THE INVISIBLE PRINCESS . . . . . . . _Francis O'Connor_

THE ADVOCATE'S WEDDING-DAY . . . . . _Catherine Crowe_

THE BIRTHMARK . . . . . . . . . . . _Nathaniel Hawthorne_

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *




THE GHOST.

BY WILLIAM D. O'CONNOR.


At the West End of Boston is a quarter of some fifty streets, more or
less, commonly known as Beacon Hill.

It is a rich and respectable quarter, sacred to the abodes of Our First
Citizens. The very houses have become sentient of its prevailing
character of riches and respectability; and, when the twilight deepens
on the place, or at high noon, if your vision is gifted, you may see
them as long rows of Our First Giants, with very corpulent or very broad
fronts, with solid-set feet of sidewalk ending in square-toed
curbstone, with an air about them as if they had thrust their hard hands
into their wealthy pockets forever, with a character of arctic reserve,
and portly dignity, and a well-dressed, full-fed, self-satisfied,
opulent, stony, repellent aspect to each, which says plainly, "I belong
to a rich family, of the very highest respectability."