The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-07-17

low that the ghost only murmured in re
ply.
lie need have laid no command on tn,
captain, tor the poor mnn was planted
here-chloroformed, mesmerized, medi
u1nlzed; only those hard words were moi
III use at the time, the march of dis
coyery not having as yet begun to tramp
III that direction at Trefavon.
While Glyn, medium-hke, was fast
falling INTO a trance from gazing at he
knew not what, Pryse, policeman-like,
was examining the spirit haunt, as if il
had been the hiding place of an escaped
convict. At another time he would have
paused to admire the graceful birch, the
rustic bridge, the brook that chartered
to the moon, the sedges and messy
stones; but now, standing on tiptoe on
the brink OF the bridge, he only strove
To grasp the topmost branch of the
haunted tree. 1t evaded him, however,
and he was more than once in danger OF
falling into the brook But he was not a
man to be daunted, and siezed it at last.
Securing a tirmer footing, he drew the
slight tree toward him, ruthlessly pulled
the sharp knife from his stick ana began
to hack and tug at the particular branch
he had secured. After much exertion
and determination he managed to sever
1t from the trunk.
You've cut off her ARMAND her
head = shouted Glyn, aroused from his
trance.
{" Her head" shrieked the decapitated
ghost.
Back went the superintendent, and saw
! that all uIat irluaiued of that much
abused apparation was the lower part of
her transparency.
g am sorry to have spoilt the tree,
but glad to have laid bare its tricks" he
said as if he had caught a thief "You
see, Glyn, that the branches have grown
into the skeleton Of human being, as
seen from this particular spot and no
where else. When the moon is full, she
shines through the intervening space
and lights 1t into a spirit. A step this
way or that dlspels the illusion. | have
Topped off the principal branch and de-
stroyed the ghost
"Come away said Captain Glvn,
testify, not caring to be convinced against
his will
Nevertheless the specter had been an
optical delusion, caused precisely as Mr..
Superintendent Pryse had described it;
but atterward when the truth was n0ised
abroad, the country folk only said:
"Well, sure there's brave Pryse, Super.
Is, to be killing ghost but she is talk
ing all the same. The echo naturally
remained after the tree was mutilated.
q have policeman stationed near
here whom [ must look up, " said Pryse.
as he crossed the stile between Gwynant
meadows and the road "If YOU Will
walk on, | will Join you by short cut
across the nelds, at the end of the wood. :"
Glyn gladly assented, for he desired
solitude to smooth his rutfied feathers.
He felt aggrieved, and having been made
superstitous in childhood by ignorant
dOmestlcs, inclined to remain 50 in man.
hood. He almost believed that the ghost
had been frightened away, and would
reappear elsewhere.
He was soon to be strengthened in this
belief, for Just before emerging from the
wood he was startled by something
white perched in one of the trees. As
he paused it slipped down and preceded
him into the road, where it stood as if
awaiting him. CHANGING at it in alarm.
he perceived that it was the figure of a
woman, and doubted not that it was the
dislodged specter.
Trembling all over, he tried to pass
her by with an apologize bow, beng
always chivalrously polite to the ladies.
His clvlhty was answered by a fantas-
tic courtesy.
L Will accompany you, sir, she SAID,
as he strove to hurry her on 1t was the
voice of the tree-spirit, he thought.
Certainly, madam, If you please" he
or
rOr.
She walked rapidly his side, quicken
ing her pace as he quickened his. When
he ventured to look at her he saw only
white face, white arms, white drapery. 1t
was at least satisfactory that the cruel
executiOner had not, after all, amputated
a limb.
Il am going home; where are you GO
ing, sir?" she said, after brief silence.
Decentralization, he STAN
mered.
"Ha, ha, ha! l live nearer, She
cried IN an unearthly voice.
He was thankful to hear it, and urged
his failing legs to impossible efforts.
They had long passed the spot where
his friend was to join him, and soon
reached the cross roads.
This way, sir, she said, waving her
hand; and he took the wrong road, in
obedience to her spiritual influence.
They were now outside the parish Of
Trefavon, and the road led through q
baronial property In a lonely tree-em-
powered spot by the wayside stood a
small church, or more properly, a chapel
of ease to distant church, which hehad
seen more than once, and which he had
been told was haunted.
beware Of Pryse, uperintendent, "
said the ghost, as they approached this
place.
81 will-indeed | viii, " muttered the
captain, devoutly Wishing he had never
seen his old friend.
When they reached the churchyard
gate the spirit paused and extended her
hand toward the sacred building.
Good night, sir | live here," she
said, and she glided through the gate
The spell-bound captain saw her wan
der about a few moments IN the moon
light, making fantastic movements, then
vanish. When she finally disappeared,
he fell heavily to the ground and tainted
Meanwhile the superintendent hal
reached the trysting place, and not find
ing him there, supposed he had walked
on. He set out brIskly to overtake him.
His soldierlv onslaught having taken
much time, and lecture to temporarily
missing policeman more, it was later
than he supposed. He was met by his
trusty Williams.
T.. :. l.. l. I