The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-05-17

the spectre, he cried out in stern voice
miserable imposlor throw off your dis
guise, or you are dead man; for by the
God that made Inc, l will see if your
body is proof against u leaden ball !"
A wild unearthIy yell was the only an
swer he got to his threat; AMI the demon
was now within ten PAGES Of his horse
The sharp report Of Lethwait's pistol woke
up all the lonely echoes uf the place, and
the huge hairy monster fell heavily TO the
earth with Il smothered curse; and the
yeoman, yielIiHg for moment to uncon.
troIlabIe fear, turned the head of his ter
rlfied steed, and never slackened his speed
till he reached the door of the public
house.
After a few minutes Of breathless sus-
penSe, his loud hurried knock was an
Swcrcd 10y the landlord, who thrusting his
head out of the garrct window, demand
ed, III no very gentle tone, the cause OF
such an unreasonable attack upon his
door,
alt is |, Lowther-it is Richard Leth.
waite; get up and let me in directly"
"Ah, ALI, thought how it would end, :"
said the landlord, as he descended to un g..
bar the door, and he called up his groom
to relieve lis guest Of his tired horse.
"The ghost has driven you back faster
than you went. This is TO disbeleye the
word of honest folks. Why man, what
have ..on seen; You look like one just risen
from the dead"
IL fear | have sent Que to dwell with
the dead little before his time," said
Lethwaite, drinking of the glass of BRAN
dy protfercd to him 10y his host, eat a
draught. 81 have shot the ghost; whetli-
or man or devil, it was not proof against
powder and ball. l am more distressed
at this event than it had encountered
all the hosts Of hell, with Satan himself to
back them. Call up your .peopls. foil
can no longer go alone TO that Internal
spot--and let us examine and identify
the corpse"
1t was daylight before Lowther could
pursuade any Of his servants or neighbors
t. accompany him and Mr.. Lethwaite to
the lane. They believed that the latter
had seen the ghost; but as to killing it,
that was sort OF waking night-marc-
something too incredible even for the su-
pernatural wonders Of dream.
Many were the questions put to Leth-
waite by the little band Of men but he
walked on silently and thoughtfulIy with
out speaking word to any.
why did you not call up the big
butcher, Lowthcr" said one of the party.
" In any case Of danger that man is
host in himself"
81 have great doubts as TO his courage"
said Lowther, drily. ale is a great bull
ly, AMI these wordy men are all fro,h !;
and they make great noise, but are very
slow in action. If Mr.. Lethwaite has
killed the ghost, big Wat would be of
small service to us, rs the danger is al
ready past"
"KilIcd the ghost" said the first speak
er, with sneer: who ever heard of NOR.
tai man killing ghostl 1t is not in flesh
and b.ood to do that"
"But suppose tho ghost was a man. :,
said LethwaIte; suppose that it was the
big but h'r of Kendall himself"
Now, God forbid" said several voices
at once: the man is devil, but not bad
enough to turn ghost"
ave shall soon KNOW said Lethwaite;
"at the bottom OF this hill, the riddle will
he solved"
They had now reached the brow OF
tho steep hill. The sun was just rising
above the distant mountains aud his FIRST
beams glanced upon the tree tops, with
out penetrating the gloomy recess which
still lay buried in dense shadow.
Slowly and with evident signs Of fear,
the little party wound down the hill. One
man tried to hIm tune another to whis-
tie; while third talked very loudly a.
bout his own courage-in reality possess
ing very little; but they all endeavored
to dissipate the fear to which they inyol-
unfairly became the prey, as they ap-
preached the dreaded spot.
Lethwaite, who had fingered behind,
now walked briskly forward and headed
the party. A dark, indistinct mass, lay
huddled up in the centre Of the narrow
road. All drew back Lcthwaite stepped
up TO il, and remained stationary, beckon-
inc with his hand for tue others to ad-
vance. They did so; but what was the
surprise apd sstonishment Of all, to find
in the supposed spectre, the dead aud
bleeding body Of Wat Robinson, wrapped
up in the hide Of bull; his naked arms
bare, and club smeared with phospho-
rus still grasped in his stiffened hand.
"ue deserved his death" said Lowthsr,
looking down upon his ghastly CORPSE
alt was cruel thing Of him TO adopt this
hideous disguise, in order to frighten his
friends aud neighbors."
"It was just like the man." said anoth-
er, she was so full Of spite and malice.
ne could not bear to see others happy"
.He has paid heavy price for bis
folly said Lethwai.e. His melancholy
fate should be solemn warning to all
persons who engage in such wicked jokes,
Come my friends, let US carry him hence;
! am sorry that he got his death BY ny