Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-07-15

the scandal of his chief, took flask
from his pocket and administered what
he and Dr. Jones called a pick-me-up.
This restored consciousness and seeing
that he looked like a man dazed and
scared, the superintendent 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 a fit.' he ejacu-
lated as he and Williams supported the
Captain to distance.
1t took some time to restore him
sufficiently for walk to Trefavon, and
he maintained such Il determined
silence that his companions began to
fear paralysis. He shook off his sup
pOrters, however, and finally moved
homeward of his own accord, police
man on either side.
"His speech is affected, poor gentle
man. whispered Williams.
II shall never speak again groaned
the Captain, which treasured the con-
stable, although he did not utter an
other word.
They reached Trefavon at last, and
found supper and good fire awaiting
them When Williams had withdrawn
with his last orders, and stately 'GCOd
night from his beloved Gwen, the spirit
seekers and finders were left alone. The
Captain recovered his speech.
"You fancy you got rid of the ghost.
You only sent it from one tree to an
other. I saw it again and walked with
it, till it vanished into that haunted
chapel [ am as much in my right
mind as you are
II saw it there Also" said the superin-
tendent, soothingly, perceiving that
Glyn was excited.
Saw it? Then you own you have been
wrong, and more obstinate than mule.
1t babe me beware of Pryse, superin-
tendent"
Il am not surprised Eat your sup
per, 90 to bed, and we will settle the
question tomorrow by daylight. [ am
going past the chapel, and you must
come with me. Not another word I
know what you are about to say is
right; but | have an hours work to do,
and should like to see you in bed first +"
II should think it was right ?" chuck
led the captain, taking up his candle
stick, "but I've had enough Of the
chapel"
A good nights rest restored him to
his usual spirits, and as ghosts did not
walk by day, he consented to accom-
pany the superintendent on his rounds
They went on foot, and he did not fail
to improve the occasion by lecturing
his friend on his umbelief, who listened
in much humility.
When they reached the little church
Pryse went into the churchyard without
consulting Glyn, who, however, felt
constrained to follow. He almost ex-
pected to see the spectre in the gloomy,
ghostridden spot. He saw instead Il
woman standing by a neighboring hut
or clubhouse, who shrieked and seemed
about to run away when she perceived
the visitors The superintendent laid
his hand on her shoulder, with the
words:
''Be good and [ will not harm you,
NIatty. Why will you frighten people
at night?"
She began to cry and moan, when he
drew a gay blue ribbon and packet of
sweetmeats from his pocket, which turn
ed her lamentatiOn into JOY. She dane
ed round him, took his hands, and
| showed him much affection. The cap
tain ventured near. and saw a strange,
wild figure, envelOped in a many-color-
ed shawl, which she wore like a mantle
Her face and hands were white, her
matted locks long and fair, her eyes
rowing and lustreless, her lips colorless.
'"This is your ghost" said the super
intendent pointing to her, as she stood
admiring her ribbon and eating her
sweets. ''This is poor Mad Matty."
She looked up at the sound of her
name, but shrmk behind the superin-
tendent when she perceived a stranger
close to him. She soon forgot him,
however, in her new pleasures, and be-
gan to glide and dance about, holding
up her ribbon, and moving in and out
among the whitewashed graves. 1t
was Eastertide, and the peasants, ac-
cOrding to their custom, had tidied up
their small inheritances, planted end
less wallfOwers and pOlyanthuses,
whiteWashed the stones, and frightened
the otherwise gloomy spot, Mad Matty
assisting. 1t was no wonder that it
looked ghostly in the moonlight.
Eyes, that is your ghost!" repeated
the uperintendent, while the Cap
tain was following with his eyes the
movements of the bewildered creature
before him. 'ESit down on this tomb
stone and [ will tell you her story. 1t
is pathetic enough, though not super
natural"
The Captain obeyed, and the two
men seated themselves on one of those
large, flat, ugly slabs, raised a foot or so
from the ground, on which friends were
wont to chronicle the epitaphs of their
dead
"Matty, like all distinguished women,
is supposed to have been crossed in
love-" began the superintendent. II
only wish that | could lay my club
across the back of every man who de
ceives a woman. She had no friend
patient enough to try to keep her wan
dering mind at home, so at last it
strayed away altogether Her relations
lived in this neighborhOod, and when her
parents died, Matty was allowed to do
much as she liked. Deprived of the
shelter of their roof, she took posses
sion of this shed, and has been undis-
turbed in it for twenty years at least;
for she is older than she looks. Some
times there seems method, at other
times mischief, in her madness Thanks
to her, the ghost stories connected with
this spot have trebled. There are
people, us you know, who don't pause
to find out whether a ghosts a ghost;
so mad Matty must answer for many a