Mrs Dishmans Ghost

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MRS. DISHMAN’S GHOSTS. By ORME was from Abner ¥ wan that I first about the strange case of the Dishman family; and it was such # remarkable story that T songht confirmation and further details from Mr. Jarman and those of the villagers who were intimate with the family. I imes amused myself by tr to talk about his great secre approached the subject with all the which I was capable, my efforts itless, and as soon as Abner detected my purpose, he either became silent or markedly changed the subject, Once I made a frontal attack ing him what the villagers believed, a ng if it were true. He looked at mi begged me * A gentleman Ti "he said, “ ought to find summat better to do than listen to their foolishness. Maister Jarman hisself have told ‘em ‘tis all nonsense,” he said. © But is it all But he looked at that the Vicar said it was, One day, I approached the subject by asking him jf he believed in ghosts. He looked at me with a contemptuous smile, as if to say that he was not to be caught that y, and then said curtly : “Some volks do, don't. Be you « believer in ‘em, ardly know, Abner,” I replied. “ Are you * “T never zeed no ghost meself, zur; but there be volks in thease will tell "ee they have. "Ti exactly a ghost, but there be thik skull over to Ower Varm they daren’t take away.” “They tell some fearsome tales about it, Abner. ~ I went over there two or three weeks ago to see it, bat they would not show it to me.” “Tales enough to make your hair stand 1004, by Orme Agnus, in the United 50 AGNUS. “T zeed it once in on end,” said Abner. wold Fencer's time, skull to look at. church reg'lar vor dree Zandays. Aud the if you can take the word of nan, th was a ghost, or a pair of ‘em, in thease very churchyard.” “Indeed, Almer. about that.” “Tt made some volks creepy, zur, vor I should like to hear wiks. a woman's tale; but thease woman bel it zo zure as death.” “ Is she living now, Abner?” », zur; she have been dead some time. But Jack Will's wife, he that be keeper, be her husband's sister. She was a Dishman ereupon Abner, with a reiteration that woman's tale, told me the story, It t from his manner in relating it that he believed it himself, and T found to others for confirmation and of the narrative, and thy ot come to langh, that they | of it with the certainty they spoke of the fire ut Lossell Hall, or the wreek at Lulmouth. Even Mr. Jarman acknowledged that to Mrs. Dishman it was no vision, The story concerns Lucy Mellow, who came to the village from Dorchester. ' Luey came as a domestic—part housemaid, part lady's maid—to Mrs. Basterden, at Eln Villa. She was a good-looking girl, with blonde complexion and an enviable pro- fusion of flaxen hair, Her manner was rather reserved, she did not she treated with co ignity the young men who were soon buzzing round her. But one afternoon William Dishman overtook her on her way home from Suckton, where she had teen shopping, and walked along with her. He was so greatly strack with her that he sent her a letter the next day asking if he might meet her and accompany her to chureh on Sunday, or take her for a walk. Luey consented to take a walk with him after service, and Dishman made such pro- wake friends easi