The Russellville Democrat., 1880-08-05
MAD MATTY.
BY ANNE BEALE.

af our town had their legions of ghost and fairies; indeed, no Welsh district i
 without them. But most of these wer,
 harmless from their antiquity, and ever
 inc peasants began to consider them al ,.2,y-cone tales. This, however, was no tbe case with ghostly stories originatin, within the memory of the living, fo
 much terror was experienced by the ig norant and superstitious concernin. sirbts which had their origin in circum stances of recent date. Nor was it easy to convince them that flesh and blood were not spirit when once they had re, solved that they were.
 Mr. Superintendent Pryse was one of the anti-Spritualists of his day, and dur. ing his long rounds took almost as much trouble to run ghosts as criminals tC ground. But he had friend who occa. slonallv came from distance to visit him. who was as profound believer as he was sceptical. They discussed the matter without coming to any conclu- sion; grew hot, grew cold, like the weather, but found the temperate degree unattainable. sse 4w
 q am told that hundreds have seen the ghost that haunts Gwynant Bridge" said Captain Glyn, one day whene the subject cropped up. .aH e
 "Fools they can't have seen it, be- cause they arc afraid to cross the mead ows," returned the Superintendent. But women lose their wits and even their legs when they do happen to near the spot"
 "Have you ever seen it2"
 "Yes; more than once; but don't be- iieve Tn it."
 "I thought seeing was believing?"
 "Not in the matter of ghosts. Our natural eyes are no more constructed to sse into the spiritual world than they are into the animalcular. We haven't arrived at spiritual microscopes, eh?'
 "No need. Ghosts are visible without 'em." .4.
 "We will go and look up the Gwynant ghost this evening"" said the Superin- tendent. "She only shows about the full of the moon. It is woman, YOU see, for all fools are feminine, except, perhaps, Captain Glyn, commander in her Majestys navy" &f
 The Captain would rather have con- confronted death on raging sea than have sought ghost by moonlight; but he was too proud to say so, and there fore acceded, unwillingly, to the propo- sal.
 MT. Superintendent Pryse took down his club and the heavy walking-stick whence he could draw sharp weapon; then called majestic, Gwen, his house. keeper.
 Hell William to wait here until 10; then, if we are not back, to follow us to Gwynant Bridge," he said. s6 a 1s
 Where the ghost stands and talks, sir?'' asked immovabie Gwen; who, her master said, ought to have been man.
 Yes. Come along, Glyn." a
 They set out between 6 and z o'clock of q fine April evening for four-mile walk across country. The moon was rising, and would be at her full. Their way led them, first up hilly road, be- meath which rapid river loaned and tumbled over rocks and stones. between trees that looked like an army of spirits in the shadowy light; then through a wood. Here myriads of bluebells had folded themselves to sleep in the white light; and primrose buds slumbered amongst their leaves, while, between the beam and breeze, it seemed that fairies ripped it among the silent flowers. t ttff [ 1&&s 4+f
 By the time they reached Gwynant Meadows the moon had risen, and had made of the dews that trembled on the grass blades prisms of light. They trod them down as they crossed in the direc. tion Of the bridge. When they came within few paces of the haunted spot they halted involuntarily, and exclaimed together: "There it isp'' sN liA
 There it certainly was. Among the trees on the left side of the bridge stood white, transparent figure, tall and im- movable. One hand was ontstrctched, the other concealed by shadowy drape- ". The most incredulous must have acknowledged that an apparition was be- fore hlm-a pale, thin, luminous, motion less ghost. e1i Enough. Come away,' whispered Glyn. x @r Not till we've seen what she's made O." returned Pryse aloud.
 Made of" was sudibly repeated by some mockiDg voice. .se
 She can speak, anyhow" said the Superintendent softly, breaking from the grasp of his trembling friend
 He walked toward the bridge, holding his official club in one hand, his stick in the other, resolute enough to Tighten away any ghost. He did so in effect.
 "l VOW she's gone," he exclaimed.
 "Gonep repeated the unearthly voice. No; she's herep' returned the captain, and Here" was the ghostly repetition.
 Il says she's gone" 'I say she's herew "Gonel" "Here" was reiterated, until the wrathiul Superintendent scarcely believed his senses. It was new yer sion of the fable of the chameleon.
 At last he walked back to the Captain, and-there she wasl pale luminous, transparent. He stood awhile, silent and perplexed; then seizing the Captain, dragged him toward the bridge. "Therel didn't 1 say she was gone" he replied, pointing to the group of ileathery birch where no ghost was visi- ble.
 The Captain was almost more terrified by her absence than her presence, and returned to his first standpoint, followed by the Superintendent.
 There sle is again they both ex- claimed, and Again" repeated the mock ing voice,
 The spectre was once more visible, her arm still outstretched.
 . You'll believe in future" whispered Glyn. ! Can't promise; but it certainly is mysterious, Stay where you are while l run her to ground, replied Pryse, so low, that the ghost only murmured in reply. 1A
 He need have laid no command on the Captain, for the poor man was planted here-chloroformed, mesmer- l2ed, mediumized; only those hard words were not in use at the time, the march