The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-06-15

there blue and trembling-with her finger
and feet cold as ice, and the frost makins
her black hair gray as old Grand -fathei
LaYton's.
She had strayed away from Crofton Hall
where her Aunt Alice lived, and wher,
she was spending a few weeks-apains
her aunts expressed wishes-and without
allowing that good lady to know whittier
she had gone.
Aunt Alice was asleep when. she haC
come out, she said by way of excuse, anG
she did not like to waken her. But sbt
might have told Lucia, or Kate, or heI
aunt's dressing-maid.
The truth was, Josephine had come of
INTO the woods in a fit of pique. She
wanted to make Mr. Fitzherbert feel wor.
RED about her. Mr. Edward had done 8
very rude thing that morning-very rude
indeed! He had been Miss Josie's most
devoted admIrer for two months, and this
morning because Josie had seen fiji to
trown on him by way of trying her power
ne had gone off nonchalantly and invited
Lucia Nan Dyane to ride. And they had
taken the whole forenoon for their pieasu.
ring, and had returned in high Spirits
ELuela's cheeks were so red, and her ewes
30 bright, and her hair so golden, that for
the first time Josephine realized that there
might be women as pretty as she was
herself, and when Mr.. Edward praised
Lucas riding he added "the feather too
much and Josie yut on her shawl and
sauntered away
She had taken little basket on her
arm to gather pine cones in when she re-
turned to the city she might want to dos
little fancy work. Work, indeed when
her delicate hands had never known any,
thlng harder than winding silk, with Mr..
Edward to hold the skeins and unite the
knots; or making wonderful blue dogs on
canvas, Tor the admiration of her friends.
Aunt Alice had repeatedly warned her
to Keep on, of Crofton Woods. It was an
uncanny place, and haunted by strange
stores. Years before man had been
murdered on the confines of the forest, and
ms ghost walked every night, the people
SAID, and frequently the wild cry for help
that the murdered victim had uttered
rang out on the startled air Josie had
listened to these tales Overland over again
and never failed to laugh heartily at them.
ohe dld not believe IN ghosts, and the idea
OF dead man taking the pains to stumble
night after night over the dead trees and
through the pitfalls of Crofton Woods, to
cry for help that could do him no good,
was simply ridiculous
But the woods were strictly stunned by
all the people living in their vicinity, and
there was not money enough, probably. in
the Crofton bank to have tempted anv
person IN the neighborhood to pass the
night in their shadows.
AS Josie sat there, thinking this over.
she thought she heard, in the distance, a
horses football. Presently it came nearer.
and moment afterwards Fitzerbert's
white mare burst from the underground,
a few rods away.
Help helpl helpp cried Josephine,
adopting the phraseology of the phan-
tom.
The effect was electrical. The rider of
the horse urged on the animal with whip.
spur and will, and vanished like light
ming.
Josephine laughed bitterly.
HE thought he had seen the phantomp
she said, contemptuously. "a fig for
such a paltry coward"
From that moment all fancy she might
have had for Mr. Edward Fitzerbert died
out; he might ride with Lucia as much as
ne pleased now; she would never again
feel piqued
She had no fellowship with a man who
was afraid of ghosts. And he had prsb-
ably been sent in search of her by her
aunt, too. Really, the fellow was con-
-emptible. But she was glad she had
-ound 1t out. She should not mind night
N the woods if it saved her from getteng
TO feel too deep an interest in Mr.. Edward,
with his curling locks and his handsome
blonde moustache.
Josephine was an heiress and beauty.
and she was as proud as Lucifer himself,
lbout some things; but on the whole, she
was q warm-hearted, lovable girl, and
times better than the majority of
gay moths that fiuttered about her.
She slipped down from the rock to the
ground, and thought she would settle her
ielf to pass the night there. But before
ong she got so cold that she knew it wo'd
lot do, and she started up and began
Walking as fast as she could, stumbling
md slipping at every other step.
The sky had grown clouded, and pretty
oon 1t began to rain. In little while |
he was wet to the skin, and so chilled
md benumbed that though she made a
desperate effort not to yield, she could 90
10 farther. So she sank down in the
caves and cried very softly She never |
would have given up so much as this. if |
he had dreamed there was any one near
ler
Presently she feltsomething cold against |
Ter neck. She started up and saw the dim
outlines of large dog close beside her
lie licked her face and whined sympathet-
cally. She flung her arms around him,
slad even of this companionship.
He settled himself on bar drass o,,1 -
erng loud bark, seemed to be listening
md waiting for something.
In a moment there was a hastv stem in |
he brushwood, and voice called, cheer.
ly,-
Tiger Tiger what is it, old fellow.
Tiger replied by a second bark, louder |
md more sonorous than the first.
The dogs master made his appearance. |
md flashed the light Of the lantern he |
:arried over the group.
"Ha = he said, surprisedly, "what have |
We here? A woman,l by Jupiter p
Josie was so benumbed that she could |
lot rise, and the stranger lifted her to her |
eet. But she could not stand either, and |
vas Obliged to lean against the stalwart |
houlder that was readily offered her
The righteousness. of her position struck |
~ 4OANiDAJJ anu snS COulO not lelp ask /
ng-
Are You the phantom, sir?'
He laughed pleasant, mellow laugh
which could belong to no man with a |
rouhled conscience, Josie thought.
"a very substantial one at Your sery- |
ce, and as the weather was becoming cool
have left off the traditional white gar
nents, and adopted bear skins instead. |
But | will be very happy to take care of
'ou, If you will permit it. l suppose you
re lost2"
ut appears decidedly ike it. 1 am
taying with my aunt at the hall. and
anne out this afternoon in search of cones.
have missed the path, and my situation
gill explain the rest"
at is fortunate l found you. The storm
Till be fearful one before morning, and
ou would have suffered severely. Will
GU let me take you to my cabin? 1t is
lose by"
''Thank you think l can walk there
And she made the attempt, but would
ave fallen had he not prevented her.
The cold has paralyzed you. You
lust allow me to carry you"
And lifting her gently he bore her in
de rude cabin, which had evidently