The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-11-19
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Anlussments kG
NUMBER 50

said, with hearty laugh--so like her.
which Iremember 60 distinctly. TheR
as if having just remembered thns4is
was growing late, she kissed me last
goodnight, saying:
".Good night, dear viii, Go straight
home, and if you see a ghost face him
out and bring him to terms,
"Thesnext minute we had parted, and
l had commenced my journey home
ward.
a"Itwas beautiful moonlight anlghts
and, as / walked along in deep and 'haps
py thought, l carried rough boxing
crow -bar with me. The last time bad
called on Sarah it was after I had lett
the shop, where l had gone for the
crow bar. Ileftswithout thinking of it.
thence my having it on that SundH
night. sa x,if FIX
For some time / walked Slowly
talong, and -unconscioasly / struck the
turnpike road-the nearest toward
home. / continued this slow pace some
time, and when ] looked up l saw was
still some distance from home. a..
"tCome, this wont do, Will, if you
want to get home to night / said to
myself as / started off with alacrity.--
Hardly had l. done so, when 1ssaw a
white figure just before me--a few. feet
from trysting place called the stiles 8
.As looked, the figure disappeared
behind a tree which branched over the
road Noting this, l walked on still
further Only a few steps, though, for
as got abreast OF the tree the whiteI
figure confronted me and said lin a iIol-s
low voice; ssa 49,. ..,.. -
"tHaltp
"Unconsciously I did so. l stood
for moment, watching the tail, whiteg
robed figure before me Was / dream
ing IL .pinched myself for proof. i
was awake. Evidently was nervous,
and shaking the feeling of, / stroye To-
pass the creature, whom Il thought ex'
listed in my brain alcne. But the deep
vault-like voice stopped me, as was,
bade to halt again. rses
"Queer thoughts arose within mo
again. How should I act? will not
say was as composed as I am sitting
here talking to you. Everything
around me inspired awe. The lonely
road, the lateness Of the night, and the
figure before me. Still, Will Morse
was not coward by any means. But
this was a new business to me entirely
this bsipg. interviewed by q ghost :,
Sup TO. this time I had not said q,
( word, and / had been standing still
about two minutes. = last, In a .des,
perate voice, asked: &" 20 :.
"'Who are your
"There came no answer-only his
lghos,ship seemed to approach still near.
er to me. repeated my question, and
in answer there was q deep groan.s
Il was considerably mystifed BY, all
this, to say the least. As if to perp]ex
me more, the moon, which had beet
shining brightly up to that moment, be-
came clouded over, and the intense
whiteness of the figure before me bes
came almost black.
"As I noted these things, I ethougbt
also of my home,
"'Ghost or not, ,PH. know whether
you'll let me past!r ! exclaimed, angri.
ly, as ! attempted 10 proceed. A hol..
low groan stopped me, and at; that mo-
ment the thought came into my head,
that it WAS one of the boys trying to
frighten me. smiled derisively at the
thought--still was angry. sss,ss
"'Come. this is child's play ] cons
tinued. If you value your life, let ma
pass. I'll give you just one minute to
think over it, u aHs
81 retreated few steps--still the
white robed figure was motionless. The
time had fully expired, and with rush
forward. l threw my heavy crowbar
with full force, saying: iaa = assiiss
"Man or ghost, take that! ss
,"There was heavy thud, and / knew
that body had sunk to the ground -
At the same time / heard my name
family easped, issFs''
"Filled with, alarm and q horrible
suspicion. 1 rushed to, HE object. anlt
pulled it out on the high road. As if
to show me my mhrderols work, the
moon came out brilliantly l...sie,s 80,
"Grcat Heaven what sight met; my
eyes! Sarah ,cith her skull crushed int
81 never knew where / passed that
night, for when l came to my senses,
two years afterward, it was in a lunatie
asylum. Luckily for me, l remembered
the past very indistinctly. When in
due course Of time I could talk Of that
tragic scene with clear brain, ! called
on Sarah's father. "a
!, SAT the first news Of her death he
had attempted TO kill me, SO he told me,
but, he vas restrained. In due time he
, REASONED it out just how the tragedy
had happened. y SO:
.'As have said, Sarah was lively
girl. Wishing to test my courage, no
Doubt she had crossed the fields-thus
: taking short route, and cvading me
until our tragic meeting.
This was not so long ago, either,
gentlemen, but what might now be as
hale and as strong as any of you here.
But practical joking ruined my life. Do
, you wonder that hate the subjectf
| .