The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1871-09-23


churchyard, which was approached by q
lonely, dreary puth, seldom travelled tx
cept by mourners. 1t would be in,pos.
sible to state precisely what happened tc
Martin on that gloomy road. / judge
from the circumstances which afterwards
came to light, and conjccturc,h his adven-
lures muss have been as am about to
relate. Q
Slight ms ne was in frame, aud tender
in feeling, he was not destitute of cour-
age. l dare not think he was frightcn-
ed by the signing of the wiud. or the
rustliug of dry autum leaves as he trod
along the avenue pointing to the 'city
of the dead He marched fro ly to it,
stopped moment, have no doubt, to
gaze sadly but not feariugly. upon the
white tombstones cleaning faintly in
the dark aud dessolate ground, for the
stars shone brilliantly in the clear, cold
sky above. All this Iiast Iiavc drawn
in his mind the sweetest of solemnity.
He und the pin, and started back, but
had proceeded but short distance,
when, in the gloomicst part of the road,
he noticed white figure emerge from n
clump of willows aud making its steps
towards him. 1t looked like walk ing
corpse in a winding sheet which which
trailed upon the ground. All Martin S
strength Of nerve was gone in an instant.
Courage gave way to desperation, his
hair stood erect, and his blood run chil
yet he stood his ground The spectre
drew nearer, seeming to grow whittier
and larger rs itapproachcd nearer, seem
ing TO grow winter and larger as it APP
pro chcd We cannot tell what phrcn-
zy seized upon tie brain Of the unhappy
youth at that moment.
The guests ut the clergyman's house
heard terrific screams Dreading some
tragic termination to the farce, they
rushed tn the spot, one of the number
carrying n lantern. They found Martin
leaning on n p,nstrate form cutclling
sconsalsisety its fhrcat, while he still
uttered frantic shrieks fr help. His
wild features exhibited the very extrcm.
ity of terror. Only two OF the most
courageous young men dared approach
him. One of them forced Martin t.,
relax his h Id nm the throat Of the H..
ure, whilst the either tore away the folds
| of the sheet. AT that moment the bear.
er "t the liant rn came up. It's light
fell on the blood stained, distorted fea.
lures Of Isabella Martin uttered one
more uneartbly Shrick, and fell lilc.cs.
upon the corpse. lie ncvcrspakc again
but fvcd--an idiot.
y 'rishtlul confusion on Isabella :
temple bore evidence that in his rhrrn
zy he had struck thc supposed spectre
with the ron pin. The blow was prob
ably the cause of her death, although
such grasp as his hands must have
given her throat, might alone have de
prived her of breath. He never knew
afterwards what he had done, for never
again did one CLEAN Of reason lumine
the darkness of his soul and Yesterday
morn his spirit was finally freed from
its shackles of clay, and given life aud
light in better world, which the toll
ing of that bell declares II. ,st so)emnly.
| x
That was indeed sad, sad tale, aud
to this day remember with what feel
Ing 1t was told to me. / remained with
that family two days, and when | occa
sionally muse over the wandcrn.s OF
my carly youth, i. claims no small part
in my reflections, for | remember twas
..,--- .,a.:.. tic melancholy story o.
Martin Lord and Isabella Ashton.
Smmicr Ners]