Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-11-11
girl whom he had met in the church
word Clio r.rnn lool-.x.. ~ h..,a .:4l


her white face and tear-wet eyes.
As she stood covering before him she
reminded hun of some innocent ami
NAL crouchlng at the hunters feet.
With an accent of deep pity he ad-
dressed her:
Il saw you in the graveyard night
before last. spoke to you last night.
! am not an enemy, nor an idle cur
iosity seeker. earnestly want to
aid you. Will you not trust me?''
Keeping her eyes fixed upon him
with the same distrustful look, she
answered in faint, far-off voice:
''Your friendship Or your epmity |
can be nothing to me. The world
you live in by its wickedness and
cruelty, drove me to my death. l /
aim doomed to this place until justice |
is done upon my destroyer.
stYou are trying TO mislead me-"
exclaimed Barclay. "You are no
spirit, but a poor, starving, homeless
young girf. You have suffered mis-
erably and l have resolved to restore
yon to your ri ghts, as we'll as exact
reparation from the man who has
wronged you"
He advanced toward her as he |
spoke and stretched out his arms to
seize her. In an instant she seemed
uncertain how to act, then even as
his hand seemed to pass boldly
through her shape, she melted into the
shadows of the place. This time he
did not pursue her. Her mysterious
escape, which seemed to confirm her
own words, began to impress him
with the belief that he indeed con-
fronted a visitant from the other
world.
Next morning, however, cool re-
| fiection taught him that he might
easily have deceived himself in his
excitement. He therefore resolved
all the more obstinately to pursue the
investigation.
For three nights following he Sc
creted himself in the church and
awaited her appearance, but his
watch was fruitless. This caution ON
her part fully convinced him that he
was dealing with human being and
not with an impalpable phantom.
| Meantime in pursuance Of the sus-
picion which the landlords story had
impaired to him, he found pretense
on which to make the acquaintance
OF Stephen EastbHrn. The man i'm
pressed him unfavorably at the first
sight. Tall and gaunt OF figure,
with small, restless gray eyes and
false smile, he seemed to Barclay to
be capable of any villainy. The
young man was careful to avoid men,
tioning the supposed ghost, and de-
parted with an invitation to call
again.
| On the fourth night Barclay again
secreted himself in. the church. 1t Was
cold for the season, and be shivered in
his hiding place, despite his warm
clothing. Hour after hour passed
away, and he was beginning to fear
that his errand would again prove
fruitless, when a faint Ii ght in the
body of the church caught his eye.
As it rose higher, he could see that
! lit proceeded from a small heap of
sticks collected upon the stone floor.
Crouching over it, and extending her
t thin fingers to the flame, lie beheld
the figure of the young girl. Evident
ly overcome with the cold, she had
ventured to indulge in this small COM
, fort in the hope that it might escape
notice.
/ Pulling off his shoes, Barclay crept
up behind her, and before she was
aware of his presence, seized her in
f his strong grasp.
/ 81 knew you were no ghost," he
said, smiling, "though if You con-
) tinue this life much longer you will
: become one."
l She uttered faint cry of terror,
: and sunk upon her knees.
''Spare me-" she sobbed, 81 am
only poor, homeless, friendless girl,
0 who never wronged any one. why
e do you pursue me?'
e "For your own good my poor girl,
: he SAID kindly. "Why will you not
: believe me in my good intentions?'
: "Why should II" she cried pas
+ sionately. "Did not my father.
trusted friend, the man who hat
$ sworn to be my second father, seek
t my life?'
d "Ah!" said Barclay, with start
e .My conjecture was true, then. HI
It decoyed you to the liver, and afte
n believing you safely out Of the way
n left your cloak and hat upon the banl
e to give the impression that yoa hat
l. committed suicide?'
is "Yes," she answered, s'but tn
c river was more merciful than he, TO
e it cast me ashore alive. Sick will
d horror, and madly afraid OF the Who'll
world, l came here where my fa.iie
= lay, to die upon his grave. But it
[e hard for one SO young to die. 1 haI
1t lived here these three months, suffer
a ing, freezing, dying. That / WA
N taken for my own ghost WIS fortunat
It for me, for it kept everyone ava
ID from mc, and aided me to get wins
ID little would keep me alive, after night
at fall. And / encouraged the superst
.e ton. Now you know all. Ii you al
lie that mans emissary, may Goo. forgiy
4. you and help me-"
d, II am the emissary of mercy" rs
70 turned Barclay. 81 am here to d
at justice On villain and to restore yo
Ie to your rights. Will you trust an
k help me?"
q. She looked up at him.
'You have good, kind face" 81
r. said, offering him her hand. II wi
ee trust you.''
l "Then, said Barclay, "keep u
ou the character you have assumed #
one more day. Tomorrow night
p shall bring Eastburn here with wi
mt nesses. Do you play on that orgs
he when you hear as enter. When tul
10 the dark lantern upon you, rise, al
be denounce him as your murderer. v
ce can safely leave him to accuse hir
,ly self.
r. II will do as you wish, she a
on swered, brokenly. .'How can ! thai
you3"
ktn.. =.