River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-07-15

from ms suck, ana began 10 mack ana
tug 1T the particular branch he had
secured After much exertiOn and de-
termination he managed 10 sever it
from the trunk.
you've cut off her armand her
head . shouted Glyn, aroused from his
trance.
Her head ~ shrieked the decapitat-
ed ghost.
Back went the superintendent, and
saw that all that remained OF that
lnuch-abused apparition was the lower
part Of her transparency.
II am sorry to have spoilt the tree,
but glad to have laid bare its tricks,
he said, rs if he had caught thief.
you see, Glyn, that the branches have
grown into the skeleton of human be-
Ing, As seen from this particular spot
and nowhere else When the moons
full she shines through the intervening
space and lights it into a spirit. \
steI this way or that dispels the illusion.
/ have leapped offthe principal branch
and destroyed the ghost"
Come away" said Capt. Glyn, testi-
~, not caring to be convinced aginst his
will
Nevertheless the spectre had been an
optical delusion, caused precisely MS
Mr. Superintendent Pryse had described
it; bus when afterward the truth was
noised abroad, the country folks only
said: '.Well, sure! there's brave Pryse,
super is, to be killing ghost. But
she is talking all the same" The echo
naturally remained after the tree was
mutiated
Il have a policeman stationed near
here whom Unjust look up, y said Pryse,
Us he crossed the stile between Gwyn-
ant Meadows and the road. eff you
will walk ON, | will join you by short
cut across the fields at the end of the
woods
Glyn gladly assented, for he desired
solitude to smooth his rulfled feathers.
He felt aggrieved, and having been
made superstitious in childhood 10y ig-
norant d0mestics, inclined to remain 50
in manhood. He almost believed that
the ghost had been frightened away
and would reappear elsewhere.
He was soon to be strengthened in
this belief, for just before emerging
from the wood he was startled by some
thing while perched in one of the trees.
As he paused it slipped down and pre-
coded him into the road, where it stood
rs if awaiting him. CHANGING at it in
alarm he perceived that it was the fig
ure of woman, and doubted not that
il was the dislodged spectre.
Trembling all over, he tried to pass
her by with an apologize bow, being
always chivalrously polite to the ladies.
His ciyility was answered by a fantastic
courtesy.
Il will accompany you, sir" she
said, us he strove to hurry her ON. 1t
was the voice of the treespirit, he
thought
Certainly, madam, you please"
he replied, politeness struggling with
terror
She walked rapidly by his side, quick
ening her pace as ne quickened his.
When he yenturcd to look at her he
saw only a white face, white arms,
white drapery 1t was ut least satlsfac
tory that the cruel executioner had not
after all amputated a limb.
Il ann going home; where are you
going, sir2' She said, after 4 brief 81
ience.
"To-to-to-Trefavon," he stam-
mercd
.,Ha, Ia, Ia. | live nearer" she cried
in an unearthly voice.
He was thankful to hear it, and
urged his failing legs to impossible ef-
forts.
They had long passed the spot where
his friend was to JOIN him, and soon
reached the cross roads.
This way sill" she said, waving her
nand; and he took the wrong road in
obedience to her spiritual influence
They We're now outside the parish Of
Trefayon, and the road led through q
har0nial property In Il lonely tree
rmboWered spot ly the wayside stood a
small church, or more properly, u
chapci Of ease to a distant church, which
lie had seen more than once, and which
he had been told was haunted.
Beware of Pryse, superintendent" >
said the ghost, as they approached the
place.
Il wiIl-indeed | will, muttered the
captain, devoutly wishing he had never
seen lis old friend.
When they reached the chITchyard
gate the spirit paused and extended her
hand toward the scored building.
Goodnight, sir. | live here?" she
said. and she glided through the gate.
The spellbound captain saw her wan
der about Il few moments in the moon
light. making fantastic movements, then
vanish. When she finally disappeared
he fell heavily to the ground and
tainted
Meanwhile the superintendent had
reached the TRUSTING place, and not find
ing him there, supposed he had walked
on. lie set off briskly to overtake him.
His soldierly onslaught having taken
much time, and lecture to a temper
AIRY missing policeman more, it was
later than he supposed. He was met
by his trusty Williams.
1t can't he 10, surely, " he exclaimed.
''Halfpast, sir" was the reply.
Did YOU meet Capt. Glyn7
NO. sir"
Then he has taken the wrong turn
ing. We must go back
They took the road to the chapel,
where they found Glyn as we left him.
"A drunken man. How can we get
him to the lookup? p they both cried,
poking him with their pastoral slaves.
Bless us, sir, it is Captain Glynl'
said Williams, leaning over the pros
trate figure.
Ghosts. not drink muttered Pryse,
stopping also.
They uplifted him, and Williams to
the scandal of his chief, took a flask
from his pocket and administered what
he and Dir. Jones called pick-me-up.
This restored consciousness and seeing
that he looked like a man dazed and
scared the superintendent moved him
away from the chapel. CHANGING into
the graveyard, rs he did so he himself
saw the ghost Nothing daunted he
shook his club mt the white figure,
which Immediately vanished.
NO wonder he had fit" he eiacu
lated. rs he and Williams supported the
Captain to distance.
1t took some time to restore him
sufficiently for walk to Trelavon and
he maintained such a determined
silence that his companions began to
fear paralysis. He shook off his sup
porters, however, and finally moved
homcward of his own accord, a police
man on either side.
His speech is affected, poor gentle
man." whispered Williams.
Il shall never speak again gfOaned
the Captain, which treasured the con
stable. although he did not utter am
other word.
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