t story\t as\t told\t by\t Heatherlegh,\t and\t was,\t in\t clumsy fashion,\t abnormally\t kind\t and\t attentive.\t Nevertheless\t I\t recognized\t that\t for\t the rest\t of\t my\t natural\t life\t I\t should\t be\t among,\t but\t not\t of,\t my\t fellows;\t and\t I\t envied very\t bitterly\t indeed\t the\t laughing\t coolies\t on\t the\t Mall\t below.\t I\t lunched\t at\t the Club,\t and\t at\t four\t o'clock\t wandered\t aimlessly\t down\t the\t Mall\t in\t the\t vague\t hope of\tmeeting\tKitty.\tClose\tto\tthe\tBand-stand\tthe\tblack\tand\twhite\tliveries\tjoined\tme; and\t I\t heard\t Mrs.\t Wessington's\t old\t appeal\t at\t my\t side.\t I\t had\t been\t expecting\t this ever\t since\t I\t came\t out;\t and\t was\t only\t surprised\t at\t her\t delay.\t The\t phantom 'rickshaw\tand\tI\twent\tside\tby\tside\talong\tthe\tChota\tSimla\troad\tin\tsilence.\tClose\tto the\tbazaar,\tKitty\tand\ta\tman\ton\thorseback\tovertook\tand\tpassed\tus.\tFor\tany\tsign she\t gave\t I\t might\t have\t been\t a\t dog\t in\t the\t road.\t She\t did\t not\t even\t pay\t me\t the compliment\tof\tquickening\ther\tpace;\tthough\tthe\trainy\tafternoon\thad\tserved\tfor\tan excuse. So\tKitty\tand\ther\tcompanion,\tand\tI\tand\tmy\tghostly\tLight-o'-Love,\tcrept\tround Jakko\t in\t couples.\t The\t road\t was\t streaming\t with\t water;\t the\t pines\t dripped\t like roof-pipes\ton\tthe\trocks\tbelow,\tand\tthe\tair\twas\tfull\tof\tfine,\tdriving\train.\tTwo\tor three\t times\t I\t found\t myself\t saying\t to\t myself\t almost\t aloud:\t \\\"I'm\t Jack\t Pansay\t on leave\t at\t Simla\u2014at\t Simla!\t Everyday,\t ordinary\t Simla.\t I\t mustn't\t forget\t that\u2014I mustn't\tforget\tthat.\\\"\tThen\tI\twould\ttry\tto\trecollect\tsome\tof\tthe\tgossip\tI\thad\theard at\t the\t Club;\t the\t prices\t of\t So-and-So's\t horses\u2014anything,\t in\t fact,\t that\t related\t to","the\t work-a-day\t Anglo-Indian\t world\t I\t knew\t so\t well.\t I\t even\t repeated\t the multiplication-table\t rapidly\t to\t myself,\t to\t make\t quite\t sure\t that\t I\t was\t not\t taking leave\t of\t my\t senses.\t It\t gave\t me\t much\t comfort;\t and\t must\t have\t prevented\t my hearing\tMrs.\tWessington\tfor\ta\ttime. Once\tmore\tI\twearily\tclimbed\t the\tConvent\t slope\tand\tentered\t the\tlevel\troad. Here\t Kitty\t and\t the\t man\t started\t off\t at\t a\t canter,\t and\t I\t was\t left\t alone\t with\t Mrs. Wessington.\t\\\"Agnes,\\\"\tsaid\tI,\t\\\"will\tyou\tput\tback\tyour\thood\tand\ttell\tme\twhat\tit\tall means?\\\"\tThe\thood\tdropped\tnoiselessly\tand\tI\twas\tface\tto\tface\twith\tmy\tdead\tand buried\t mistress.\t She\t was\t wearing\t the\t dress\t in\t which\t I\t had\t last\t seen\t her\t alive: carried\t the\t same\t tiny\t handkerchief\t in\t her\t right\t hand;\t and\t the\t same\t card-case\t in her\t left.\t (A\t woman\t eight\t months\t dead\t with\t a\t card-case!)\t I\t had\t to\t pin\t myself down\t to\t the\t multiplication-table,\t and\t to\t set\t both\t hands\t on\t the\t stone\t parapet\t of the\troad\tto\tassure\tmyself\tthat\tthat\tat\tleast\twas\treal. \\\"Agnes,\\\"\t I\t repeated,\t \\\"for\t pity's\t sake\t tell\t me\t what\t it\t all\t means.\\\"\t Mrs. Wessington\t leant\t forward,\t with\t that\t odd,\t quick\t turn\t of\t the\t head\t I\t used\t to\t know so\twell,\tand\tspoke. If\t my\t story\t had\t not\t already\t so\t madly\t overleaped\t the\t bounds\t of\t all\t human belief\tI\tshould\tapologize\tto\tyou\tnow.\tAs\tI\tknow\tthat\tno\tone\u2014no,\tnot\teven\tKitty, for\twhom\tit\tis\twritten\tas\tsome\tsort\tof\tjustification\tof\tmy\tconduct\u2014will\tbelieve me,\t I\t will\t go\t on.\t Mrs.\t Wessington\t spoke\t and\t I\t walked\t with\t her\t from\t the Sanjowlie\troad\tto\tthe\tturning\tbelow\tthe\tCommander-in-Chief's\thouse\tas\tI\tmight walk\t by\t the\t side\t of\t any\t living\t woman's\t 'rickshaw,\t deep\t in\t conversation.\t The second\t and\t most\t tormenting\t of\t my\t moods\t of\t sickness\t had\t suddenly\t laid\t hold upon\t me,\t and\t like\t the\t prince\t in\t Tennyson's\t poem,\t \\\"I\t seemed\t to\t move\t amid\t a world\t of\t ghosts.\\\"\t There\t had\t been\t a\t garden-party\t at\t the\t Commander-in-Chief's, and\t we\t two\t joined\t the\t crowd\t of\t homeward-bound\t folk.\t As\t I\t saw\t them\t then\t it seemed\t that\t they\t were\t the\t shadows\u2014impalpable\t fantastic\t shadows\u2014that divided\t for\t Mrs.\t Wessington's\t 'rickshaw\t to\t pass\t through.\t What\t we\t said\t during the\t course\t of\t that\t weird\t interview\t I\t cannot\u2014indeed,\t I\t dare\t not\u2014tell. Heatherlegh's\t comment\t would\t have\t been\t a\t short\t laugh\t and\t a\t remark\t that\t I\t had been\t \\\"mashing\t a\t brain-eye-and-stomach\t chimera.\\\"\t It\t was\t a\t ghastly\t and\t yet\t in some\t indefinable\t way\t a\t marvelously\t dear\t experience.\t Could\t it\t be\t possible,\t I wondered,\tthat\tI\twas\tin\tthis\tlife\tto\twoo\ta\tsecond\ttime\tthe\twoman\tI\thad\tkilled\tby my\town\tneglect\tand\tcruelty? I\tmet\tKitty\ton\tthe\thomeward\troad\u2014a\tshadow\tamong\tshadows.","If\t I\t were\t to\t describe\t all\t the\t incidents\t of\t the\t next\t fortnight\t in\t their\t order,\t my story\t would\t never\t come\t to\t an\t end;\t and\t your\t patience\t would\t be\t exhausted. Morning\t after\t morning\t and\t evening\t after\t evening\t the\t ghostly\t 'rickshaw\t and\t I used\t to\t wander\t through\t Simla\t together.\t Wherever\t I\t went,\t there\t the\t four\t black and\twhite\tliveries\tfollowed\tme\tand\tbore\tme\tcompany\tto\tand\tfrom\tmy\thotel.\tAt the\ttheater\tI\tfound\tthem\tamid\tthe\tcrowd\tof\tyelling\tjhampanies;\toutside\tthe\tclub veranda,\tafter\ta\tlong\tevening\tof\twhist;\tat\tthe\tbirthday\tball,\twaiting\tpatiently\tfor my\treappearance;\tand\tin\tbroad\tdaylight\twhen\tI\twent\tcalling.\tSave\tthat\tit\tcast\tno shadow,\tthe\t'rickshaw\twas\tin\tevery\trespect\tas\treal\tto\tlook\tupon\tas\tone\tof\twood and\t iron.\t More\t than\t once,\t indeed,\t I\t have\t had\t to\t check\t myself\t from\t warning some\thard-riding\tfriend\tagainst\tcantering\tover\tit.\tMore\tthan\tonce\tI\thave\twalked down\t the\t Mall\t deep\t in\t conversation\t with\t Mrs.\t Wessington\t to\t the\t unspeakable amazement\tof\tthe\tpassers-by. Before\tI\thad\tbeen\tout\tand\tabout\ta\tweek\tI\tlearnt\tthat\tthe\t\\\"fit\\\"\ttheory\thad\tbeen discarded\tin\tfavor\tof\tinsanity.\tHowever,\tI\tmade\tno\tchange\tin\tmy\tmode\tof\tlife.\tI called,\trode,\tand\tdined\tout\tas\tfreely\tas\tever.\tI\thad\ta\tpassion\tfor\tthe\tsociety\tof\tmy kind\t which\t I\t had\t never\t felt\t before;\t I\t hungered\t to\t be\t among\t the\t realities\t of\t life; and\tat\tthe\tsame\ttime\tI\tfelt\tvaguely\tunhappy\twhen\tI\thad\tbeen\tseparated\ttoo\tlong from\t my\t ghostly\t companion.\t It\t would\t be\t almost\t impossible\t to\t describe\t my varying\tmoods\tfrom\tthe\t15th\tof\tMay\tup\tto\tto-day. The\tpresence\tof\tthe\t'rickshaw\tfilled\tme\tby\tturns\twith\thorror,\tblind\tfear,\ta\tdim sort\t of\t pleasure,\t and\t utter\t despair.\t I\t dared\t not\t leave\t Simla;\t and\t I\t knew\t that\t my stay\tthere\twas\tkilling\tme.\tI\tknew,\tmoreover,\tthat\tit\twas\tmy\tdestiny\tto\tdie\tslowly and\ta\tlittle\tevery\tday.\tMy\tonly\tanxiety\twas\tto\tget\tthe\tpenance\tover\tas\tquietly\tas might\tbe.