The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-12-23
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 neck?"
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 its brood of gravestones 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 one of the graves.
Resolved upon knowing what 1t was,
he dismounted and approached it. As
he did so, it arose and fled rapidly away.
With his curiosity no fully arosed he fol-
lowed it. As it neared the church it
turned suddenly aud confronted him.
At this moment broad glare of light
ming flashed athwart the sky and he saw
before HIM a young girl dressed in a
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. sorrowful eyes met his with an
appealing look, then she seemed to melt
into the solid body of the church.
As we'll as the darkness permitted, he
examined the spot where she had dlsap-
peared, but 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 weired vail of the
tempest through the broken arches.
With a feeling akin to superstitious ter
ror, he hastily remounted his horse, and
did not draw rein until he reached the
villagei inn.
who occupies the old church yon-
der ?" he inquired of this landlord.
''Ah you too have seen it," exclaimed
the landlord, mysteriously.
1T 2" echoed the traveller. Il saw
what thought to be poor, demented
girl
''You saw the spirit of one, answered
the host, solemnly. Every one here
knows the story. When she was alive
her name was Ada Morton. Her father
died year back, leaving her heiress to
his 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
property. 1t is said that he beat. starved
and ill-treated her. One night-just
such a night as this-she disappeared.
Her hat and cloak were found on the
river bank next morning. 1t was plain
that the poor creature had sought de-
liverance from her prosecutor by suicide.
That was three months ago. Her body
was never found, but her spirit had been
often seen in the church, ard, where her
father lies. Meanwhile, the man who
drove her to her death lives at his ease
ID her fathers house on the hill"
The traveller was evidently deeply
interested in the story, but he made no
comment upon it. Merely informing
the landlord that he should remain for a
week or two, he retired to his room.
Like many another young man of for
tune Chas. Barclay was afflicted with too
much leisure His sole object in this
part of the country was mere languid
search after amusement The landlord S
story had strongly aroused his curiosity.
Moreover, the young girls sad face and
beseeching glance in the churchyard had
made a strange impression upon him.
Something in her improbable history
had led him to form vague suspicion of
truth nearly as improbable. Eagerly
accepting the possible chance of an ex.
citing experience, he determined to sift
the matter to the bottom.
Without dropping hint as to his in
tentions, he left the inn on the next
night shortly after IL o'clock and pro-
ceeded to the old church. The place
was deserted and silent not even stray
dog was to be seen wandering about
the churchyard. An inetfably dreary all
hung about the place. depressing his
spirits and almost resolving him to
abandon his object But sentiment OF
pride urged him on, and he cautiously
made his way into the church and sat
down in one of the pews.
For more than an hour nothing oc.
CURED to attract his attention. He be-
came drowsy, and was on the point OF
falling aleep where he sat, when a low,
wierd peal from the old organ moaned
through the church. He sat erect and
listened with suspended breath. The
sound rose higher and clearer. and pres
emily the sweet but mournful tones of a
woinan's voice joined it. He could make
out the words of a prayer for the
wretched.
After moment the music ceased, and
he could hear the singer sobbing in a
low, heart-broken way, that brought
tears to his eyes. He strained his eyes
through the darkness. but could make
out nothing. Arising. he called ont: