The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-11-23

lie had suddenly disappeared, ard 40 cne
knew the secret OF his absence. Whether
be had goue to visit foreign countries,
whether he had soiourned in bis own, or
whether the grave had swallowed him up.
no one cou'd tell. rs for Ellen, she cou-
tinued faithful and hopef,l, She felt cons
lident that he would come according to
promise. Daring ;he year that had eIaps-
ed; she refused many eligible offers, and
her father failed to shake her coustancv
The anniversary of the January came.
The storm fell faster and the wind howied
more Eavagel y than year ago. The wood
wac piled high upon the hearth, and all
was warm and comfortable within Ellen
was precisely where the reader first saw
her. She was looking into the street
where she had seen Edward approaching
at the time Of their last meeting.
Hour after hour passed, and he came
not. The family had retired and she was
the sole watcher in the house.
lie cannot come on such a dreadful
night as this" thought Ellen. No hu-
man being would be SO impruaent as to
leave the fire side to brave such freezing
storm"
1t was in vain that she said TO herself.
Il will retire--I will wait 70 longer >
she was facinated, chained to the spot by
some strange and mysterious influence.
The clock struck ten---eleven, and still
the fair watcher sat 10y the window, recall
inc full oft the words of her lover
"A year from this night I will visit YOU
living or dead, and the grave cannot hold
me-"
1t grew colder and colder. The wind
rayeI more furiously, and the icy sleet
drove against the window panes in rafting
showers. Suddenly the wind Was hushe.l
and the storm paused in its career. 1t was
quarter before twelve The street in front
Of the dwelling was lighted up until the
individual snOwilakes we're visible A at
once following this strange illumination
reflected directly in the middle of the
street, was the shadow Of the terrier dog
close upon the shadow came the terrier
upon hard run, with his tongue hanging
from his mouth, as if spent with exertion
In an infant after the terrier made his ap
pearance, came the most wonderful of all
a dark looking horseman, mounted on a
large black s eed, with diIaled nostriIs, dis
tended jaws, and streaming silcs. lie
seemed to tread upon the air. There was
no heavy tramp-no rib a.ion ofthe earth
no tracks in t e snow to tell that the
phantom horseman had passed.
The darkness closed in again = the wind
howed, and the snow burst forth again
with redoubled fury.
The ensuing night found the sd watch
er at the widow, waiting for the re appear
ance Of the phenomenon. She did not
wat in vain. Again came tie same SUI
pcrnaturaI light; again came the shadow
OF the terrier, then the terrier, and then
dashed lnadly by the phantom rider apon
his phantom steed, pausing not momeh,
in his wild career; turning not his head
to the right nor to the lrft-cast;ug no
furtive glance towards the awe strickel
Jcholier
On went the solemn spectre, and the
darkness shut in again-but there was no
track upon the newaIen snow, and no
sign that living man had ridden there.
Alas, for Ellen, She knew that her
lover was no more, and that from the
lard of the dead he hal releemel his
promise.
The story goes that she and others
watched night after night, and night after
night came the mysterious rider
And thus lie came for many years at d
quarter before midnight, in far weather or
in foul-in rain, snow, storm, wind, dark
ness and moonlight.
The change of seasons, and the changes
Of temperature, and Incidental inclemen,
cies, wrought no changes in him.
Elen's father always grew pale when
the phantom horseman was mentioned, and
sternIy forbade them to refer to the sub
iect but the whole affair soon became
puGIic property, and hundreds came to
watch the nightly visit Of the phantom
rider and none failed to see Linn at the
usual hour, and in the usual order-the
terrier invariably preceded him, following
his own shadow.
At length after many years, on the ami
vsrsary January night, the phantom with
out the horse. The terrier walked slowly
before him, and he followed at a pace
measured and solemn. His hat was
slouched over his eyes, and his head was
bent upon his breast--but Ellen knew i
was Edward. She tired to speak, but her
tongue refused to articn!ate.
On the following night, Ellen awaited
his appearance with a firm determination
to speak and know the object Of his con.
tinuei visits-but when he came her
courage failed. Instead Of keeping
straight forward, as on other occasions
the spectre crossed :he street, and stood
for moment beside the fence near the
window, and looking sorrowfully at Ellen
called her name three times distinctly
paralyzed with fear, she was unable to re
ply, and the phantom walked slowly away
and came no more.
Long was the phantom horseman talked
Of. The person we called Ellen is living
at this dav, and not hesitate, we have rea
son to believe, to confirm what we have
written in regard to the mysterious rider
She still remains single
1t will be remembered that there were
many witnesses Of the curious phenome
non.