\tAlternately\tI\thungered\tfor\ta\tsight\tof\tKitty\tand\twatched\ther\toutrageous flirtations\t with\t my\t successor\u2014to\t speak\t more\t accurately,\t my\t successors\u2014with amused\tinterest.\tShe\twas\tas\tmuch\tout\tof\tmy\tlife\tas\tI\twas\tout\tof\thers.\tBy\tday\tI wandered\twith\tMrs.\tWessington\talmost\tcontent.\tBy\tnight\tI\timplored\tHeaven\tto let\t me\t return\t to\t the\t world\t as\t I\t used\t to\t know\t it.\t Above\t all\t these\t varying\t moods lay\t the\t sensation\t of\t dull,\t numbing\t wonder\t that\t the\t seen\t and\t the\t unseen\t should mingle\tso\tstrangely\ton\tthis\tearth\tto\thound\tone\tpoor\tsoul\tto\tits\tgrave. August\t27th.\u2014Heatherlegh\t has\t been\t indefatigable\t in\t his\t attendance\t on\t me; and\tonly\tyesterday\ttold\tme\tthat\tI\tought\tto\tsend\tin\tan\tapplication\tfor\tsick-leave. An\t application\t to\t escape\t the\t company\t of\t a\t phantom!\t A\t request\t that\t the","Government\t would\t graciously\t permit\t me\t to\t get\t rid\t of\t five\t ghosts\t and\t an\t airy 'rickshaw\t by\t going\t to\t England!\t Heatherlegh's\t proposition\t moved\t me\t to\t almost hysterical\tlaughter.\tI\ttold\thim\tthat\tI\tshould\tawait\tthe\tend\tquietly\tat\tSimla;\tand\tI am\tsure\tthat\tthe\tend\tis\tnot\tfar\toff.\tBelieve\tme\tthat\tI\tdread\tits\tadvent\tmore\tthan any\tword\tcan\tsay;\tand\tI\ttorture\tmyself\tnightly\twith\ta\tthousand\tspeculations\tas\tto the\tmanner\tof\tmy\tdeath. Shall\tI\tdie\tin\tmy\tbed\tdecently\tand\tas\tan\tEnglish\tgentlemen\tshould\tdie;\tor,\tin one\t last\t walk\t on\t the\t Mall,\t will\t my\t soul\t be\t wrenched\t from\t me\t to\t take\t its\t place for\tever\tand\tever\tby\tthe\tside\tof\tthat\tghastly\tphantasm?\tShall\tI\treturn\tto\tmy\told lost\tallegiance\tin\tthe\tnext\tworld,\tor\tshall\tI\tmeet\tAgnes\tloathing\ther\tand\tbound\tto her\tside\tthrough\tall\teternity?\tShall\twe\ttwo\thover\tover\tthe\tscene\tof\tour\tlives\ttill the\tend\tof\ttime?\tAs\tthe\tday\tof\tmy\tdeath\tdraws\tnearer,\tthe\tintense\thorror\tthat\tall living\tflesh\tfeels\ttowards\tescaped\tspirits\tfrom\tbeyond\tthe\tgrave\tgrows\tmore\tand more\t powerful.\t It\t is\t an\t awful\t thing\t to\t go\t down\t quick\t among\t the\t dead\t with scarcely\t one\t half\t of\t your\t life\t completed.\t It\t is\t a\t thousand\t times\t more\t awful\t to wait\tas\tI\tdo\tin\tyour\tmidst,\tfor\tI\tknow\tnot\twhat\tunimaginable\tterror.\tPity\tme,\tat least\t on\t the\t score\t of\t my\t \\\"delusion,\\\"\t for\t I\t know\t you\t will\t never\t believe\t what\t I have\twritten\there.\tYet\tas\tsurely\tas\tever\ta\tman\twas\tdone\tto\tdeath\tby\tthe\tPowers of\tDarkness\tI\tam\tthat\tman. In\t justice,\t too,\t pity\t her.\t For\t as\t surely\t as\t ever\t woman\t was\t killed\t by\t man,\t I killed\t Mrs.\t Wessington.\t And\t the\t last\t portion\t of\t my\t punishment\t is\t even\t now upon\tme.","THE\tRIVAL\tGHOSTS BY\tBRANDER\tMATTHEWS The\t good\t ship\t sped\t on\t her\t way\t across\t the\t calm\t Atlantic.\t It\t was\t an\t outward passage,\taccording\tto\tthe\tlittle\tcharts\twhich\tthe\tcompany\thad\tcharily\tdistributed, but\t most\t of\t the\t passengers\t were\t homeward\t bound,\t after\t a\t summer\t of\t rest\t and recreation,\t and\t they\t were\t counting\t the\t days\t before\t they\t might\t hope\t to\t see\t Fire Island\t Light.\t On\t the\t lee\t side\t of\t the\t boat,\t comfortably\t sheltered\t from\t the\t wind, and\tjust\tby\tthe\tdoor\tof\tthe\tcaptain's\troom\t(which\twas\ttheirs\tduring\tthe\tday),\tsat a\t little\t group\t of\t returning\t Americans.\t The\t Duchess\t (she\t was\t down\t on\t the purser's\tlist\tas\tMrs.\tMartin,\tbut\ther\tfriends\tand\tfamiliars\tcalled\ther\tthe\tDuchess of\t Washington\t Square)\t and\t Baby\t Van\t Rensselaer\t (she\t was\t quite\t old\t enough\t to vote,\thad\ther\tsex\tbeen\tentitled\tto\tthat\tduty,\tbut\tas\tthe\tyounger\tof\ttwo\tsisters\tshe was\t still\t the\t baby\t of\t the\t family)\u2014the\t Duchess\t and\t Baby\t Van\t Rensselaer\t were discussing\tthe\tpleasant\tEnglish\tvoice\tand\tthe\tnot\tunpleasant\tEnglish\taccent\tof\ta manly\t young\t lordling\t who\t was\t going\t to\t America\t for\t sport.\t Uncle\t Larry\t and Dear\tJones\twere\tenticing\teach\tother\tinto\ta\tbet\ton\tthe\tship's\trun\tof\tthe\tmorrow. \\\"I'll\tgive\tyou\ttwo\tto\tone\tshe\tdon't\tmake\t420,\\\"\tsaid\tDear\tJones. \\\"I'll\ttake\tit,\\\"\tanswered\tUncle\tLarry.\t\\\"We\tmade\t427\tthe\tfifth\tday\tlast\tyear.\\\"\tIt was\tUncle\tLarry's\tseventeenth\tvisit\tto\tEurope,\tand\tthis\twas\ttherefore\this\tthirty- fourth\tvoyage. \\\"And\t when\t did\t you\t get\t in?\\\"\t asked\t Baby\t Van\t Rensselaer.\t \\\"I\t don't\t care\t a\t bit about\tthe\trun,\tso\tlong\tas\twe\tget\tin\tsoon.\\\" \\\"We\tcrossed\tthe\tbar\tSunday\tnight,\tjust\tseven\tdays\tafter\twe\tleft\tQueenstown, and\twe\tdropped\tanchor\toff\tQuarantine\tat\tthree\to'clock\ton\tMonday\tmorning.\\\" \\\"I\t hope\t we\t shan't\t do\t that\t this\t time.\t I\t can't\t seem\t to\t sleep\t any\t when\t the\t boat stops.\\\" \\\"I\tcan;\tbut\tI\tdidn't,\\\"\tcontinued\tUncle\tLarry;\t\\\"because\tmy\tstate-room\twas\tthe most\t for'ard\t in\t the\t boat,\t and\t the\t donkey-engine\t that\t let\t down\t the\t anchor\t was right\tover\tmy\thead.\\\"","\\\"So\tyou\tgot\tup\tand\tsaw\tthe\tsunrise\tover\tthe\tbay,\\\"\tsaid\tDear\tJones,\t\\\"with\tthe electric\tlights\tof\tthe\tcity\ttwinkling\tin\tthe\tdistance,\tand\tthe\tfirst\tfaint\tflush\tof\tthe dawn\tin\tthe\teast\tjust\tover\tFort\tLafayette,\tand\tthe\trosy\ttinge\twhich\tspread\tsoftly upward,\tand\u2014\u2014\\\" \\\"Did\tyou\tboth\tcome\tback\ttogether?\\\"\tasked\tthe\tDuchess. \\\"Because\the\thas\tcrossed\tthirty-four\ttimes\tyou\tmust\tnot\tsuppose\tthat\the\thas\ta monopoly\tin\tsunrises,\\\"\tretorted\tDear\tJones.\t\\\"No,\tthis\twas\tmy\town\tsunrise;\tand\ta mighty\tpretty\tone\tit\twas,\ttoo.\\\" \\\"I'm\tnot\tmatching\tsunrises\twith\tyou,\\\"\tremarked\tUncle\tLarry,\tcalmly;\t\\\"but\tI'm willing\t to\t back\t a\t merry\t jest\t called\t forth\t by\t my\t sunrise\t against\t any\t two\t merry jests\tcalled\tforth\tby\tyours.\\\" \\\"I\tconfess\treluctantly\tthat\tmy\tsunrise\tevoked\tno\tmerry\tjest\tat\tall.\\\"\tDear\tJones was\t an\t honest\t man,\t and\t would\t scorn\t to\t invent\t a\t merry\t jest\t on\t the\t spur\t of\t the moment. \\\"That's\twhere\tmy\tsunrise\thas\tthe\tcall,\\\"\tsaid\tUncle\tLarry,\tcomplacently. \\\"What\t was\t the\t merry\t jest?\\\"\t was\t Baby\t Van\t Rensselaer's\t inquiry,\t the\t natural result\tof\ta\tfeminine\tcuriosity\tthus\tartistically\texcited. \\\"Well,\t here\t it\t is.\t I\t was\t standing\t aft,\t near\t a\t patriotic\t American\t and\t a wandering\tIrishman,\tand\tthe\tpatriotic\tAmerican\trashly\tdeclared\tthat\tyou\tcouldn't see\t a\t sunrise\t like\t that\t anywhere\t in\t Europe,\t and\t this\t gave\t the\t Irishman\t his chance,\tand\the\tsaid,\t'Sure\tye\tdon't\thave\t'em\there\ttill\twe're\tthrough\twith\t'em\tover there.'\\\" \\\"It\tis\ttrue,\\\"\tsaid\tDear\tJones,\tthoughtfully,\t\\\"that\tthey\tdo\thave\tsome\tthings\tover there\tbetter\tthan\twe\tdo;\tfor\tinstance,\tumbrellas.