The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-08-21

black cats, with the tamaracks forty feet
in; but before could think the old mare
logged right along, and we were fairly
on the corduroy. Then l determined to
go through without backing out, any
how.
Tother one went right along, too, and
as | watched him there seemed to be
sort of light patch around him all the
time, for no matter how dark it war on
either side | could see him right plain.
And now | begun to watch the figure
closter, and the more | looked the more
| see it looked like me, until jest at the
bridge the thing stopped and raised the
jug to take drink AS it did so my
heart stopped, too.
The forefinger of the left hand on the
shadder war gone! Like this" and Ted
held out his own hand, minus digit.
''By the great horn spoon. That war
queer" said Tom, earnestly, and Uncle
Nose shook his grizzled head and groan-
ed.
''Well, now, I tell you it frightened
me some" said Ted. MY hair ris for a
spell. l strove to speak, but my tongue
war rs dry as the flap leather on thresh-
ing machine, and | had no more strength
in my hands than city boy after he's
MIXED his first COW. l war skeered.
But there warn't time to think much,
for jest then an owl hooted, and the
thing dropped the jug an went on again
and the old mare logged on, too.
The night war CROWN colder, and the
wind ris and begun to blow through the
tamaracks. I've heard hard winds and
loud ones, and wild winds along o the
hills, too, but for sad, graveyard sort
of sound that beat 'em all. 1t war
like the moanin' of a starved dog watch
ing over his dead master deep in the
woods. What little blood 1 had left a
top of my boots felt like it war drawed
over ice. But the shadder went on and
follered.
You remember the pond we call the
Black Pool? Well, we were nigh that.
thought we must a been in the blamed
swamp almost all night, already time
seemed so long; but l knowed the pond
war only half way through. And yet
there the thing stopped.
l stopped, too, my eyes sticking out as
though they belonged to tother one, an
were trying to go to him. | couldn't
help it, if died for it.
The thing stopped, an as | say turned
around an looked at me, and jest then
the moon, it war late up and kind O
pale and sckly lookin', broke atween the
scud overhead, an shot one long streak
o light right down on to the shadder's
face'-I looked once an then froze!
Tie face afore NE par my o'cn.
The squire moved suddenly little
nearer the fire, and Uncle Noses teeth
chartered audibly, while Moore and I sat
silent, but listening with intense eager
ness to the recital.
Ted's own countenance was pale, but he
went on. "This war my double. l had
heard O such things afo-e-now | see it 3!
The shadder looked at me a good minute
its eyes set like an stony, an its face the
color O dead mans hand; then it sort
o bowed at me, an begun to tumble
about the boss. watched, but could not
speak or stir. AS told we, l war froze.
The thing onhitched the rumstrap,
made it into a sort O moose, an fastened
one end to the handle O. the jug. Then
it picked up jug an all, an turned Off II
the road into the swamp toward Black
Pool.
The instant it disappeared my blood
ran clearer. 1t war like the liftin' o
mortgage on mans farm, and felt like
singing. Jest as soon as / could think
where war, gathered up the lines and
started old Jen on again, when suddenly
heard some one calm me.
Ted! Ted Jones. Ted! Ted Jones?
The sound war queer in that place, an
of so dark a night, an the voice seemed
strange like, too, only l remember after
wards it war like an echo as I've heard
it up to big rock when I've shouted, and
the words come back to me.
For jest flash | thought it might be
some belated chap was wanted me to
wait for him; but the second time the
call came got its true meaning. 1t came
right out o the tamarack thicket down
by the pond. 1t war my own ghost
hollering at me!
skeered for either; nor didn't try to get
away. That | couldn't do; but jest lit
ing out of the Vaughn an leavin' old Jen
in the road, turned into the swamp. |
seemed to know whar l was wanted, for
my feet took me straight toward the
Black Pool, an with that onearthly yell
still in my ears, | reached the edge O
the pond.
There stood my shadder, kind O pale
light hanging around him like We see on
water-soaked trees sometimes that have
turned ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS light the
school teacher calls it; grave candle is
good enough name for me.
There stood the shadder waiting for
me, an it kind o grinned as l appeared.
| hadn't no fear, only a sort o numbness
like when great trouble first comes to
We, an SO l went right toward the thing
an stopped dozen feet away or SO.
The jug war on the ground, and the
rumstrap tied to it, and as l stopped the
the thing took up the loose end an held
it toward me.
| drawed back a little, an the words
jumped right out o my mouth alore l
had thought 'em up:
What do We want o me"
Then the thing smiled again, an max
ing moose in the end o the strap, it
slipped it over it's head, and motioned to-
ward the pool, then took it Off again and
held it toward me, grinning; it wanted
Inc to drown myself!
As the idea came full to me, l gave
terrible cry and fell on the earth prayin'.