with remorse for the wasted years
of his previous existence. Indeed, his conduct during the past three
months would show that this regret is genuine. He has discarded his
eccentric costume, and dresses like a reasonable spirit. He has not
touched liquor since his reappearance. He has embarked in the porgy oil
business, and his operations already rival that of Hodgeson, his old
partner in the _Mary Emmeline_ and the _Prettyboat_. By the way,
Newbegin threatens to sue Hodgeson for his individed quarter in each of
these vessels, and this interesting case therefore bids fair to be
thoroughly investigated in the courts.

"As a business man, he is generally esteemed on the Island, although
there is a noticeable reluctance to discount his paper at long dates. In
short, Mr. John Newbegin is a most respectable citizen (if a dead man
can be a citizen) and has announced his intention of running for the
next Legislature!"

IN CONCLUSION

"And now, my dear ----, I have told you the substance of all I know
respecting this strange, strange case. Yet, after all, why so strange?
We accepted materialization at Chittenden. Is this any more than the
logical issue of that admission? If the spirit may return to earth,
clothed in flesh and blood and all the physical attributes of humanity,
why may it not remain on earth as long as it sees fit?

"Thinking of it from whatever standpoint, I cannot but regard John
Newbegin as the pioneer of a possibly large immigration from the spirit
world. The bars once down, a whole flock will come trooping back to
earth. Death will lose its significance altogether. And when I think of
the disturbance which will result in our social relations, of the
overthrow of all accepted institutions, and of the nullification of all
principles of political economy, law, and religion, I am lost in
perplexity and apprehension."

THE GHOST-SHIP

BY RICHARD MIDDLETON

From _The Ghost-Ship_ by Richard Middleton. Published by permission of
Mitchell Kennerley, and taken from the volume, _The Ghost-Ship and Other
Stories_.

The Ghost-Ship

BY RICHARD MIDDLETON

Fairfield is a little village lying near the Portsmouth Road, about
halfway between London and the sea. Strangers, who now and then find it
by accident, call it a pretty, old-fashioned place; we who live in it
and call it home don't find anything very pretty about it, but we should
be sorry to live anywhere else. Our minds have taken the shap