\\\" \\\"And\tgowns,\\\"\tadded\tthe\tDuchess. \\\"And\tantiquities,\\\"\u2014this\twas\tUncle\tLarry's\tcontribution. \\\"And\t we\t do\t have\t some\t things\t so\t much\t better\t in\t America!\\\"\t protested\t Baby Van\t Rensselaer,\t as\t yet\t uncorrupted\t by\t any\t worship\t of\t the\t effete\t monarchies\t of despotic\t Europe.\t \\\"We\t make\t lots\t of\t things\t a\t great\t deal\t nicer\t than\t you\t can\t get them\tin\tEurope\u2014especially\tice-cream.\\\" \\\"And\tpretty\tgirls,\\\"\tadded\tDear\tJones;\tbut\the\tdid\tnot\tlook\tat\ther.","\\\"And\tspooks,\\\"\tremarked\tUncle\tLarry\tcasually. \\\"Spooks?\\\"\tqueried\tthe\tDuchess. \\\"Spooks.\tI\tmaintain\tthe\tword.\tGhosts,\tif\tyou\tlike\tthat\tbetter,\tor\tspecters.\tWe turn\tout\tthe\tbest\tquality\tof\tspook\u2014\u2014\\\" \\\"You\t forget\t the\t lovely\t ghost\t stories\t about\t the\t Rhine,\t and\t the\t Black\t Forest,\\\" interrupted\tMiss\tVan\tRensselaer,\twith\tfeminine\tinconsistency. \\\"I\tremember\tthe\tRhine\tand\tthe\tBlack\tForest\tand\tall\tthe\tother\thaunts\tof\telves and\t fairies\t and\t hobgoblins;\t but\t for\t good\t honest\t spooks\t there\t is\t no\t place\t like home.\t And\t what\t differentiates\t our\t spook\u2014Spiritus\t Americanus\u2014from\t the ordinary\t ghost\t of\t literature\t is\t that\t it\t responds\t to\t the\t American\t sense\t of\t humor. Take\t Irving's\t stories\t for\t example.\t The\t Headless\t Horseman,\t that's\t a\t comic\t ghost story.\tAnd\tRip\tVan\tWinkle\u2014consider\twhat\thumor,\tand\twhat\tgood-humor,\tthere is\tin\tthe\ttelling\tof\this\tmeeting\twith\tthe\tgoblin\tcrew\tof\tHendrik\tHudson's\tmen!\tA still\tbetter\texample\tof\tthis\tAmerican\tway\tof\tdealing\twith\tlegend\tand\tmystery\tis the\tmarvelous\ttale\tof\tthe\trival\tghosts.\\\" \\\"The\trival\tghosts?\\\"\tqueried\tthe\tDuchess\t and\tBaby\tVan\tRensselaer\ttogether. \\\"Who\twere\tthey?\\\" \\\"Didn't\t I\t ever\t tell\t you\t about\t them?\\\"\t answered\t Uncle\t Larry,\t a\t gleam\t of approaching\tjoy\tflashing\tfrom\this\teye. \\\"Since\the\tis\tbound\tto\ttell\tus\tsooner\tor\tlater,\twe'd\tbetter\tbe\tresigned\tand\thear it\tnow,\\\"\tsaid\tDear\tJones. \\\"If\tyou\tare\tnot\tmore\teager,\tI\twon't\ttell\tit\tat\tall.\\\" \\\"Oh,\t do,\t Uncle\t Larry;\t you\t know\t I\t just\t dote\t on\t ghost\t stories,\\\"\t pleaded\t Baby Van\tRensselaer. \\\"Once\t upon\t a\t time,\\\"\t began\t Uncle\t Larry\u2014\\\"in\t fact,\t a\t very\t few\t years\t ago\u2014 there\tlived\tin\tthe\tthriving\ttown\tof\tNew\tYork\ta\tyoung\tAmerican\tcalled\tDuncan\u2014 Eliphalet\t Duncan.\t Like\t his\t name,\t he\t was\t half\t Yankee\t and\t half\t Scotch,\t and naturally\t he\t was\t a\t lawyer,\t and\t had\t come\t to\t New\t York\t to\t make\t his\t way.\t His father\twas\ta\tScotchman,\twho\thad\tcome\tover\tand\tsettled\tin\tBoston,\tand\tmarried a\t Salem\t girl.\t When\t Eliphalet\t Duncan\t was\t about\t twenty\t he\t lost\t both\t of\t his parents.\tHis\tfather\tleft\thim\twith\tenough\tmoney\tto\tgive\thim\ta\tstart,\tand\ta\tstrong feeling\t of\t pride\t in\t his\t Scotch\t birth;\t you\t see\t there\t was\t a\t title\t in\t the\t family\t in","Scotland,\tand\talthough\tEliphalet's\tfather\twas\tthe\tyounger\tson\tof\ta\tyounger\tson, yet\the\talways\tremembered,\tand\talways\tbade\this\tonly\tson\tto\tremember,\tthat\this ancestry\twas\tnoble.\tHis\tmother\tleft\thim\ther\tfull\tshare\tof\tYankee\tgrit,\tand\ta\tlittle house\t in\t Salem\t which\t has\t belonged\t to\t her\t family\t for\t more\t than\t two\t hundred years.\tShe\twas\ta\tHitchcock,\tand\tthe\tHitchcocks\thad\tbeen\tsettled\tin\tSalem\tsince the\tyear\t1.\tIt\twas\ta\tgreat-great-grandfather\tof\tMr.\tEliphalet\tHitchcock\twho\twas foremost\t in\t the\t time\t of\t the\t Salem\t witchcraft\t craze.\t And\t this\t little\t old\t house which\tshe\tleft\tto\tmy\tfriend\tEliphalet\tDuncan\twas\thaunted. \\\"By\tthe\tghost\tof\tone\tof\tthe\twitches,\tof\tcourse,\\\"\tinterrupted\tDear\tJones. \\\"Now\thow\tcould\tit\tbe\tthe\tghost\tof\ta\twitch,\tsince\tthe\twitches\twere\tall\tburned at\t the\t stake?\t You\t never\t heard\t of\t anybody\t who\t was\t burned\t having\t a\t ghost,\t did you?\\\" \\\"That's\tan\targument\tin\tfavor\tof\tcremation,\tat\tany\trate,\\\"\treplied\tJones,\tevading the\tdirect\tquestion. \\\"It\tis,\tif\tyou\tdon't\tlike\tghosts;\tI\tdo,\\\"\tsaid\tBaby\tVan\tRensselaer. \\\"And\tso\tdo\tI,\\\"\tadded\tUncle\tLarry.\t\\\"I\tlove\ta\tghost\tas\tdearly\tas\tan\tEnglishman loves\ta\tlord.\\\" \\\"Go\t on\t with\t your\t story,\\\"\t said\t the\t Duchess,\t majestically\t overruling\t all extraneous\tdiscussion. \\\"This\tlittle\told\thouse\tat\tSalem\twas\thaunted,\\\"\tresumed\tUncle\tLarry.\t\\\"And\tby\ta very\tdistinguished\tghost\u2014or\tat\tleast\tby\ta\tghost\twith\tvery\tremarkable\tattributes.\\\" \\\"What\t was\t he\t like?\\\"\t asked\t Baby\t Van\t Rensselaer,\t with\t a\t premonitory\t shiver of\tanticipatory\tdelight. \\\"It\thad\ta\tlot\tof\tpeculiarities.\tIn\tthe\tfirst\tplace,\tit\tnever\tappeared\tto\tthe\tmaster of\t the\t house.\t Mostly\t it\t confined\t its\t visitations\t to\t unwelcome\t guests.\t In\t the course\tof\tthe\tlast\thundred\tyears\tit\thad\tfrightened\taway\tfour\tsuccessive\tmothers- in-law,\twhile\tnever\tintruding\ton\tthe\thead\tof\tthe\thousehold.\\\" \\\"I\t guess\t that\t ghost\t had\t been\t one\t of\t the\t boys\t when\t he\t was\t alive\t and\t in\t the flesh.\\\"\tThis\twas\tDear\tJones's\tcontribution\tto\tthe\ttelling\tof\tthe\ttale. \\\"In\t the\t second\t place,\\\"\t continued\t Uncle\t Larry,\t \\\"it\t never\t frightened\t anybody the\t first\t time\t it\t appeared.\t Only\t on\t the\t second\t visit\t were\t the\t ghost-seers\t scared;","but\tthen\tthey\twere\tscared\tenough\tfor\ttwice,\tand\tthey\trarely\tmustered\tup\tcourage enough\t to\t risk\t a\t third\t interview.\t One\t of\t the\t most\t curious\t characteristics\t of\t this well-meaning\tspook\twas\tthat\tit\thad\tno\tface\u2014or\tat\tleast\tthat\tnobody\tever\tsaw\tits face.\\\" \\\"Perhaps\t he\t kept\t his\t countenance\t veiled?\\\"\t queried\t the\t Duchess,\t who\t was beginning\tto\tremember\tthat\tshe\tnever\tdid\tlike\tghost\tstories. \\\"That\twas\twhat\tI\twas\tnever\table\tto\tfind\tout.\tI\thave\tasked\tseveral\tpeople\twho saw\t the\t ghost,\t and\t none\t of\t them\t could\t tell\t me\t anything\t about\t its\t face,\t and\t yet while\tin\tits\tpresence\tthey\tnever\tnoticed\tits\tfeatures,\tand\tnever\tremarked\ton\ttheir absence\t or\t concealment.\t It\t was\t only\t afterward\t when\t they\t tried\t to\t recall\t calmly all\tthe\tcircumstances\tof\tmeeting\twith\tthe\tmysterious\tstranger,\tthat\tthey\tbecame aware\t that\t they\t had\t not\t seen\t its\t face.\t And\t they\t could\t not\t say\t whether\t the features\t were\t covered,\t or\t whether\t they\t were\t wanting,\t or\t what\t the\t trouble\t was. They\t knew\t only\t that\t the\t face\t was\t never\t seen.\t And\t no\t matter\t how\t often\t they might\t see\t it,\t they\t never\t fathomed\t this\t mystery.\t To\t this\t day\t nobody\t knows whether\tthe\tghost\twhich\tused\tto\thaunt\tthe\tlittle\told\thouse\tin\tSalem\thad\ta\tface,\tor what\tmanner\tof\tface\tit\thad.\\\" \\\"How\tawfully\tweird!\\\"\tsaid\tBaby\tVan\tRensselaer.\t\\\"And\twhy\tdid\tthe\tghost\tgo away?