chance, they took the direction of
the little grove, previously mentioned, and they were all in fine
spirits. Mrs. Potter, however, was obliged to walk very slowly, owing to
her injured knee, and Mrs. Drysdale kept her company; the two gentlemen
were, therefore, some distance in the advance, when they reached the
edge of the grove. Drysdale had been unusually cheerful until then, but
as they entered the shadow, he began to lose his gayety, as if something
disagreeable had been suggested to him. It was now approaching twilight,
and he turned toward Andrews half pettishly, and said:

"Don't go into that dismal place; let us stay out in the open walk. I
never like to go into such----"

The words died on his tongue, and he nearly fell down from fright.
There, crossing their path in the sombre shades of the grove, was that
terrible spectre with its ghastly face, measured step, and clotted hair.
It passed into the deep recesses of the grove, while Drysdale watched it
like a condemned criminal. As it moved out of sight, he fell to the
ground like a dead man, and Andrews called for help. Mrs. Drysdale
hurried up in great alarm, and took her husband's head in her lap, while
Mrs. Potter chafed his hands and held her vinaigrette to his nostrils.
Mr. Andrews quickly called some negroes from the house, and they carried
their unconscious master to his room. He was soon restored to his
senses, but he was in a pitiable condition. The least sound made him
start like a person in the _delirium tremens_, and he muttered to
himself constantly. Finally he caught Andrews by the hand and said:

"Andrews, didn't you see that horrible ghost?"

"No, indeed; I saw no ghost," replied Andrews. "Did either of you see
it?" he continued, turning to the ladies.

They both answered negatively.

"If there really had been such a thing we certainly should have seen
it," said Mrs. Potter.

"Well, I know that I saw it, and it is terrible to think that I should
be the only one to whom this thing appears," said Drysdale.

Andrews handed him a drink of brandy, which revived his strength a great
deal, and he again began to talk about the ghost.

"I can't understand, Andrews, why you didn't see it," he said; "it
passed within fifty feet of us, and it was truly terrible."

"It is certainly very strange," replied Andrews. "Here are three persons
that did _not_ see it, yet you insist that you did. What did it look
like? You have never yet described it to m