Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-09-14

o,ner day to help Kill rabbit your mother
told me SO!
"I never like to cause or impress pain, if it
can be aroided,' answered Martin, blushing.
{" Ha ha ba what q poor excuse! You
are brave enough, to be sure, but tender
hearted Come, now YOU da e not 60 TO the
church. yard this night, alone. You are net
half SO courageous as you would have us be-
ieve. Whether you think there arc ghosts Or
not you are afraid Of Them;
"Nar,in was extremely sensitive; but the
sarcasm of nobody except Isabella could have
stuug him to the quick. Seornins the impu-
tation of cowardice, he was ready TO do al
most any desperate act to prove bis courage.
"But," said he. although l have no more
fear of churchman's and ghosts, than | have
Of orchards and appletrees, | am not going to
walk half mile, merely to be laughed at
'Ha ha! but you stall not escape so ~
laughed Isabella "Here before these our
friends, promise that this ring shall be yours. ,
she continued. displaying one given by an
old lover, which Martin had desired her TO
part with, provided you go to the church
ward alone. iu the dark, and declare, on your
honor, when you return, that you were not III
the least afraid
sAgreedl" said Martin, buttoning his coat,
for the night was chilly.
Sand, as an evidence that you 60 to the
entire distance, you can bring back with you
the iron bar, which you will find close by the
gate said Isabella.
THUS driven by taunts to the commission
of folly, Martin took leave of the company,
full of courage and spirit, and set out on his
errand.
"It was near quarter of mile to the
church yard. which was approached by a
lonely, dreary path, seldom travelled except by
mourners."
"It is impossible to relate precisely what
happened to Martin on that gloomy road. |
Judge from the circumstances which after.
wards came to light, and conjecture his ad-
venture must have been as / am about 10
relate il.
"Slght 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 rustling OF the dry
autumual leaves, as many stronger men might
have been. He marched steadily to the
Church.yard, stopped moment, perhaps to
gaze sadly, but not arlnlly, Mt the white
iomLstones cleaning family in the dark and
desoat.. ground, for the stars shone brilliant.
ly in the clear cold sky then shoulderiug the
iron bar OF which Isabella had spoken he set
! out to return.
"iIc had proceeded about half way when
! in the gloomiest part Of the road, he saw
white figure emerge from clump Of
willows and come up towards him. 1t looked
like Il walking CORPSE in n winding sheet
which traied upon the ground. All Martin S
strength of nerve was gone i'll an instant
Courage gave place 10 desperation, his hair
standing erect, ard his blood running chill
with horror; still he stood his ground. The
spectre drew nearer, seeming TO grow winter
and larger as it approached. We Cannot tell
wha; frenzy seized upon the brain OF the uIl-
Fortunate youth at that moment.
"Thc ruostsyat Tie CLERGY nc ,hsard tnr
riic screams. Dreading sume tragic terml''a-
ZION 10 the farce, they rushed to the spot, onr
,rthc number CARRYING u lantern. They iounh
Martin kneelin. on C prpslratc ngart, his
fingers clutching convulsively its thr"at,
while he still uttered frantic shrieks for help,
gis wild features exhibited the very extFe:ul
| ty Of terror. .;re,rs ronnp
e',y wv" Va wy Sui. s.T.' One ofthem !nrced
men "a.eq Ak Ills hold on the threat Of III:
~ ia.si .. whilst the other Jre away The folds &!
the sheet At that mnmcnl the bearer OF the
lamp came up. its light fell on the blood,
stainefl. distor.ed feature uf Isabella! Martin
uttered one more uuearthly shrek. and fell life
less upon the corpse. He never spoke again
but lived-nn idiot!
"A frishtfnl confusion on Isalclla's temple
bore evidence that in his frenzy be had struck
the supposed spectre with tho iron bar. The
blow was probably the cause of her death al
though snch grasp as his hands must have
given her throat, might have deprived her OF
; breath Hc never knew afterwards what he
done, for never CLEAN Of reason Illuminated
! the darkness of his soul; and now the tollin-
bell has told us that Heaven in its mercy has
finally freed the spirit from its shaclles oI
clay, and given it life and light in a better
world.