\\\" \\\"I\thaven't\tsaid\tit\twent\taway,\\\"\tanswered\tUncle\tLarry,\twith\tmuch\tdignity. \\\"But\t you\t said\t it\t used\t to\t haunt\t the\t little\t old\t house\t at\t Salem,\t so\t I\t supposed\t it had\tmoved.\tDidn't\tit?\\\" \\\"You\t shall\t be\t told\t in\t due\t time.\t Eliphalet\t Duncan\t used\t to\t spend\t most\t of\t his summer\tvacations\tat\tSalem,\tand\tthe\tghost\tnever\tbothered\thim\tat\tall,\tfor\the\twas the\tmaster\tof\tthe\thouse\u2014much\tto\this\tdisgust,\ttoo,\tbecause\the\twanted\tto\tsee\tfor himself\tthe\tmysterious\ttenant\tat\twill\tof\this\tproperty.\tBut\the\tnever\tsaw\tit,\tnever. He\t arranged\t with\t friends\t to\t call\t him\t whenever\t it\t might\t appear,\t and\t he\t slept\t in the\tnext\troom\twith\tthe\tdoor\topen;\tand\tyet\twhen\ttheir\tfrightened\tcries\twaked\thim the\tghost\twas\tgone,\tand\this\tonly\treward\twas\tto\thear\treproachful\tsighs\tas\tsoon\tas he\t went\t back\t to\t bed.\t You\t see,\t the\t ghost\t thought\t it\t was\t not\t fair\t of\t Eliphalet\t to seek\tan\tintroduction\twhich\twas\tplainly\tunwelcome.\\\" Dear\tJones\tinterrupted\tthe\tstory-teller\tby\tgetting\tup\tand\ttucking\ta\theavy\trug snugly\t around\t Baby\t Van\t Rensselaer's\t feet,\t for\t the\t sky\t was\t now\t overcast\t and gray,\tand\tthe\tair\twas\tdamp\tand\tpenetrating.","\\\"One\tfine\tspring\tmorning,\\\"\tpursued\tUncle\tLarry,\t\\\"Eliphalet\tDuncan\treceived great\t news.\t I\t told\t you\t that\t there\t was\t a\t title\t in\t the\t family\t in\t Scotland,\t and\t that Eliphalet's\t father\t was\t the\t younger\t son\t of\t a\t younger\t son.\t Well,\t it\t happened\t that all\tEliphalet's\tfather's\tbrothers\tand\tuncles\thad\tdied\toff\twithout\tmale\tissue\texcept the\t eldest\t son\t of\t the\t eldest,\t and\t he,\t of\t course,\t bore\t the\t title,\t and\t was\t Baron Duncan\tof\tDuncan.\tNow\tthe\tgreat\tnews\tthat\tEliphalet\tDuncan\treceived\tin\tNew York\tone\tfine\tspring\tmorning\twas\tthat\tBaron\tDuncan\tand\this\tonly\tson\thad\tbeen yachting\t in\t the\t Hebrides,\t and\t they\t had\t been\t caught\t in\t a\t black\t squall,\t and\t they were\t both\t dead.\t So\t my\t friend\t Eliphalet\t Duncan\t inherited\t the\t title\t and\t the estates.\\\" \\\"How\tromantic!\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tDuchess.\t\\\"So\the\twas\ta\tbaron!\\\" \\\"Well,\\\"\t answered\t Uncle\t Larry,\t \\\"he\t was\t a\t baron\t if\t he\t chose.\t But\t he\t didn't choose.\\\" \\\"More\tfool\the,\\\"\tsaid\tDear\tJones\tsententiously. \\\"Well,\\\"\t answered\t Uncle\t Larry,\t \\\"I'm\t not\t so\t sure\t of\t that.\t You\t see,\t Eliphalet Duncan\t was\t half\t Scotch\t and\t half\t Yankee,\t and\t he\t had\t two\t eyes\t to\t the\t main chance.\t He\t held\t his\t tongue\t about\t his\t windfall\t of\t luck\t until\t he\t could\t find\t out whether\t the\t Scotch\t estates\t were\t enough\t to\t keep\t up\t the\t Scotch\t title.\t He\t soon discovered\t that\t they\t were\t not,\t and\t that\t the\t late\t Lord\t Duncan,\t having\t married money,\tkept\tup\tsuch\tstate\tas\the\tcould\tout\tof\tthe\trevenues\tof\tthe\tdowry\tof\tLady Duncan.\tAnd\tEliphalet,\the\tdecided\tthat\the\twould\trather\tbe\ta\twell-fed\tlawyer\tin New\t York,\t living\t comfortably\t on\t his\t practice,\t than\t a\t starving\t lord\t in\t Scotland, living\tscantily\ton\this\ttitle.\\\" \\\"But\the\tkept\this\ttitle?\\\"\tasked\tthe\tDuchess. \\\"Well,\\\"\tanswered\tUncle\tLarry,\t\\\"he\tkept\tit\tquiet.\tI\tknew\tit,\tand\ta\tfriend\tor\ttwo more.\t But\t Eliphalet\t was\t a\t sight\t too\t smart\t to\t put\t Baron\t Duncan\t of\t Duncan, Attorney\tand\tCounselor\tat\tLaw,\ton\this\tshingle.\\\" \\\"What\thas\tall\tthis\tgot\tto\tdo\twith\tyour\tghost?\\\"\tasked\tDear\tJones\tpertinently. \\\"Nothing\t with\t that\t ghost,\t but\t a\t good\t deal\t with\t another\t ghost.\t Eliphalet\t was very\t learned\t in\t spirit\t lore\u2014perhaps\t because\t he\t owned\t the\t haunted\t house\t at Salem,\t perhaps\t because\t he\t was\t a\t Scotchman\t by\t descent.\t At\t all\t events,\t he\t had made\ta\tspecial\tstudy\tof\tthe\twraiths\tand\twhite\tladies\tand\tbanshees\tand\tbogies\tof all\t kinds\t whose\t sayings\t and\t doings\t and\t warnings\t are\t recorded\t in\t the\t annals\t of","the\t Scottish\t nobility.\t In\t fact,\t he\t was\t acquainted\t with\t the\t habits\t of\t every reputable\t spook\t in\t the\t Scotch\t peerage.\t And\t he\t knew\t that\t there\t was\t a\t Duncan ghost\t attached\t to\t the\t person\t of\t the\t holder\t of\t the\t title\t of\t Baron\t Duncan\t of Duncan.\\\" \\\"So,\t besides\t being\t the\t owner\t of\t a\t haunted\t house\t in\t Salem,\t he\t was\t also\t a haunted\tman\tin\tScotland?\\\"\tasked\tBaby\tVan\tRensselaer. \\\"Just\t so.\t But\t the\t Scotch\t ghost\t was\t not\t unpleasant,\t like\t the\t Salem\t ghost, although\t it\t had\t one\t peculiarity\t in\t common\t with\t its\t trans-Atlantic\t fellow-spook. It\tnever\tappeared\tto\tthe\tholder\tof\tthe\ttitle,\tjust\tas\tthe\tother\tnever\twas\tvisible\tto the\towner\tof\tthe\thouse.\tIn\tfact,\tthe\tDuncan\tghost\twas\tnever\tseen\tat\tall.\tIt\twas\ta guardian\t angel\t only.\t Its\t sole\t duty\t was\t to\t be\t in\t personal\t attendance\t on\t Baron Duncan\t of\t Duncan,\t and\t to\t warn\t him\t of\t impending\t evil.\t The\t traditions\t of\t the house\ttold\tthat\tthe\tBarons\tof\tDuncan\thad\tagain\tand\tagain\tfelt\ta\tpremonition\tof ill\tfortune.\tSome\tof\tthem\thad\tyielded\tand\twithdrawn\tfrom\tthe\tventure\tthey\thad undertaken,\t and\t it\t had\t failed\t dismally.\t Some\t had\t been\t obstinate,\t and\t had hardened\ttheir\thearts,\tand\thad\tgone\ton\treckless\tof\tdefeat\tand\tto\tdeath.\tIn\tno\tcase had\ta\tLord\tDuncan\tbeen\texposed\tto\tperil\twithout\tfair\twarning.\\\" \\\"Then\t how\t came\t it\t that\t the\t father\t and\t son\t were\t lost\t in\t the\t yacht\t off\t the Hebrides?\\\"\tasked\tDear\tJones. \\\"Because\t they\t were\t too\t enlightened\t to\t yield\t to\t superstition.\t There\t is\t extant now\ta\tletter\tof\tLord\tDuncan,\twritten\tto\this\twife\ta\tfew\tminutes\tbefore\the\tand\this son\tset\tsail,\tin\twhich\the\ttells\ther\thow\thard\the\thas\thad\tto\tstruggle\twith\tan\talmost overmastering\tdesire\tto\tgive\tup\tthe\ttrip.\tHad\the\tobeyed\tthe\tfriendly\twarning\tof the\t family\t ghost,\t the\t latter\t would\t have\t been\t spared\t a\t journey\t across\t the Atlantic.\\\" \\\"Did\t the\t ghost\t leave\t Scotland\t for\t America\t as\t soon\t as\t the\t old\t baron\t died?\\\" asked\tBaby\tVan\tRensselaer,\twith\tmuch\tinterest. \\\"How\tdid\the\tcome\tover,\\\"\tqueried\tDear\tJones\u2014\\\"in\tthe\tsteerage,\tor\tas\ta\tcabin passenger?\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tknow,\\\"\tanswered\tUncle\tLarry\tcalmly,\t\\\"and\tEliphalet,\the\tdidn't\tknow. For\t as\t he\t was\t in\t no\t danger,\t and\t stood\t in\t no\t need\t of\t warning,\t he\t couldn't\t tell whether\t the\t ghost\t was\t on\t duty\t or\t not.\t Of\t course\t he\t was\t on\t the\t watch\t for\t it\t all the\t time.\t But\t he\t never\t got\t any\t proof\t of\t its\t presence\t until\t he\t went\t down\t to\t the little\t old\t house\t of\t Salem,\t just\t before\t the\t Fourth\t of\t July.