The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-12-09
A CHURCH MOUSE.


upon his horses neck. "The eyes of an
owl would be at fault on such a night as
this. Be quiet, you brutel Do you
mean to repay my confidence by break
ing my neckl"
The animal had SHE'D so violently as
nearly to throw his rider, and stood
trembling in every muscle. His master
peered through the darkness IN the en-
deavor to make out the cause of his ter
ror. He could perceive before him the
dim outline of dismantled church, with
it's brood of grayestones clustered about
it. Beside the road, SO close that he
could have touched it with his whip, he
discovered an indistinct white object
crouching upon the graves.
Resolved upon knowing what it was,
he dismounted and approached it. AS
he did so, it arose and fed rapidly away.
With his curiosity now fully aroused, ne
followed it. AS it neared the church 1t
turned suddenly and confronted him.
At this moment broad glare of light
ming flashed athwart the sky and he saw
before him young girl dressed in thin,
water soaked garment, her hair falling
in drenched coils upon her shoulders.
For an instant her white, scared face was
turned toward him and her large, sorrow
full eyes met his with an appealing look,
then she seemed to melt into the solid
body of the church.
AS well as the darkness permitted, he
examined the spot where she disappear
ed, bat could find no opening through
which she could have escaped.
He called aloud that he was friend,
and that she had nothing to fear. The
only answer was the weird wall of the
tempest through the broken arches.-
With feeling akin to superstitious ter
ror, lie hastily remounted his horse, and
did not draw rein until he reached the
village iun.
"Who occupies the old church yonderl"
he inquired of the landlord.
"Ah! you too have seen it," exclaimed
the landlord mysteriously.
''It." echoed the traveller. 81 saw
what take to be poor demented girl. :"
"You saw the spirit of one, answered
the host, soIemnly. Every o here
knows the story. When she was alive
her name was Ada Morton. Her father
died year back, leaving her heiress to
ais property. As she was yet minor,
he appointed his friend Stephen East
burn her guardian, who, in case of her
death unmarried, was to inherit the prop
erty. 1t is said that he beat, starved,
and cruelty ill-treated her. One night
just such night as this-she disappear
ed. Her hat and cloak were found on
the river bank next morning, 1t was
plain that the poor creature had sought
deIiverance from her prosecutor by sui
eide That was three months ago. Her
body was never found, but her spirit has
been often seen in the churchyard, where
her father lies. Meanwhile, the man
who drove her to her death lives at his
ease in her fathers house on the hill.
The traveller was evidently deeply in
terested in the story, but he made no
comment upon it. Merely informing
the landlord that he should remain for
week or two, he retired to his room.
Like many another young man of for
| tune, Charles Barclay was afflicted with
too much leisure. His sole object In this
part of the country vas merely languid
search after amusement. The landlords S
story had strongly aroused his curiosity.
Moreover, the young girls face and be-
! seeching glance in the churchyard had
made a strange impression upon him.
Something in her improbable history had
| led him to form n vague suspicion of q
| truth nearly as improbable. Eagerly ac-
cepting the possible chance of an exclt-
ing experience, he determined to sift the
matter to the bottom.
Without dropping a hint as to his in
tentions, he left the inn on the next night
shortly after eleyen o'clock and proceed
ed to the old church. The place was
silent and deserted; not even stray dos
was to be seen wandering about the
churcnyard. An ineffably dreary air
hung about the place, depressing his
spirits and almost resolving him to aband
on his object But sentiment of pride
urged him on, and he cautiously made
his way into the church and sat down IL
one of the pews.
For more than an hour nothing occur
red to attract his attention. He became
drowsy and was on the point of falling
asleep where he sat, when low, weird
peal from the old organ moaned through
| the church. He sat erect and listened
with suspended breath. The sound rose
| higher and clearer, and presently the
sweet but mournful tones of a woman's
voice Joined it. He could make ont the
words of prayer for the wretched
+ After moment the music ceased, and
he could hear the singer sobbing in low,
heart broken way that brought tears to
his eyes. He strained his eyes through
1 the darkness, but could make out moth
/ ing. arising, he called out
"Nhoever you are, you are in sorrow
and atfiictior. l cannot see Won. l viii
not pursue you. All l desire is to be
your friend. VIII you answer melA
There was no reply, ard the weeping
suddessy ceased. After a moment of
hesitation he made his way to the organ
loft and struck match. No one was
visible, nor was there the smallest trace
of the recent presence of any human be-
ing. Considerably startled, he left the