Can Such Things Be?

oman and well-grown child in the village, the funeral, as the local newspaper phrased it, “was largely attended.” In accordance with a custom of the time and place, the coffin was opened at

ervation; Silas was indubitably dead, and none could have pointed out any ritual delinquency that would have justified him in coming back f

ay, he kept a retail shop for the sale of such things as are commonly sold in shops of that character. His honesty had never been questioned, so far as is known, and he was held in high esteem by all. The only thing that could be urged against him by the most censo

to the county seat as a witness in an important law case and did not attend, the lawyer who had the hardihood to move that he be “admonished” was solemnly informed that the Court regarded the proposal with “surprise.” Judicial surprise being an emotion that attorneys are not commonly ambitious to arouse, the motion was hastily withdrawn and an agreement with the other side effected as to what Mr. Dee

nd there, quite by accident, he was found one night, dying, and passed away just before the time for taking down the shutters. Though speechless, he appeared conscious, and it

tow upon him the sobriquet of “Old Ibidem,” and, in the first issue of the local newspaper after the death, to explain without offence that Silas had taken

ravel, too, having been frequently in Boston, and once, it was thought, in New York, though he modestly disclaimed that glittering distinction. The matter is mentioned here merely as a contribution to an u

s of his fine house and pausing a moment inserted his latchkey in the door. As he pushed this open he met his wife, who was crossing the passage from the parlor to the library. She gree

vil,” he said, “has

s wife inquired, not

along from the store and set it dow

ting. Hillbrook, by the way, is not the only place in Christendom where

llage life had permitted Hillbrook’s foremost ci

quite sur

arrying a jug? I bought that sirup at Deemer’s as I was p

house, entered the parlor and dropped into an armchair, trembling in ever

husband, regarding him

ake,” she said,

t on that demand; he said nothing — merely stared. There were long moments of silence broken by nothing but the measured ticking of the

Deemer stood at his desk behind the counter. My God, Jane, I saw him as distinctly as I see you. Remembering that you had said you wanted some maple sirup, I went in and bought some — that is all — I bought two quarts of maple sirup from Silas Deemer, who is dead and underground, but nevertheless drew that sirup from a ca

woman time to collect

e anything else? That would be too terrible! But there is no insanity; you are working too hard at the bank. You should no

iting the event, but he said nothing of that, being concerned wit

Granting the possibility of spiritual apparition and even materialization, yet the apparition and materialization o

r father she threw her arms about his neck, saying: “You naughty papa, you forgot to come in and kiss me. We heard y

Alvan Creede’s understanding he visibly shuddered. For

s” the store had been closed ever since the owner’s death, the goods having been removed by another “merchant” who h

Hillbrook, though many affected disbelief. Of these the hardiest, and in a general way the youngest, threw stones against the front of the building, the only part accessible, but carefully missed the unshuttered windows. Incredulity had not grown to malice. A few ventu

s about the door and windows fell back to the opposite side of the street and were merged in the crowd; the small boys ceased throwing stones. Nobody spoke above his breath; all whispered excitedly and pointed to the now steadily growing light. How long a time

uld let them; others moved off with greater dignity, turning occasionally to look backward over the shoulder. At last a score or more, mostly men, re

ner had they crossed the threshold than they were seen by the awed observers outside to be acting in the most unaccountable way. They thrust out their hands before them, pursued devious courses, came into violent collision with the counter, with boxes and barrels on the fl

entrance. They congested the doorway, pushing for precedence — resolving themselves at length into a line and moving up step by step. By some subtle spiritual

n at the door had been stricken blind, and was maddened by the mischance. They groped with aimless imprecision, tried to force their way out against the current, pushed and elbowed, struck at random, fell and were trampled, rose and trampled in their turn. They seized one another by the garments, the hair, the beard —

re stood open; the place was vacant, but on the walls, the floor, the furniture, were shreds of clothing and tangles of hair. Hillbrook militant had managed somehow to pull itself out and had gone home to medicine its hurts and swear that i

rmless and honorable character of his first commercial transaction under the new conditions, Silas Deemer, deceased, might properly have been suffered to resume business a