The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-02-05

nor was there the smallest trace Of the re
cent presence of any living being. Con.
siderably startled, he left the church, dc
termined to repeat his experience on the
following night.
Providing himself with dark lantern
he went to the church on the next night
and sccreted himself near the organ. AS
before it was nearly midnight before he
became conscious ofthe presence of anothe,
person in the building. On this occasion
the organ was not played, but there was q
rustic as of woman's dress, and presently
he heard the same low bitter weeping.
Quickly arising he shot the rays of the
lantern In the direction whence the sounds
proceeded. Not more than three wards
from him in the broad glare of the light he
| beheld the girl whom he had met in the
churchyard. Sne was looking at him with
an expression of intense terror in her white
face and tear wet eyes. AS she stood COW
ering before him she reminded him of some
innocent animal crouchlng at the hunters
feet. With an accent of deep pity he adj
dressed her:
IL saw you IN the churchyard night be-
fore last, Ispoke to you last night. am
not an encnly, nor an idle curiosity seeker.
l earnestly, want to aid you. Will you not
trust me? ?'
Keeping her eyes fixed upon him with
tho same distrustful look, she answered in
faint, far-otf voice:
Your friendship or your enmity can be
nothing to me. The world you live in by
Its Wickedness and cruelty, drove me to
my death. l am doomed to this place un-
til justice Is done upon my destroyer"
"You are trying to mislcad me-" cx.
claimed Barclay. t'You are no spirit. but
a poor, starving, homeless young girl. You
have suffered mlserably and have resolved
TO restore you. TO your rights, as well as OK
act reparation from the man who has
wrongcd 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 bold
~ 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 bclief that
he had indeed confronted Il vistant from
the other world.
Next morning, however, cool reflection
taught him that he might easily have de-
ceive himself in his excitement. He there
fore resolved all the more obstinatcly to
pursue the Investigation.
For three nights following the sccretcd
himself in the church and awaited her M.
pearoncc, but his watch was fruitlcss. This
caution on her part iully convinced HIM
that he was dealing with q human being
and not with al impalpable phantom.
which tt" the u istory had impaired to
L;,,, 10 ec-..u q prctence on which to make
Tic acquaintance of Stephen Eastburn. The
man impressed him unfavorably at the
first sight. Tall and gaunt of figure, with
small, restless gray eyes and a false smile,
he seemed to Barclay to be capable Of any
villainy. The young man was careful to
avoid mentioning the supposed ghost, and
departed with an invitation to call again.
On the fourth night Barclayagain secret
ed himself in the church. L. was cold for
the season, and he shivered in his hiding
place despite his warm clothing. Hour al
ter hour passed away, and he was begin
ming to fear that his errand would again
prove fruitless, when faint ligh! i'll the
body Of the church caught his eye. AS it
rose higher, he could see that it proceeded
from a small heap Of sticks collected upon
the stone floor. Crouchlng over it, and
extending her thin fingers to the flame, he
beheld the figure of the young girl. Evi-
dently overcome with the cold, she had
ventured to indulge in this small comfort
in the hope that il might escape notice.
Pulling oil his shoes, Barclay crept up
behind her, and before she was aware of
his presence, seized her in his strong
grasp.
IL knew you were no ghost,' he said,
smiling; "though if you continue this life
much longer you will become one"
She uttered a faint cry of terror, and
sunk upon her knees.
'Spare me-" she sobbed. IL am only
poor homeless, friendIes girl who never
wronged any one. Why do you pursue
mc9'
''For your own good, my poor girl, ," he
SAID kindly. "Why will you not believe
me in my good intentions?"
"Why should 2" she cried passonatcly.
"Did not my fathers trusted friend, the
man who had sworn to be my second father,
seek my life ?"
"Ah !" said Barclay, with start. "Nly
conjecture was true, then. He decoyed
you to the river, and after believing you
safely out of the way, he left your cloak
and hat upon the bank to give the impress
sion that you had committed suicide?"
'Yes," she answered; "but the river was
more mcrciful than he, for it cast me
ashore alive. Sick with horror, and madly
afraid of the whole world, ! came here
where my father lay,to die upon his grave.
But 1t is hard for one 80 young to die. |
have lived here these three months, suffer
ing, freezing, dying. That l was taken
for my own ghost was fortunate for
me, for it kept every one away from me,
and aided me to get what little would keep
nc alive, after nigbtfall. And l encour-
aged the superstition. Now you know all.
If you arc that mans emissary, may God
forgive you and help me-"
II am the cmissary of mercy" returned
Barclay. 'I am here to do justice Oh a
villain and to restore you to your rights.
Will you trust and help me2"
She looked at him.
"You have a good, kind face" she said,
Offering hlm her hand, II will trust you.'
"Thcn," said Barclay, "kcep up the
character you have assumed for one more
day. Tomorrow night shall bring East