Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-07-08
convict. AT another time he would have

ana ne was more than once IN danger
falling into the brook. But he was not
man to be daunted, and siezed it at las
Securing frmer footing, he drew tt
slight tree toward him, ruthlessly pulle
the sharp knife from his stick and bega
to hack and tug at the particular branc
he had secured. After much exertio
and discrimination he managed to sew
it from tile trunk.
"You've cut off her ARMAND hi
head!" shouted Glyn, aroused from Ii
trance.
"Her head!" shrieked the decapitate
ghost.
Back went the superintendent, and So
that all that remained of that mucl
abused apparation was the lower part {
her transparency.
II am sorry to have spoilt the tret
but glad to have laid bare its tricks" b
said, as if he had caught a thief, ego
see, Glyn, that the branches have grow
into the skeleton of a human being, a
seen from this particular spot and ne
where else. When the moon is full, sh
shines through the intervening spac
and lights it into a spirit. A step thi
way or that dspels the illusion. 1 hav
Topped off the principal branch and de
stroyed the ghost"
."Come away" said Captain Glyn
testify, not caring to be convinced agains
his will.
Nevertheless the specter had been o.
optical delusion, caused precisely as MI
Superintendent Pryse had described il
but afterward when the truth was noiseI
abroad, the country folk only said
"Well, sure! there's brave Pryse, Super
is, to be killing a ghost! but she is talk
ing all the same" The echo NATURAL,
remained after the tree was mutilated.
81 have a policeman stationed nea
here whom I must look up" said Pryse
as ne crossed the stile between Gwynan
meadows and the road. eff you vii
walk on, will join you by short GU
across the fields, at the end of the wood.
Glyn gladly assented, for he desired
solitude to smooth his ruffied feathers
He felt aggrieved, and having been made
superstitlous in childhood by ignorant
domestics, inclined to remain so in man
hood. He almost believed that the ghos1
had been frightened away, and would
teappeaf ELSEWHERE.
He was soon to be strengthened in this
belief, for just before emerging from the
wood he was startled by something
white perched in one of the trees. As
he paused it slipped down and preceded
him into the road, where it stood as il
awaiting him. CHANGING at it in alarm,
he perceived that it was the figure of a
woman, and doubted not that it was the
dislodged specter.
Trembling all over, he tried to pass
her by with an Apologize bow, being
always chivalrously polite to the ladies.
His civility was answered by a fantas-
tic courtesy.
II will accompany you, sir, she said,
as he strove to hurry her on It was the
voice of the tree-spirit, he thought.
Certainly, madam, if you please" he
replied, politeness struggling with ter
ror.
She walked rapidly his side, quicken
ing her pace she quickened his. When
he ventrred to look at her he saw only a
white face, white arms, white drapery. 1t
was at least satisfactory that the cruel
executioner had not, after all, amputated
a limb.
81 am going home; where are you 60
ing, sir ?" she said, after brief silence.
"To-to-to-Trefavon," he STAN
mered.
cha, ha, ha! I live nearer" she
cried, in an unearthl y voice.
He was thankful to hear it, and urged
his failing legs to impossible efforts.
They had long passed the spot where
his friend was to join him, and soon
reached the cross roads.
"This way, sir, she said, waving her
hand; and he took the wrong road, in
obedience to her spiritual influence.
They were now outside the parish OF
Trefavon, and the road led through a
baronial property. In lonely tree-em-
powered spot by the wayside stood a
small church, or more properly, a chapel
of ease to a distant church, which he had
seen more than once, and which he had
been told was haunted.
"Beware of Pryse, Superintendent, -
said the ghost, as they approached this
place.
81 will-indeed I will, muttered the
captain, devoutly wishing he had never
seen his old friend.
When they reached the churchyard
gate the spirit paused and extended he1
hand toward the sacred building.
"Good night, sir. / live here!" she
said, and she. glided through the gate.
The spel-bound captain saw her wan.
der about 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 trysting place, and not find.
ing him there, supposed he had walked
on. He set out briskly to overtake him
His soldierly onslaught having taken
much time, and lecture to temporarily
missing policeman more, it was late1
than he supposed. He was met by his
trusty Williams.
1t can't be ten, surely" he exclaimed.
"Half- past, sir" was the reply.
"Did you meet Captain Glyn ~
''No, sir.
"Then he has taking the wrong turn.
ing. We must go back
They took the road to the chapel
where they found Glyn as we left him.
ga drunken mani How can we gel
him to the lockup?'' they both cried,
poking him with their PASTORAL slaves.
"Bless us, sir, it is Captain Glyn!'
said Williams, leaning over the PROSTATE
figure. <,.-
"Ghosts, not drunk!' muttered Pryse,
STOPPING also. -
They uplifted him, and Williams, tic
the scandal Of his chief, took a flask from
his pocket and administered what he and
DIR. Jones called pick-me-up. The re.
stored consciousness, but, seeing that
he looked dazed and scared, the superin.
tendent moved him away from the chapel.
CHANGING into the graveyard, as he did
SO, he himself saw the ghost. Nothing
daunted, he shook his club at the white
figure, which Immediately vanished.
''No wonder he had fit !" he ejacu.
lated, as he and Williams supported the
captain to q distance.
It took some time to restore him suff.
GENTLY for q walk to- Trefavon, and he
maintained such a determined silence
that his" companions began to fear par.
alysis. :, He shook off his supporters,
however, and finally moved homeward Of
his own accord, a policeman on either