The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-08-24

view WAS at hanu. call from James
Scott detained me. He came to tell me
he was to be married on the morrow, and
desired my presence.
To whom z asked, and doub. not
| was much excited, for fel; the perspi.
ration oozing from every pore Of nv BODY.
whom =
TO Alice Winn.'
MY Aicei Good God +
lie seemed not TO have heard my ex
c'ama,ion, but continued-'She is a good,
tidy house wife, and doubt not we shall
get on nicely together. We are to be
married at her mothers house in Winfield
at eight o'clock in the evening, and then
ride over TO the cottage. Will you.come,
Hugh =
Come yesl | replied, and Scott de
parted. Alice's conduct needed no fur
ther explanation. And after the VOW,
the solemn vow James Scott had taken.
he was to break it so soon. Would his
dead wrfe--as she bad threated-appear
to them | almost hoped so. did not
leave the house again until the hour APP
pointed for the nuptaIs. tried To still
the painful throbbing of my heart. |
tired, but in vain, to appear calm, coIIec.
ted
Il would and did see them married.
Tie bridegroom looked smiling and hap
py. tut Alice WAS very pale. never have
Seen "a lilly whittier tnan was her cheek
when she stood u? to be married
'Whjte robes and orange bIossoD,s!
have sickened at the sigh: of these ever
since.
We'll, they were married the cere
mony WAS got through with somehow,
though there WAS great deal Of falter
ing on the brides part, and the minis, er
made sad blunders-whiIe the guests,
with omnious looks, whispered one to an,
other the unhappy events which such
mistakes portended.
Congratulations followed, and an hour
after, the marriel pair, with number OF
friends myself included set out for the
cottage, their future dwelling place.
Once passed near Alice it was Jus,
as she was stepping into the carriage
',
then half extended her hand.
Il shook my head. felt she had plav
ed me false /; could not accept; so, with
another shane Of the head, turned aw ~
and entered the carriage next in waiting
we drove slowly away. That was a
strange bridal party; there WAS no mir,h
no hilarilv. II seemed to me like fun.
eraI procession and once, turning 10 my
companion--a modest girl, and pretty
too, but nothing TO compare with Alice
i asked about the corpse
Il corrected myself instantly-'pardon
me, miss. should have said 6riie.' The
fair girl became, at this unhappy bunder
Of nine, as agitated rs III, self
Fearing should commit myself gain
| sealed my lips, and we rode on in silence
over this very road.
'rhe night WAS similar to this. The
moon gave us now and then glimmer
ing light. The dark old forest trees frown.
ed down upon us as they do now.
Suddenly the carriage before us halted
there was slight moan, rs if from wo-
mans lips, and then-and then
And what then. lIughF Z | asked, as
he leaned his heavy body against the
trunk Of tai pine that o'ershadowed
him, and covered his ewes with his hand
Then II figure in white, with face and
features, TO nice exactncss, like those oI
James SCOTS buried wife. gIided past
slowly, noiseIessly.
Twas in this very spot our carriage.
halted. The moan | had heard WAS from
the lips of Alice. The spectre had paused
beside her, and laid her icy hand upon
the new brides face-then banished.
James Scott was paralyzed with fear
Another ana more distressing groau
from the lips of Alice, and sprang from
the carriage and went to her assistance.
She gasped, tainted, died 10 my arms
Yes, here my Alice died An hour the
wife Of another--here she died.
James Scott could say nothing, do no
thing all was confusion. ] bore her in
my arms 10 the cottage the same cot
iage that We ere going 20 70 night, and
there | watched all that was left Of my
idol till morning.
hgHlHSt MY VIII sA" me sun rise
and heard The birds sing as sweetly as
thoogh nothing had happened to mar my
happiness. Yet had rather see her lie
there cold and dead, than behold her the
wife Of another never mourned tina,
she died NV world would have been
darker, for more desolate had she lived.
Ever within my sight. but never m,ne,
she would have been, for had not moral
courage sufficient TO tear myself from her
sweet presence.
God removed her from my reach and
i! was glad. ! laughed many times that
day
But what "f tie gbosti' asked.
That is one OF the sights unaccounta.
ble,' he replied, most Of the ladies at the
party tainted, and since that time | ven
ture to say, not one has passed through
the pine forest after nighifsIl. The sequel
| will give you rs we return
And is that what gave this place the
name Of Spectre's Glen ?
III Ia, bui no moe questions: we must
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