The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-08-03


really been seen there; and l doubt if a
person here believes at all in the existence
of ghosts.
:" You do, yourself-you know you DO,
Martin, although you are ashamed to own
it," cried Isabella, But Martin only
laughed. "Come now," continued the
thoughtless girl, I'E can prove that you
have some idea that such things may ex-
list. 60 to the churchyard alone in the
dark, and then declare, if you can, that
you have felt no fear,''
"And what would that prove?''
why, you will be frightened, though
you should see nothing. Your fears
would put your belief to the test. How
could you be afraid ifyou did not feel that
there was something to be afraid of?''
- 81 do not think your logic is the best
in the world, replied Martin, laughing
"Men are often troubled with fear, when
their reason. tells them there is no cause to
fear. But deny, in the first place, that
ajourney to the churchyard, even at mid
night, would frighteen me in the least"
"How brayely you can talk!' said Isa-
bella, indulging in her customary tone o.
sarcasm. but nobody here believes
you. | don't at any rate. Why, you
hadn't courage enough, the other day te
help kill aRrabbit; your mother told me
sol"
81 never like to cause or witness pain
lifi it can be avoided" answered Martin
blushing.
"Ha! ha! hal what an excellent excuse
You are brave enough, to be sure; bu
tenderhearted! Come, now you dare moi
go to. the churchyard this light alone
You are not half SO courageous as you
would have us believe Whether you
think there are ghosts or not, you are
afraid of Them"
+ Martin was extremely sensive; but the
sarcasm of nobody except Isabella could
have stung him so to the quick. Scorn.
ling the 'imputation of cowardice, he was
ready to do almost any desperate act to
prove his courage. ''But," said he, cal.
though l have no more fear of church.
yards and ghosts, than I have of orchards
and apple-trees, am not going to wall
half mile, merely to be laughed att
:t.Ha! ha! but you shall not escape SOL
laughed Isabella. "Here, before these
our friends, l promise that this ring shall
be yours" she continued, displaying ont
given her by an old lover, which Martir
had often desired her to part with, pro
yided you go to the churchyard alone, il
the dark, and declare on your honor
when you return, that you were not in The
least afraid al
Agreed" said Martin, buttoning hi
coat, for the night was chill.
:. "And assan evidence that you go tn
, entire distance, you can bring back witt
you the iron bar, which you will find clos
by the gate,' said Isabella.
Thus driven by taunts to the commits
sion of folly, Martin took leave of tn
company, full of courage and spirit, an
set out on his errand. )
| 1t was near quarter of mile to th
churchyard, which was approached by
: lonely dreary path, seldom travelled ex
r cept by mourners. tits impossible to re
late precisely what happened to Martin o
8 that gloomy road. judged from th
: circumstances which afterwards came t
light, and conjecture his adventure mu;
S have been as am about to relate it.
f Slight as he was in frame, and tender
e his feelings, he was not destitute of coul
n age. I do not think he was frightene
: by the signing of the wind, and the rus
: ling Of the dry Autumnal leaves, as ma
ny stronger men might have been. II
: marched steadily to the churchyard, stoI
ped moment perhaps, to gaze sadly
i but not fearfully, at the white tombstone
/, cleaning family in the dark and desolat
0 ground, for the stars shone brilliantly
the clear cold sky; then shouldering I'll
t. iron bar of which Isabella had spokel
n he set out to return.
/ He proceeded about haf way, when
IS the gloomiest part of the road, he saw
d white figure emerge from clump of wi
It lows and come toward him. It locke
= like walking corpse, in winding shee
% which trailed upon the ground. A
e Martins strength of nerve was gone in {
N instant. Courage gave place to desper
, ton, his hair standing erect, and his bloc
r running chill with horror; still he stot
his ground. The specture drew nears
ID seeming to grow whittier and larger as
v approached. We cannot tell what fren;
I'd seized upon the brain of the unhap]
e. youth at that moment.
Al The guests at the clergyman S hou
heard terrific screams. Dreadino sor
ly tragic termination to the farce, they rus
D. ed to the spot, ,one of the number carryi
to lantern. They found Martin kneelil
=