Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-05-26
THE. PHANTOM HoRsEMAN.

lowing tale is founded we had from person
well acquainted with the facts and the parties
concerned. The phenomena of the InvSteri.
Gus rider We do not attempt to explain il
was related as 1nct-as such We repeat il,
with such additions in relation to other mat.
tcrs connected with it, as fancy may dictate.
The nightly visitant here mentioned, who rode
his cloudy Stccd for so many years, nj regular
intervals, through fair and through FOUL
through rain slcct, aud snow-mo0nght
starlight, and the darkness Of Midnight, will
probably be well remembered by many per
sons now living.
With these preliminary remarks, We pro-
coed, begging the reader TO remember that
imagination must supply most Of the material
aside from the wonderful phenomena Of the
flying horsemnn.
The indulgcnt reader will please go with us
to n small town in the vicinagc of Boston II
is not nccdful TINT we name the villngc whith-
or we are going, tell It's origin, antiquity, pop.
ulatioD, or describe its appearance at the pres.
, cnt day.
At u corner where two streets intcrScctcl
/ each other stood the dwelling To which We now
call attention. We will suppose it was built
in the old style, somewhat dalkcncd by time,
and rather gloomy III its general appearance,
aud that the Sitting-room was :" situated that
the front was towards one Of the streets, aud
the side towards the other.
1t was NJ the close of a cold January dav.
There was u cheerful fire blazing upon the
hearth, that sent forth its c0ngcninl warmth
despite the slril lipings of the wintry wind
without. \ young lady was seated near the
window. She held book in her hand and
though her eyes were directed towards its
pages, il was evident that she SAW not line
Of what was before her She was quite young
but her exact age we are not able to tell, for
our informant forgot to rnlghtcn us upon tina
subject she was probably somewhere between
eighteen aud twenty. She was very pretty,
and wns neatly and taStcully dressed. 1t was
r;rSv -,rtrrivc-tiint -Sirr-fi-rri hrru wrrpiug
proiuscly fpr her eyes looked red aud swollen,
and on her knees lay u wet pork ct.hundkcr.
chief She was startled from the rcvrric into
which She had rclapscd by the sound Of a
horses icct IN rapid motion. \ sudden blush
suiluscd the checks OF Ellen. She looked into
F. the street and saw Il young man ride by the
window, preceded by a small terrier dog we
I speak Of the latter for rcaSonS which the Sc
Iucl will show. The horsrman entered the
yard, fastened bis stcr'l, and Ellen soon heard
his footsteps upon the thrcshhOld.
so, ,--E.d~ard,--wly have you come - she
exclaimed, a( the door was thrown open, and
comcy, though careworn young man, came
in without ceremony.
! do you rcpr0ach me, ALSO" he replied,
sadly, though somewhat proudly.
Heaven forbid it, Edward. spoke only
oil your account. You know the danger YOU
incur by coming hithcr and you know how
h"rclc>s are our mutual wishes. DO not
= blame me.
"What is danger Since life can no longer
be precious tn me-"
, Hope, Edward, hope"
81 But why should hope? Your father
still continues mmovablc, and am well per.
>ualcd that in this respect he will never
change II, then, you wait for his consent
we shall never be wed. feel as sure Of it as
, if an angel had told me"
But dare not disobcy him; | am under
4 solemn promise"
"Thcn We must indeed part forever"
Ellen avcrtcd her head and sobbcd audi
bly,.
1.-THE period may arrive when you may re-
greet this STEP" replied Edward S6rrowtully.
| regret the necessity that bids us part rs
deeply as You can possibly do, ard as truly as
it is possible for any human creature to re-.
owe n certain kind Of obedience, and must
render it to him, though the ovrrtaskcd heart
may break in the effort"
"ThiS is is your final decision 2"
81 feel that it must hc So"
Edward walked the floor for a moment in
silence, wringinS his hands.
Hear me once m0re Edward. Come Il
me when year has passed, perhaps some
rlln in E,tl La tnl.
place, said Ellen
50 shall il he" he answered 81 swear
il living or dead, will visit you. May heaven
record my OATH"
, 1t is cnough-I shall expect you"
"Onc year from this night you may expect
me, though break from the embrace of death
itself to perform my solemn promise"
At that moment the door was thrown vio.
lcntly opcn-Ellcn uttered piercing cry and
tainted, for it was her father that cnmc
1t was now dark night \ storm Of snow
was falling, and the wind howling licrccly.
"Brgonc, sir, and never darkcn nv door
again with your shadow" cried the father o
Ellen, at the same time dealing him heavy
blow in the face.
The young man rccoicl under the cruel re-
buii aud his face cimSoncd with indignation
lie raised his hand to strike the old man.
but suppressed cry from Ellen instantly ar
rested his purpose
"Onc year from now aud the grave cannot
hold me-" SAID Edward, turning once more tc
Ellen, who had partially revived. "Rcmrm
bcr, Ellen"
With these words the young man walked
out into the cold January storm. casting ono
rcproachtul, indignant glance upon the bruta
aggrcssor.
\ year passed, aud Ellen during that inter
val heard nothing of Edward D.. lie hat
suddenly disappeared, and no one knew tn,
secret of his absence. Whether he had gone
to visit foreign countries, whether he had so
iourncd in his own, or whether the grave hat
swallowed him up, no one could tell AS fn,
Ellen, she still continued faithful and hopeful
She felt confident that he would come accord
ing to his promise. During the year whicl
had elapsed, She had refused many cigihl,
offers, and her father had failed to shake he
conStancy.
The anniversary of the January night came
The storm fell faster and the wind howlct
more savagcly than year ago. The Woo
was piled high upon the hearth. and all wa,
warm and comfortable within. Ellen sat pre-
ciSely where the reader first saw her. She wa
inf tho b., l,oI 4