\t He\t took\t a\t friend\t down","with\thim\u2014a\tyoung\tfellow\twho\thad\tbeen\tin\tthe\tregular\tarmy\tsince\tthe\tday\tFort Sumter\t was\t fired\t on,\t and\t who\t thought\t that\t after\t four\t years\t of\t the\t little unpleasantness\tdown\tSouth,\tincluding\tsix\tmonths\tin\tLibby,\tand\tafter\tten\tyears\tof fighting\tthe\tbad\tIndians\ton\tthe\tplains,\the\twasn't\tlikely\tto\tbe\tmuch\tfrightened\tby a\t ghost.\t Well,\t Eliphalet\t and\t the\t officer\t sat\t out\t on\t the\t porch\t all\t the\t evening smoking\tand\ttalking\tover\tpoints\tin\tmilitary\tlaw.\tA\tlittle\tafter\ttwelve\to'clock,\tjust as\t they\t began\t to\t think\t it\t was\t about\t time\t to\t turn\t in,\t they\t heard\t the\t most\t ghastly noise\tin\tthe\thouse.\tIt\twasn't\ta\tshriek,\tor\ta\thowl,\tor\ta\tyell,\tor\tanything\tthey\tcould put\t a\t name\t to.\t It\t was\t an\t undeterminate,\t inexplicable\t shiver\t and\t shudder\t of sound,\t which\t went\t wailing\t out\t of\t the\t window.\t The\t officer\t had\t been\t at\t Cold Harbor,\t but\t he\t felt\t himself\t getting\t colder\t this\t time.\t Eliphalet\t knew\t it\t was\t the ghost\twho\thaunted\tthe\thouse.\tAs\tthis\tweird\tsound\tdied\taway,\tit\twas\tfollowed\tby another,\t sharp,\t short,\t blood-curdling\t in\t its\t intensity.\t Something\t in\t this\t cry seemed\t familiar\t to\t Eliphalet,\t and\t he\t felt\t sure\t that\t it\t proceeded\t from\t the\t family ghost,\tthe\twarning\twraith\tof\tthe\tDuncans.\\\" \\\"Do\t I\t understand\t you\t to\t intimate\t that\t both\t ghosts\t were\t there\t together?\\\" inquired\tthe\tDuchess\tanxiously. \\\"Both\t of\t them\t were\t there,\\\"\t answered\t Uncle\t Larry.\t \\\"You\t see,\t one\t of\t them belonged\t to\t the\t house,\t and\t had\t to\t be\t there\t all\t the\t time,\t and\t the\t other\t was attached\tto\tthe\tperson\tof\tBaron\tDuncan,\tand\thad\tto\tfollow\thim\tthere;\twherever he\twas\tthere\twas\tthe\tghost\talso.\tBut\tEliphalet,\the\thad\tscarcely\ttime\tto\tthink\tthis out\t when\t he\t heard\t both\t sounds\t again,\t not\t one\t after\t another,\t but\t both\t together, and\tsomething\ttold\thim\u2014some\tsort\tof\tan\tinstinct\the\thad\u2014that\tthose\ttwo\tghosts didn't\tagree,\tdidn't\tget\ton\ttogether,\tdidn't\texactly\thit\tit\toff;\tin\tfact,\tthat\tthey\twere quarreling.\\\" \\\"Quarreling\tghosts!\tWell,\tI\tnever!\\\"\twas\tBaby\tVan\tRensselaer's\tremark. \\\"It\tis\ta\tblessed\tthing\tto\tsee\tghosts\tdwell\ttogether\tin\tunity,\\\"\tsaid\tDear\tJones. And\tthe\tDuchess\tadded,\t\\\"It\twould\tcertainly\tbe\tsetting\ta\tbetter\texample.\\\" \\\"You\tknow,\\\"\tresumed\tUncle\tLarry,\t\\\"that\ttwo\twaves\tof\tlight\tor\tof\tsound\tmay interfere\t and\t produce\t darkness\t or\t silence.\t So\t it\t was\t with\t these\t rival\t spooks. They\tinterfered,\tbut\tthey\tdid\tnot\tproduce\tsilence\tor\tdarkness.\tOn\tthe\tcontrary,\tas soon\tas\tEliphalet\tand\tthe\tofficer\twent\tinto\tthe\thouse,\tthere\tbegan\tat\tonce\ta\tseries of\t spiritualistic\t manifestations,\t a\t regular\t dark\t s\u00e9ance.\t A\t tambourine\t was\t played upon,\ta\tbell\twas\trung,\tand\ta\tflaming\tbanjo\twent\tsinging\taround\tthe\troom.\\\"","\\\"Where\tdid\tthey\tget\tthe\tbanjo?\\\"\tasked\tDear\tJones\tskeptically. \\\"I\t don't\t know.\t Materialized\t it,\t maybe,\t just\t as\t they\t did\t the\t tambourine.\t You don't\tsuppose\ta\tquiet\tNew\tYork\tlawyer\tkept\ta\tstock\tof\tmusical\tinstruments\tlarge enough\tto\tfit\tout\ta\tstrolling\tminstrel\ttroupe\tjust\ton\tthe\tchance\tof\ta\tpair\tof\tghosts coming\tto\tgive\thim\ta\tsurprise\tparty,\tdo\tyou?\tEvery\tspook\thas\tits\town\tinstrument of\ttorture.\tAngels\tplay\ton\tharps,\tI'm\tinformed,\tand\tspirits\tdelight\tin\tbanjos\tand tambourines.\t These\t spooks\t of\t Eliphalet\t Duncan's\t were\t ghosts\t with\t all\t the modern\t improvements,\t and\t I\t guess\t they\t were\t capable\t of\t providing\t their\t own musical\t weapons.\t At\t all\t events,\t they\t had\t them\t there\t in\t the\t little\t old\t house\t at Salem\tthe\tnight\tEliphalet\tand\this\tfriend\tcame\tdown.\tAnd\tthey\tplayed\ton\tthem, and\t they\t rang\t the\t bell,\t and\t they\t rapped\t here,\t there,\t and\t everywhere.\t And\t they kept\tit\tup\tall\tnight.\\\" \\\"All\tnight?\\\"\tasked\tthe\tawe-stricken\tDuchess. \\\"All\t night\t long,\\\"\t said\t Uncle\t Larry\t solemnly;\t \\\"and\t the\t next\t night,\t too. Eliphalet\tdid\tnot\tget\ta\twink\tof\tsleep,\tneither\tdid\this\tfriend.\tOn\tthe\tsecond\tnight the\thouse\tghost\twas\tseen\tby\tthe\tofficer;\ton\tthe\tthird\tnight\tit\tshowed\titself\tagain; and\tthe\tnext\tmorning\tthe\tofficer\tpacked\this\tgrip-sack\tand\ttook\tthe\tfirst\ttrain\tto Boston.\tHe\twas\ta\tNew\tYorker,\tbut\the\tsaid\the'd\tsooner\tgo\tto\tBoston\tthan\tsee\tthat ghost\tagain.\tEliphalet,\the\twasn't\tscared\tat\tall,\tpartly\tbecause\the\tnever\tsaw\teither the\t domiciliary\t or\t the\t titular\t spook,\t and\t partly\t because\t he\t felt\t himself\t on friendly\tterms\twith\tthe\tspirit\tworld,\tand\tdidn't\tscare\teasily.\tBut\tafter\tlosing\tthree nights'\tsleep\tand\tthe\tsociety\tof\this\tfriend,\the\tbegan\tto\tbe\ta\tlittle\timpatient,\tand\tto think\tthat\tthe\tthing\thad\tgone\tfar\tenough.\tYou\tsee,\twhile\tin\ta\tway\the\twas\tfond\tof ghosts,\tyet\the\tliked\tthem\tbest\tone\tat\ta\ttime.\tTwo\tghosts\twere\tone\ttoo\tmany.\tHe wasn't\tbent\ton\tmaking\ta\tcollection\tof\tspooks.\tHe\tand\tone\tghost\twere\tcompany, but\the\tand\ttwo\tghosts\twere\ta\tcrowd.\\\" \\\"What\tdid\the\tdo?\\\"\tasked\tBaby\tVan\tRensselaer. \\\"Well,\t he\t couldn't\t do\t anything.\t He\t waited\t awhile,\t hoping\t they\t would\t get tired;\t but\t he\t got\t tired\t out\t first.\t You\t see,\t it\t comes\t natural\t to\t a\t spook\t to\t sleep\t in the\t daytime,\t but\t a\t man\t wants\t to\t sleep\t nights,\t and\t they\t wouldn't\t let\t him\t sleep nights.\tThey\tkept\ton\twrangling\tand\tquarreling\tincessantly;\tthey\tmanifested\tand they\tdark-s\u00e9anced\tas\tregularly\tas\tthe\told\tclock\ton\tthe\tstairs\tstruck\ttwelve;\tthey rapped\t and\t they\t rang\t bells\t and\t they\t banged\t the\t tambourine\t and\t they\t threw\t the flaming\tbanjo\tabout\tthe\thouse,\tand\tworse\tthan\tall,\tthey\tswore.\\\" \\\"I\tdid\tnot\tknow\tthat\tspirits\twere\taddicted\tto\tbad\tlanguage,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tDuchess.","\\\"How\t did\t he\t know\t they\t were\t swearing?\t Could\t he\t hear\t them?\\\"\t asked\t Dear Jones. \\\"That\twas\tjust\tit,\\\"\tresponded\tUncle\tLarry;\t\\\"he\tcould\tnot\thear\tthem\u2014at\tleast not\t distinctly.\t There\t were\t inarticulate\t murmurs\t and\t stifled\t rumblings.\t But\t the impression\t produced\t on\t him\t was\t that\t they\t were\t swearing.\t If\t they\t had\t only sworn\t right\t out,\t he\t would\t not\t have\t minded\t it\t so\t much,\t because\t he\t would\t have known\t the\t worst.\t But\t the\t feeling\t that\t the\t air\t was\t full\t of\t suppressed\t profanity was\t very\t wearing\t and\t after\t standing\t it\t for\t a\t week,\t he\t gave\t up\t in\t disgust\t and went\tto\tthe\tWhite\tMountains.\\\" \\\"Leaving\tthem\tto\tfight\tit\tout,\tI\tsuppose,\\\"\tinterjected\tBaby\tVan\tRensselaer. \\\"Not\t at\t all,\\\"\t explained\t Uncle\t Larry.\t \\\"They\t could\t not\t quarrel\t unless\t he\t was present.