The Cedar County advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Iowa) 1853-1856, 1854-08-05

eyes, straight nose, with thin Grecian
nostrils, and rather voluptuous mouth, en-.
titled him in some measure to that con-
sideration. n.
Martin was a great favorite OF the In
dies, old and young, but he never show.
ed any marked partiality to any one, un-
til he became acquainted with Isabella
Ashton the daughter Of our late clergy
man, who died Of grief about year
ago. "
Notwo beings could be more different.
Isabella was the most young and thought
less girl in the village. She could have
little sympathy with person of such
deep feelings and elevated intellect as
Martin; and beautiful as she was, it ap-
peared strange that he should have given
his love to her. There was no doubt but
that she was attached to him; perhaps
she loved him as well as she was capable
of loving any one; but in this instance,
as in all others, her affections were Sec
ondary to her love of sarcasm and mis-
chief.
Martin and Isabella had been pointed
out rs lovers, by village goss,ps, for sew
eral months she was now nineteen, and
she was the same age, when the tagedy
occurred, which the .oihng of the bell
has recalled to my memory.
| 1t was on an autumn evening, nearly
five years since, that Isabella took advan-
tage of her fathers absence to have So
cial gathering Of young people at their
mouse, Martin Of course was present,
with the ialrest youths and maidens; and
being under no restraint from the gravity
Of the clergyman, who was not expected
home till late, the company enjoyed them
selves freely with jests, songs, and social
| games.
The hour at which such parties usually
broke up had already passed, and there
was no relaxation in the galety OF the
young people, when some one foolishly
mentioned the subject Of ghosts, some
thing of that description having been seen
in the vicinity OF the church yard.
1T is silly report said Martin. No
body can believe that ghost has really
been seen there and doubt If person
here believes ct all in the existence OF
ghosts.
You do yourselI--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 can prove that you
have an idea that such things may exist.
Go to the churchyaad alons IN the dark,
and then declare, If you can, that you
have felt no fear
And what would tina, prove!
why, you will be frightened, though
you see nothing. Your fears would put
your belief 10 the test. How could you
be afraid if you did not feel there was
something TO be afraid ofF
Il do not think your logic is the bes. II
the world, replied Martin, laughing =
men are often troubled with fear, when
their reason tells them there is no cause
to fear. Bat | deny, in the first place
that visit to the enurchyard, even a
midnight. would tfIghten me IN tht
least
sHow bravely you talk said Isabella
indulginq in her customary tons OF sar
casm. But nobody here believes you.
don't at any rate. Why, you had Ia
courage enough the other day to he'll
kill rabbit, your mother told me SO!
Il never like to cause or witness pain
if !, can be avoided answered Martin
] blushing.
,Ha' Ina. ha, what an excellent excuse
You are brave enough, to be sure, bu
tendcr-haarted. Come. now; you dar'
no, 90 to the ehureh-yard this night
alone. You are not half so courageon
rs YOU would have us believe. Whethe
YOU believe there are ghosts or not 20
are afraid Of them
Martin was extremely sensitive; bt
u the sarcasm OF nobody except Isabel
d could have stung him so to the quick
! Scorning the imputntlouot OF cowardice, h
was ready to do almost any desperat
. act to prove bis courage. "But, sal
a a he, "alihough ] have no more tear
= = churchyards and ghosts, than have
= orchards or apple trees, am not gong
J, walk half mile, merely to be laughe
at
aHa, ha, but you chal not escape SO
laughea Isabella. "Here, before thes
4 our friends, promise that this ring sha
e he yours she continued, displaying or
given her By her old lover, which Nar''
: had often desired her to part with, PROV
: dcd YOU go to the churchyard alone, IN Il
y dark, and declare, on your honor, whe
/, YOU return, that you were not III the lea
- - afraid.
70 " Agreed said Martin, bulton'ns h
.. coat, for the nigh, was chilly.
: And as evidence that you 60 the en'i
y distance. YOU can bring back with you tt
IRON bar, which you will find close to IL
= gate said Isabella.
Thus driven by taunts to the eommissif
. Of folly, Martin took leave Of the Con
IS many, full Of courage and spirit, and
=. = out on his errand. !,
u II was near quarter OF mlle to u
= churehyard, which was approachea ny
Il. IT, lonely, dreary, path, seldom travelled e
- cept by mourners.
It is impossible TO relate precisely wh
!. bappened to Martin on that gloomy roa
- - I Judge from the circumstances which :
i tervards came to light, and conjecture
- adventure must have been as am aoo