The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-08-18

sarcasuo. "But nobody believes you.
don'i at any rate. Why, you hadn't courage
enough, the other day. 10. help kill rabbit
YOUR mother told ne sop ~
81 never like to cause or witness pain,
| If IL can be avoided" answered Martin,
blushing.
Hn Ia ha what an excellent excuse
You are brave enough, 10 bo sure but ten.
der. hearted Come, now; you dare not go to
the cburchyard ibis night alone. You are
not hall so courageous as you would have u,
believe. Whether you think that there are
ghosts or not. Won are afraid Of them"
Marin was extremely sensitive but the
sarcasm of nobody except Isabella could
have stuug him Sd quick. Scorning the
imputation Of cowardice, he was ready 10
do almost any desperate act 10 prove his
courage. "Bm, said he. "althoush have
no more fear Of chuchyards aud ghosts, than
have of orchards and apple trees, am
not going to walk half a mile, merely to be
laughed att "a -,
"Ha ha !,butSou shall not escape so ~
laughed Isabella. y" Here, before these our
friends, I promise that this ring shall he
yours, she continued, displaying one given
her. by an old lover, which Martin had often
desired her to part with "proyided you will
90 to the churchyard alone, III the dark, and
declare, on your honor, when you return,
that you were moi in the least afraid"
agreed, ~ said Msriin. buttonipg up his
coat. for the night was chill. .....
"And as evidence that you 60 the entire
distance, you can brig back with you the
iron bar, which you will find close by the
gate" said Isabella. ..,
Thus driven by ta,nts to the commission
of folly, Martin took leave of the comPa y
full Of courage and spirit, and set out on his
errand.
TWAS near q quarter of q mile to the
churchyard, which was approached by n
lonely dreary path, seldom Travelled except by
mOuriiefs. ...
1t Is impossible to relate precisely wha,
happened to Martin on that gloo.ny road. !
Judge from the circumstances which alter
ward came to light, and conjecture his nd.
venture, must have been us | am about to re-
late it.
Slight as he was in frame. and tender in
his feelings, he was not destitute of courage.
do not think he was frightened by the sigh.
ing Of the wind, and the rusting of the dry
Autumnal leaves as many stronger men
might have been. He marched steadily 10
the churchyarCl. stopped moment, perhaps,
to gaze sadly, but not learlully, at the white
tombstones gleamin, family in the dark and
desolale ground, Tor the stars shone brilliant.
Iy in The clear cold sky, then shoulde'ing the
iron bar, Of which Isabella had spoken, he
set out 10 return.
lie had proceeded about,halI way, when, in
The gloomiest part or the road, he saw u
figure emerge from clump Of willows and
come toward him. 1t looked like u walking
corpse in u winding shee, which trailed
upon the ground All Martins strength of
nerve failed hin in an instant. Courage gave
place to desperation. his hair standing erect.
and his blood chilled with horror; still he
stood his ground. The spectre drew nearer,
seemed to grow whittier and larger as it ap.
preached. We cannot tell what frenzy seized
upon the brain oi the unhappy youth ut that
moment.
The guests at the genteman's house
heard terrific screams Drcading some tragic
termination to the farce, they rushed to The
spot, one Of the numb'r carrying a lantern
They found Martin kneeling on prostrate
figure. his fingers clnrched convulsively It's
throat, while he still uttered frantic shrieks
for help. his wild features exhibited tho
very extremity of terror.
Only two Of the INST courageous young
men dared approach him. One Of the men
forced Martin to relax his hold on the throat
of the figure, while the other tore away the
folds Of the sheet At that moment, the
bearer Of the hntern came up. Its light
fell on the blood-stained distorted feature Of
isabella. Martin uttered one more unearthly
shrek, and foil senseless upon The corpse.
He never spoke again but liSed-an idi'
oil!
A frightful confusion on Isabela's temple
bore evidence that in his frenzy he had struck
the supposed spectre with the iron bar
The blow Was probably the cause of her
death although such grasp as his hands
must have given her throat, might alonc have
deprived her OF breath. He never alterward
knew what he had done for never gleam
Of reason ilumined tho darkness of his soul I:
and now the tolIing bell has told us That
Heaven in its mercy, has finally freed the
spirit from its shackles Of clay, and given it
life and light in better world. 71'-