\t You\t see,\t he\t could\t not\t leave\t the\t titular\t ghost\t behind\t him,\t and\t the domiciliary\t ghost\t could\t not\t leave\t the\t house.\t When\t he\t went\t away\t he\t took\t the family\tghost\twith\thim,\tleaving\tthe\thouse\tghost\tbehind.\tNow\tspooks\tcan't\tquarrel when\tthey\tare\ta\thundred\tmiles\tapart\tany\tmore\tthan\tmen\tcan.\\\"","\\\"And\t what\t happened\t afterward?\\\"\t asked\t Baby\t Van\t Rensselaer,\t with\t a\t pretty impatience. \\\"A\t most\t marvelous\t thing\t happened.\t Eliphalet\t Duncan\t went\t to\t the\t White Mountains,\t and\t in\t the\t car\t of\t the\t railroad\t that\t runs\t to\t the\t top\t of\t Mount Washington\t he\t met\t a\t classmate\t whom\t he\t had\t not\t seen\t for\t years,\t and\t this classmate\tintroduced\tDuncan\tto\this\tsister,\tand\tthis\tsister\twas\ta\tremarkably\tpretty girl,\tand\tDuncan\tfell\tin\tlove\twith\ther\tat\tfirst\tsight,\tand\tby\tthe\ttime\the\tgot\tto\tthe top\t of\t Mount\t Washington\t he\t was\t so\t deep\t in\t love\t that\t he\t began\t to\t consider\t his own\tunworthiness,\tand\tto\twonder\twhether\tshe\tmight\tever\tbe\tinduced\tto\tcare\tfor him\ta\tlittle\u2014ever\tso\tlittle.\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tthink\tthat\tis\tso\tmarvelous\ta\tthing,\\\"\tsaid\tDear\tJones\tglancing\tat\tBaby Van\tRensselaer. \\\"Who\twas\tshe?\\\"\tasked\tthe\tDuchess,\twho\thad\tonce\tlived\tin\tPhiladelphia. \\\"She\twas\tMiss\tKitty\tSutton,\tof\tSan\tFrancisco,\tand\tshe\twas\ta\tdaughter\tof\told Judge\tSutton,\tof\tthe\tfirm\tof\tPixley\tand\tSutton.\\\" \\\"A\tvery\trespectable\tfamily,\\\"\tassented\tthe\tDuchess. \\\"I\thope\tshe\twasn't\ta\tdaughter\tof\tthat\tloud\tand\tvulgar\told\tMrs.\tSutton\twhom\tI met\tat\tSaratoga,\tone\tsummer,\tfour\tor\tfive\tyears\tago?\\\"\tsaid\tDear\tJones. \\\"Probably\tshe\twas.\\\" \\\"She\twas\ta\thorrid\told\twoman.\tThe\tboys\tused\tto\tcall\ther\tMother\tGorgon.\\\" \\\"The\tpretty\tKitty\tSutton\twith\twhom\tEliphalet\tDuncan\thad\tfallen\tin\tlove\twas the\t daughter\t of\t Mother\t Gorgon.\t But\t he\t never\t saw\t the\t mother,\t who\t was\t in 'Frisco,\tor\tLos\tAngeles,\tor\tSanta\tFe,\tor\tsomewhere\tout\tWest,\tand\the\tsaw\ta\tgreat deal\t of\t the\t daughter,\t who\t was\t up\t in\t the\t White\t Mountains.\t She\t was\t traveling with\ther\tbrother\tand\this\twife,\tand\tas\tthey\tjourneyed\tfrom\thotel\tto\thotel,\tDuncan went\t with\t them,\t and\t filled\t out\t the\t quartette.\t Before\t the\t end\t of\t the\t summer\t he began\t to\t think\t about\t proposing.\t Of\t course\t he\t had\t lots\t of\t chances,\t going\t on excursions\t as\t they\t were\t every\t day.\t He\t made\t up\t his\t mind\t to\t seize\t the\t first opportunity,\tand\tthat\tvery\tevening\the\ttook\ther\tout\tfor\ta\tmoonlight\trow\ton\tLake Winnipiseogee.\tAs\the\thanded\ther\tinto\tthe\tboat\the\tresolved\tto\tdo\tit,\tand\the\thad\ta glimmer\tof\ta\tsuspicion\tthat\tshe\tknew\the\twas\tgoing\tto\tdo\tit,\ttoo.\\\"","\\\"Girls,\\\"\t said\t Dear\t Jones,\t \\\"never\t go\t out\t in\t a\t rowboat\t at\t night\t with\t a\t young man\tunless\tyou\tmean\tto\taccept\thim.\\\" \\\"Sometimes\t it's\t best\t to\t refuse\t him,\t and\t get\t it\t over\t once\t for\t all,\\\"\t said\t Baby Van\tRensselaer. \\\"As\tEliphalet\ttook\tthe\toars\the\tfelt\ta\tsudden\tchill.\tHe\ttried\tto\tshake\tit\toff,\tbut in\tvain.\tHe\tbegan\tto\thave\ta\tgrowing\tconsciousness\tof\timpending\tevil.\tBefore\the had\t taken\t ten\t strokes\u2014and\t he\t was\t a\t swift\t oarsman\u2014he\t was\t aware\t of\t a mysterious\tpresence\tbetween\thim\tand\tMiss\tSutton.\\\" \\\"Was\t it\t the\t guardian-angel\t ghost\t warning\t him\t off\t the\t match?\\\"\t interrupted Dear\tJones. \\\"That's\tjust\twhat\tit\twas,\\\"\tsaid\tUncle\tLarry.\t\\\"And\the\tyielded\tto\tit,\tand\tkept\this peace,\tand\trowed\tMiss\tSutton\tback\tto\tthe\thotel\twith\this\tproposal\tunspoken.\\\" \\\"More\tfool\the,\\\"\tsaid\tDear\tJones.\t\\\"It\twill\ttake\tmore\tthan\tone\tghost\tto\tkeep\tme from\t proposing\t when\t my\t mind\t is\t made\t up.\\\"\t And\t he\t looked\t at\t Baby\t Van Rensselaer. \\\"The\tnext\tmorning,\\\"\tcontinued\tUncle\tLarry,\t\\\"Eliphalet\toverslept\thimself,\tand when\t he\t went\t down\t to\t a\t late\t breakfast\t he\t found\t that\t the\t Suttons\t had\t gone\t to New\tYork\tby\tthe\tmorning\ttrain.\tHe\twanted\tto\tfollow\tthem\tat\tonce,\tand\tagain\the felt\t the\t mysterious\t presence\t overpowering\t his\t will.\t He\t struggled\t two\t days,\t and at\t last\t he\t roused\t himself\t to\t do\t what\t he\t wanted\t in\t spite\t of\t the\t spook.\t When\t he arrived\t in\t New\t York\t it\t was\t late\t in\t the\t evening.\t He\t dressed\t himself\t hastily\t and went\t to\t the\t hotel\t where\t the\t Suttons\t put\t up,\t in\t the\t hope\t of\t seeing\t at\t least\t her brother.\t The\t guardian\t angel\t fought\t every\t inch\t of\t the\t walk\t with\t him,\t until\t he began\t to\t wonder\t whether,\t if\t Miss\t Sutton\t were\t to\t take\t him,\t the\t spook\t would forbid\t the\t banns.\t At\t the\t hotel\t he\t saw\t no\t one\t that\t night,\t and\t he\t went\t home determined\tto\tcall\tas\tearly\tas\the\tcould\tthe\tnext\tafternoon,\tand\tmake\tan\tend\tof\tit. When\t he\t left\t his\t office\t about\t two\t o'clock\t the\t next\t day\t to\t learn\t his\t fate,\t he\t had not\twalked\tfive\tblocks\tbefore\the\tdiscovered\tthat\tthe\twraith\tof\tthe\tDuncans\thad withdrawn\this\topposition\tto\tthe\tsuit.\tThere\twas\tno\tfeeling\tof\timpending\tevil,\tno resistance,\tno\tstruggle,\tno\tconsciousness\tof\tan\topposing\tpresence.\tEliphalet\twas greatly\tencouraged.\tHe\twalked\tbriskly\tto\tthe\thotel;\the\tfound\tMiss\tSutton\talone. He\tasked\ther\tthe\tquestion,\tand\tgot\this\tanswer.\\\" \\\"She\taccepted\thim,\tof\tcourse,\\\"\tsaid\tBaby\tVan\tRensselaer.","\\\"Of\tcourse,\\\"\tsaid\tUncle\tLarry.\t\\\"And\twhile\tthey\twere\tin\tthe\tfirst\tflush\tof\tjoy, swapping\tconfidences\tand\tconfessions,\ther\tbrother\tcame\tinto\tthe\tparlor\twith\tan expression\tof\tpain\ton\this\tface\tand\ta\ttelegram\tin\this\thand.\tThe\tformer\twas\tcaused by\tthe\tlatter,\twhich\twas\tfrom\t'Frisco,\tand\twhich\tannounced\tthe\tsudden\tdeath\tof Mrs.\tSutton,\ttheir\tmother.\\\" \\\"And\tthat\twas\twhy\tthe\tghost\tno\tlonger\topposed\tthe\tmatch?\\\"\tquestioned\tDear Jones. \\\"Exactly.\t You\t see,\t the\t family\t ghost\t knew\t that\t Mother\t Gorgon\t was\t an\t awful obstacle\t to\t Duncan's\t happiness,\t so\t it\t warned\t him.\t But\t the\t moment\t the\t obstacle was\tremoved,\tit\tgave\tits\tconsent\tat\tonce.\\\" The\t fog\t was\t lowering\t its\t thick\t damp\t curtain,\t and\t it\t was\t beginning\t to\t be difficult\t to\tsee\tfrom\tone\tend\t of\tthe\t boat\tto\tthe\tother.\tDear\t Jones\ttightened\t the rug\t which\t enwrapped\t Baby\t Van\t Rensselaer,\t and\t then\t withdrew\t again\t into\t his own\tsubstantial\tcoverings. Uncle\tLarry\tpaused\tin\this\tstory\tlong\tenough\tto\tlight\tanother\tof\tthe\ttiny\tcigars he\talways\tsmoked. \\\"I\t infer\t that\t Lord\t Duncan\\\"\u2014the\t Duchess\t was\t scrupulous\t in\t the\t bestowal\t of titles\u2014\\\"saw\tno\tmore\tof\tthe\tghosts\tafter\the\twas\tmarried.\\\" \\\"He\tnever\tsaw\tthem\tat\tall,\tat\tany\ttime,\teither\tbefore\tor\tsince.