Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-03-05
HAUNTED MAN.

I'll - ~ Wv go '"s - -
In the spring Of 1912 chanccd to
be in Messina, q seaport Of Sicily;
and while there l was invited to visit
the extensive vintage of D-i Il M
20. Their location was in pleasant
valley some three miles back from
the city, and beneath portion Of
their grounds was extended large
wine vault, embracing all area of
two acres. After accompanying NJ
20, the junior partner, through the
long vinc-arbors and orange groves,
we descended to the vault, and after
4Assing nearly half the length of one
of the pipe tiers, we came to desk
where a man was writing.
"There is one Of your own coun-
trymen," says MO, Sand he will
accompany you through the vaults"
My conductor called TO the man,
who quickly dropping his pen, step
ped down from the stoof>and came
forward. He was employed as clerk
in the exporting department, for the
purpose of filling up bills, invoices,
etc, for the American and English
merchants.
"You will find him strange sort
of man." whispered Mo-, "but
he is, Notwithstanding, good fel-
low"
H, for SO my companion had
called him, was tall, well-nade
man, apparently on the better side
of forty, and he had pleasing, in
telligent look. His hair, which was
quite luxurious, was almost white,
aud about his countcnance there were
evideut marks of suffering. His
eyes, when he first gazed on me
which was with furtive, trembling
glance-had an inexpressible look OF
wildness i'll them, and cold, fear.
full shudder seemed to run through
his frame. Gradually he grew more
composed, and as he showed me
around among the pipe-fanked ave
nues, casting his huge lantern here
and there to show me the many an(
various wines, he began to talk will
considerable freedom, though he ye
BETRAYED strangcncss of manner, .
sort Of flaring of voice and gesture
tthat could not fail of exciting my Gu
lriosity. A casual observer, wh'
might have judged only from his ap
pearance, would have thought hin
slightly insane; aud even ! felt
conviction that his mind was not ex
ac,ly CONNIE IL ,faut, or at any rate
not omn:e je .tus.
.'Do you reside in New York;
he asked, as we stopped for momen
at the extremity of the vault.
1 told him that did not belon:
there, though had spent part of tn
winter and the spring of 1s41 and a
in that city.
"I have wife in that State some
1t where, and perhaps a child, but
e have not heard from them for lon
time"
Il noticed that he wiped his ct
with the sleeve of his linen jacket q
:. he spoke, and he turned aw
: though to hide an emotion tia
might be thought unmanly.
\ "Does she not write to you 2"
asked. ..
i "She knows not where I am" SO
't "Do you not write"
"Me?'' he uttered with a sndde
start, cold tremor shaking his fran
IS the while. ;&'f iy''
=. "Ah, sir, dare not trust my snpe.
sso scrlption nor my autograph in-'''S &,
He hesitated, looked at me wildl
!, for an instant, and then starting OF
" he began to enlarge on the tiifferer
p ages, qualities and vintages of til
wine. Twice / tried to bring bill
back to the subject he had SO al
ruptly left, but it was of no avai
> At length we came to the steps til:
J led up to the surface of terra firm,
1. The snn had already set, and tt
stars were beginning to sparkle i
= the blue orch above US. H remarl
Cd cd that he had no idea it was so lat
s. and added with, tho happiest smi
that 1 had yet seen him expires
that he supposed it was because /
i. had had such pleasant company,
. the same time assuring me that 1 ",
the only American with whom
ne had held social converse for owe
year. AS he was about to close II
= vault for the night, proposed |
!. should accompany me to my CAT
take supper with me, and then wa
with me about the city. 1t was son
time before he would consent to tn
'r. arrangement; and while he was ro
;, sidering upon 1t, could see th
there was an internal struggle Of
: small moment. He appeared to
mot unlike a man who is debati
!t.r whether he shall attack den
~ a. angry rattlssnakes. After awhi
.,e however, he consented to go, thou
gun there was d marked reluctance in.l
manner. He .extinguished tho liz
I'm hin lantern. Qazed mn and do,