The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-12-21
rHRPHAnToM LIGHT.

lChristmas Number of the London Society.l
1t was about eleven O'Clock at night.
Nellie and l were sitting by the bow
window in our drawing-room, which she
bad thrown wide open. The day had
been most oppressively hot, but now a
faint breeze was coming in from the sea,
most refreshingly welcome after the sui
try, sitting heat of the day.
1t was quite dark-ihat soft, velvety
darkness that belongs only to a perfectly
moonless, starless night.
Just below our window lay the yard
or tive of garden, thens the long,
straight line of promenade, with its as
phalt walk and drive dimly defined by a
shadowy row of white posts connected
by ornamental chains. Beyond the en-
bankment lay the wide,, desolate waste
of sands, stretching aNaSfor miles and
miles on either hand.
The tide was far out, SO that only q
sort of pale>gray CLEAN on the horizon
showed where the sea was just beginning
to creep over the shoals and sand-banks
off the Southport coast. Seven miles to
the right, across the estuary of the Rib
bic, the steady light from the Ly than
Lighthouse kept vigilant watch and ward
over the dangerous Horse Bank, that
treacherous, dangerous shoal on which
many good ship had gone 10 its doom
of shipwreck and death.
Nellie was leaning out of the window,
her elbow on the sill, her eyes fixed on
the misty, soft darkness outside. 1t was
as dark inside IS out; we had no thought
of lighting t*e gas that long summer
evening.
Chow still it is !" she said dreamiiy.
"What aspell of solemn silence thenight
lays on eyerythingP
As if to contradict her words, faint
sound rose from the sard below, and
swept by with prolonged, mournful
cry. .
"What is that?' che asked, startled.
"Sore one calling down on the sand,"
1 said. "The intense stiffness carries
the sound great distance at night"
81 heard such a wild legend this
morning" she went on presently, "con-
nected with those great deserts of sand
that stretch over toward Lytham. Old
Joe, the boatman, says they are haunted
by phantom voice. --.--.
Chow thrillingp 1 remarked skepti.
cally. What does it sayf"
"Don't scof, Jean," said Nellie, a lit
tie yexedly. It's a most pathetic,
dreadful legend. Years ago before there
was a town here at all, people used to
cross the sands between here and Lytham
on horseback. One stormy evening a
traveller had crossed as usual, and had
almost reached the shore, when sud-
denly bright light appeared, hovered
for moment over a spot yard or two
away, and then vanished. At the same
moment piteous, unearthly cry echoed
all around. The horse became wild
with terror, and broke loose, throwing
his rider 10 the ground. When he re-
covered himself he found lying on the
ground at his feet, the body of beauti.
full young girl. She was quite dead, with
a aghastly wound in her side, from which
the blood had flowed all over her white
dress.
The traveller staggered away to the
nearest house, got assistance, and had the
girls body laid in an upper room.
That night an awful storm arose. 4
ship was wrecked on the Horse Bank
and only one man. the captain, saved
He was taken to the same house where
the traveller had already found shelter
and by some mis- axe was put in the
room where the murdered girl was lying
At the sight of her he gave an appalling
shrek, and fell down senseless. Wher