\tBut\tthey\tcame very\tnear\tbreaking\toff\tthe\tmatch,\tand\tthus\tbreaking\ttwo\tyoung\thearts.\\\" \\\"You\t don't\t mean\t to\t say\t that\t they\t knew\t any\t just\t cause\t or\t impediment\t why they\tshould\tnot\tforever\tafter\thold\ttheir\tpeace?\\\"\tasked\tDear\tJones. \\\"How\t could\t a\t ghost,\t or\t even\t two\t ghosts,\t keep\t a\t girl\t from\t marrying\t the\t man she\tloved?\\\"\tThis\twas\tBaby\tVan\tRensselaer's\tquestion. \\\"It\tseems\tcurious,\tdoesn't\tit?\\\"\tand\tUncle\tLarry\ttried\tto\twarm\thimself\tby\ttwo or\t three\t sharp\t pulls\t at\t his\t fiery\t little\t cigar.\t \\\"And\t the\t circumstances\t are\t quite\t as curious\t as\t the\t fact\t itself.\t You\t see,\t Miss\t Sutton\t wouldn't\t be\t married\t for\t a\t year after\ther\tmother's\tdeath,\tso\tshe\tand\tDuncan\thad\tlots\tof\ttime\tto\ttell\teach\tother\tall they\t knew.\t Eliphalet,\t he\t got\t to\t know\t a\t good\t deal\t about\t the\t girls\t she\t went\t to school\t with,\t and\t Kitty,\t she\t learned\t all\t about\t his\t family.\t He\t didn't\t tell\t her\t about the\t title\t for\t a\t long\t time,\t as\t he\t wasn't\t one\t to\t brag.\t But\t he\t described\t to\t her\t the little\t old\t house\t at\t Salem.\t And\t one\t evening\t toward\t the\t end\t of\t the\t summer,\t the wedding-day\thaving\tbeen\tappointed\tfor\tearly\tin\tSeptember,\tshe\ttold\thim\tthat\tshe","didn't\twant\tto\tbridal\ttour\tat\tall;\tshe\tjust\twanted\tto\tgo\tdown\tto\tthe\tlittle\told\thouse at\t Salem\t to\t spend\t her\t honeymoon\t in\t peace\t and\t quiet,\t with\t nothing\t to\t do\t and nobody\t to\t bother\t them.\t Well,\t Eliphalet\t jumped\t at\t the\t suggestion.\t It\t suited\t him down\tto\tthe\tground.\tAll\tof\ta\tsudden\the\tremembered\tthe\tspooks,\tand\tit\tknocked him\t all\t of\t a\t heap.\t He\t had\t told\t her\t about\t the\t Duncan\t Banshee,\t and\t the\t idea\t of having\t an\t ancestral\t ghost\t in\t personal\t attendance\t on\t her\t husband\t tickled\t her immensely.\t But\t he\t had\t never\t said\t anything\t about\t the\t ghost\t which\t haunted\t the little\told\thouse\tat\tSalem.\tHe\tknew\tshe\twould\tbe\tfrightened\tout\tof\ther\twits\tif\tthe house\tghost\trevealed\titself\tto\ther,\tand\the\tsaw\tat\tonce\tthat\tit\twould\tbe\timpossible to\t go\t to\t Salem\t on\t their\t wedding\t trip.\t So\t he\t told\t her\t all\t about\t it,\t and\t how whenever\the\twent\tto\tSalem\tthe\ttwo\tghosts\tinterfered,\tand\tgave\tdark\ts\u00e9ances\tand manifested\tand\tmaterialized\tand\tmade\tthe\tplace\tabsolutely\timpossible.\tKitty,\tshe listened\tin\tsilence,\tand\tEliphalet,\the\tthought\tshe\thad\tchanged\ther\tmind.\tBut\tshe hadn't\tdone\tanything\tof\tthe\tkind.\\\" \\\"Just\tlike\ta\tman\u2014to\tthink\tshe\twas\tgoing\tto,\\\"\tremarked\tBaby\tVan\tRensselaer. \\\"She\tjust\ttold\thim\tshe\tcould\tnot\tbear\tghosts\therself,\tbut\tshe\twould\tnot\tmarry a\tman\twho\twas\tafraid\tof\tthem.\\\" \\\"Just\tlike\ta\tgirl\u2014to\tbe\tso\tinconsistent,\\\"\tremarked\tDear\tJones. Uncle\t Larry's\t tiny\t cigar\t had\t long\t been\t extinct.\t He\t lighted\t a\t new\t one,\t and continued:\t \\\"Eliphalet\t protested\t in\t vain.\t Kitty\t said\t her\t mind\t was\t made\t up.\t She was\tdetermined\tto\tpass\ther\thoneymoon\tin\tthe\tlittle\told\thouse\tat\tSalem,\tand\tshe was\t equally\t determined\t not\t to\t go\t there\t as\t long\t as\t there\t were\t any\t ghosts\t there. Until\the\tcould\tassure\ther\tthat\tthe\tspectral\ttenants\thad\treceived\tnotice\tto\tquit,\tand that\t there\t was\t no\t danger\t of\t manifestations\t and\t materializing,\t she\t refused\t to\t be married\t at\t all.\t She\t did\t not\t intend\t to\t have\t her\t honeymoon\t interrupted\t by\t two wrangling\tghosts,\tand\tthe\twedding\tcould\tbe\tpostponed\tuntil\the\thad\tmade\tready the\thouse\tfor\ther.\\\" \\\"She\twas\tan\tunreasonable\tyoung\twoman,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tDuchess. \\\"Well,\tthat's\twhat\tEliphalet\tthought,\tmuch\tas\the\twas\tin\tlove\twith\ther.\tAnd\the believed\the\tcould\ttalk\ther\tout\tof\ther\tdetermination.\tBut\the\tcouldn't.\tShe\twas\tset. And\twhen\ta\tgirl\tis\tset,\tthere's\tnothing\tto\tdo\tbut\tyield\tto\tthe\tinevitable.\tAnd\tthat's just\twhat\tEliphalet\tdid.\tHe\tsaw\the\twould\teither\thave\tto\tgive\ther\tup\tor\tto\tget\tthe ghosts\t out;\t and\t as\t he\t loved\t her\t and\t did\t not\t care\t for\t the\t ghosts,\t he\t resolved\t to tackle\tthe\tghosts.\tHe\thad\tclear\tgrit,\tEliphalet\thad\u2014he\twas\thalf\tScotch\tand\thalf Yankee,\tand\tneither\tbreed\tturns\ttail\tin\ta\thurry.\tSo\the\tmade\this\tplans\tand\the\twent","down\t to\t Salem.\t As\t he\t said\t good-by\t to\t Kitty\t he\t had\t an\t impression\t that\t she\t was sorry\t she\t had\t made\t him\t go,\t but\t she\t kept\t up\t bravely,\t and\t put\t a\t bold\t face\t on\t it, and\t saw\t him\t off,\t and\t went\t home\t and\t cried\t for\t an\t hour,\t and\t was\t perfectly miserable\tuntil\the\tcame\tback\tthe\tnext\tday.\\\" \\\"Did\t he\t succeed\t in\t driving\t the\t ghosts\t away?\\\"\t asked\t Baby\t Van\t Rensselaer, with\tgreat\tinterest. \\\"That's\t just\t what\t I'm\t coming\t to,\\\"\t said\t Uncle\t Larry,\t pausing\t at\t the\t critical moment,\t in\t the\t manner\t of\t the\t trained\t story\t teller.\t \\\"You\t see,\t Eliphalet\t had\t got\t a rather\t tough\t job,\t and\t he\t would\t gladly\t have\t had\t an\t extension\t of\t time\t on\t the contract,\tbut\the\thad\tto\tchoose\tbetween\tthe\tgirl\tand\tthe\tghosts,\tand\the\twanted\tthe girl.\tHe\ttried\tto\tinvent\tor\tremember\tsome\tshort\tand\teasy\tway\twith\tghosts,\tbut\the couldn't.\t He\t wished\t that\t somebody\t had\t invented\t a\t specific\t for\t spooks\u2014 something\tthat\twould\tmake\tthe\tghosts\tcome\tout\tof\tthe\thouse\tand\tdie\tin\tthe\tyard. He\twondered\tif\the\tcould\tnot\ttempt\tthe\tghosts\tto\trun\tin\tdebt,\tso\tthat\the\tmight\tget the\t sheriff\t to\t help\t him.\t He\t wondered\t also\t whether\t the\t ghosts\t could\t not\t be overcome\twith\tstrong\tdrink\u2014a\tdissipated\tspook,\ta\tspook\twith\tdelirium\ttremens, might\t be\t committed\t to\t the\t inebriate\t asylum.\t But\t none\t of\t these\t things\t seemed feasible.\\\" \\\"What\t did\t he\t do?\\\"\t interrupted\t Dear\t Jones.\t \\\"The\t learned\t counsel\t will\t please speak\tto\tthe\tpoint.\\\" \\\"You\t will\t regret\t this\t unseemly\t haste,\\\"\t said\t Uncle\t Larry,\t gravely,\t \\\"when\t you know\twhat\treally\thappened.\\\" \\\"What\t was\t it,\t Uncle\t Larry?\\\"\t asked\t Baby\t Van\t Rensselaer.\t \\\"I'm\t all impatience.\\\" And\tUncle\tLarry\tproceeded: \\\"Eliphalet\twent\tdown\tto\tthe\tlittle\told\thouse\tat\tSalem,\tand\tas\tsoon\tas\tthe\tclock struck\t twelve\t the\t rival\t ghosts\t began\t wrangling\t as\t before.\t Raps\t here,\t there,\t and everywhere,\tringing\tbells,\tbanging\ttambourines,\tstrumming\tbanjos\tsailing\tabout the\t room,\t and\t all\t the\t other\t manifestations\t and\t materializations\t followed\t one another\tjust\tas\tthey\thad\tthe\tsummer\tbefore.\tThe\tonly\tdifference\tEliphalet\tcould detect\t was\t a\t stronger\t flavor\t in\t the\t spectral\t profanity;\t and\t this,\t of\t course,\t was only\t a\t vague\t impression,\t for\t he\t did\t not\t actually\t hear\t a\t single\t word.\t He\t waited awhile\tin\tpatience,\tlistening\tand\twatching.\tOf\tcourse\the\tnever\tsaw\teither\tof\tthe ghosts,\t because\t neither\t of\t them\t could\t appear\t to\t him.\t At\t last\t he\t got\t his\t dander","up,\tand\the\tthought\tit\twas\tabout\ttime\tto\tinterfere,\tso\the\trapped\ton\tthe\ttable,\tand asked\t for\t silence.\t As\t soon\t as\t he\t felt\t that\t the\t spooks\t were\t listening\t to\t him\t he explained\t the\t situation\t to\t them.\t He\t told\t them\t he\t was\t in\t love,\t and\t that\t he\t could not\tmarry\tunless\tthey\tvacated\tthe\thouse.\tHe\tappealed\tto\tthem\tas\told\tfriends,\tand he\t laid\t claim\t to\t their\t gratitude.\t The\t titular\t ghost\t had\t been\t sheltered\t by\t the Duncan\t family\t for\t hundreds\t of\t years,\t and\t the\t domiciliary\t ghost\t had\t had\t free lodging\t in\t the\t little\t old\t house\t at\t Salem\t for\t nearly\t two\t centuries.\t He\t implored them\t to\t settle\t their\t differences,\t and\t to\t get\t him\t out\t of\t his\t difficulty\t at\t once.\t He suggested\t they'd\t better\t fight\t it\t out\t then\t and\t there,\t and\t see\t who\t was\t master.\t He had\t brought\t down\t with\t him\t all\t needful\t weapons.\t And\t he\t pulled\t out\t his\t valise, and\t spread\t on\t the\t table\t a\t pair\t of\t navy\t revolvers,\t a\t pair\t of\t shot-guns,\t a\t pair\t of dueling\tswords,\tand\ta\tcouple\tof\tbowie-knives.\tHe\toffered\tto\tserve\tas\tsecond\tfor both\tparties,\tand\tto\tgive\tthe\tword\twhen\tto\tbegin.\tHe\talso\ttook\tout\tof\this\tvalise\ta pack\t of\t cards\t and\t a\t bottle\t of\t poison,\t telling\t them\t that\t if\t they\t wished\t to\t avoid carnage\tthey\tmight\tcut\tthe\tcards\tto\tsee\twhich\tone\tshould\ttake\tthe\tpoison.\tThen he\twaited\tanxiously\tfor\ttheir\treply.\tFor\ta\tlittle\tspace\tthere\twas\tsilence.\tThen\the became\t conscious\t of\t a\t tremulous\t shivering\t in\t one\t corner\t of\t the\t room,\t and\t he remembered\tthat\the\thad\theard\tfrom\tthat\tdirection\twhat\tsounded\tlike\ta\tfrightened sigh\twhen\the\tmade\tthe\tfirst\tsuggestion\tof\tthe\tduel.\tSomething\ttold\thim\tthat\tthis was\tthe\tdomiciliary\tghost,\tand\tthat\tit\twas\tbadly\tscared.\tThen\the\twas\timpressed by\t a\t certain\t movement\t in\t the\t opposite\t corner\t of\t the\t room,\t as\t though\t the\t titular ghost\twere\tdrawing\thimself\tup\twith\toffended\tdignity.\tEliphalet\tcouldn't\texactly see\t these\t things,\t because\t he\t never\t saw\t the\t ghosts,\t but\t he\t felt\t them.\t After\t a silence\tof\tnearly\ta\tminute\ta\tvoice\tcame\tfrom\tthe\tcorner\twhere\tthe\tfamily\tghost stood\u2014a\t voice\t strong\t and\t full,\t but\t trembling\t slightly\t with\t suppressed\t passion. And\t this\t voice\t told\t Eliphalet\t it\t was\t plain\t enough\t that\t he\t had\t not\t long\t been\t the head\t of\t the\t Duncans,\t and\t that\t he\t had\t never\t properly\t considered\t the characteristics\t of\t his\t race\t if\t now\t he\t supposed\t that\t one\t of\t his\t blood\t could\t draw his\t sword\t against\t a\t woman.\t Eliphalet\t said\t he\t had\t never\t suggested\t that\t the Duncan\tghost\tshould\traise\this\thand\tagainst\ta\twoman\tand\tall\the\twanted\twas\tthat the\tDuncan\tghost\tshould\tfight\tthe\tother\tghost.\tAnd\tthen\tthe\tvoice\ttold\tEliphalet that\tthe\tother\tghost\twas\ta\twoman.\\\" \\\"What?\\\"\tsaid\tDear\tJones,\tsitting\tup\tsuddenly.\t\\\"You\tdon't\tmean\tto\ttell\tme\tthat the\tghost\twhich\thaunted\tthe\thouse\twas\ta\twoman?\\\" \\\"Those\t were\t the\t very\t words\t Eliphalet\t Duncan\t used,\\\"\t said\t Uncle\t Larry;\t \\\"but he\t did\t not\t need\t to\t wait\t for\t the\t answer.\t All\t at\t once\t he\t recalled\t the\t traditions about\tthe\tdomiciliary\tghost,\tand\the\tknew\tthat\twhat\tthe\ttitular\tghost\tsaid\twas\tthe","fact.\t He\t had\t never\t thought\t of\t the\t sex\t of\t a\t spook,\t but\t there\t was\t no\t doubt whatever\tthat\tthe\thouse\tghost\twas\ta\twoman.\tNo\tsooner\twas\tthis\tfirmly\tfixed\tin Eliphalet's\t mind\t than\t he\t saw\t his\t way\t out\t of\t the\t difficulty.\t The\t ghosts\t must\t be married!\u2014for\tthen\tthere\twould\tbe\tno\tmore\tinterference,\tno\tmore\tquarreling,\tno more\tmanifestations\tand\tmaterializations,\tno\tmore\tdark\ts\u00e9ances,\twith\ttheir\traps and\t bells\t and\t tambourines\t and\t banjos.\t At\t first\t the\t ghosts\t would\t not\t hear\t of\t it. The\t voice\t in\t the\t corner\t declared\t that\t the\t Duncan\t wraith\t had\t never\t thought\t of matrimony.\t But\t Eliphalet\t argued\t with\t them,\t and\t pleaded\t and\t persuaded\t and coaxed,\tand\tdwelt\ton\tthe\tadvantages\tof\tmatrimony.\tHe\thad\tto\tconfess,\tof\tcourse, that\the\tdid\tnot\tknow\thow\tto\tget\ta\tclergyman\tto\tmarry\tthem;\tbut\tthe\tvoice\tfrom the\t corner\t gravely\t told\t him\t that\t there\t need\t be\t no\t difficulty\t in\t regard\t to\t that,\t as there\twas\tno\tlack\tof\tspiritual\tchaplains.\tThen,\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime,\tthe\thouse\tghost spoke,\t in\t a\t low,\t clear,\t gentle\t voice,\t and\t with\t a\t quaint,\t old-fashioned\t New England\t accent,\t which\t contrasted\t sharply\t with\t the\t broad\t Scotch\t speech\t of\t the family\t ghost.\t She\t said\t that\t Eliphalet\t Duncan\t seemed\t to\t have\t forgotten\t that\t she was\t married.\t But\t this\t did\t not\t upset\t Eliphalet\t at\t all;\t he\t remembered\t the\t whole case\tclearly,\tand\the\ttold\ther\tshe\twas\tnot\ta\tmarried\tghost,\tbut\ta\twidow,\tsince\ther husband\t had\t been\t hung\t for\t murdering\t her.\t Then\t the\t Duncan\t ghost\t drew attention\t to\t the\t great\t disparity\t of\t their\t ages,\t saying\t that\t he\t was\t nearly\t four hundred\tand\tfifty\tyears\told,\twhile\tshe\twas\tbarely\ttwo\thundred.\tBut\tEliphalet\thad not\ttalked\tto\tjuries\tfor\tnothing;\the\tjust\tbuckled\tto,\tand\tcoaxed\tthose\tghosts\tinto matrimony.\t Afterward\t he\t came\t to\t the\t conclusion\t that\t they\t were\t willing\t to\t be coaxed,\tbut\tat\tthe\ttime\the\tthought\the\thad\tpretty\thard\twork\tto\tconvince\tthem\tof the\tadvantages\tof\tthe\tplan.\\\" \\\"Did\the\tsucceed?\\\"\tasked\tBaby\tVan\tRensselaer,\twith\ta\tyoung\tlady's\tinterest\tin matrimony. \\\"He\t did,\\\"\t said\t Uncle\t Larry.\t \\\"He\t talked\t the\t wraith\t of\t the\t Duncans\t and\t the specter\tof\tthe\tlittle\told\thouse\tat\tSalem\tinto\ta\tmatrimonial\tengagement.\tAnd\tfrom the\ttime\tthey\twere\tengaged\the\thad\tno\tmore\ttrouble\twith\tthem.\tThey\twere\trival ghosts\t no\t longer.\t They\t were\t married\t by\t their\t spiritual\t chaplain\t the\t very\t same day\t that\t Eliphalet\t Duncan\t met\t Kitty\t Sutton\t in\t front\t of\t the\t railing\t of\t Grace Church.\t The\t ghostly\t bride\t and\t bridegroom\t went\t away\t at\t once\t on\t their\t bridal tour,\t and\t Lord\t and\t Lady\t Duncan\t went\t down\t to\t the\t little\t old\t house\t at\t Salem\t to pass\ttheir\thoneymoon.\\\" Uncle\tLarry\tstopped.\tHis\ttiny\tcigar\twas\tout\tagain.\tThe\ttale\tof\tthe\trival\tghosts was\t told.\t A\t solemn\t silence\t fell\t on\t the\t little\t party\t on\t the\t deck\t of\t the\t ocean steamer,\tbroken\tharshly\tby\tthe\thoarse\troar\tof\tthe\tfog-horn."]
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