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

81 must trust to your instinct, "mutteret
the traveller, letting the bride fail upon hi.
horses neck, ''Thc eyes of an owl woult
he at fault Oh such night as this. 3,
quiet, you brutel DO you mean to rcpa,
my confidence by breaking my neck e.
The animal had shed 30 violently as
nearly to throw his rider. and stood trem-
bling In every muscle. His master peereC
through the darkDcss in the cndeavor tc
make out the cause of his terror. He could
perceive before HIM the dim outlines of 8
dismantled church, with its broad avenues
ofgravestones clustered about it. Beside
tho road, so close that he could lave
touched It with his whip, he discovered an
indstlnct white object crouching upon one
of the graves.
Resolved upon knowing what it was, he
dismountcd and approached it. AS he did
so, 1t arose and fled rapidly away. With
his curiosity now fully aroused he followed
IT, AS it ncarcd the church it turned sud-
denly and confronted HIM. At this mo
ment broad glare of lighting flashed ath
wart the sky and he saw before him u
young girl dressed IN thin, watcr-soaked
garment, her hair falling in drenchcd coils
."non her shoulders For an instant her
Sto, ncnIod f"oo wac turned toward him
her large, sorrowful eyes met his
l an appealing look, then she seemed
melt into the solid body of the church.
','' ',.'' IS well as the darkness permitted, he
AS &lincd the spot where she h"" -'1s"p-
,- Erred, but could find i" opening through
slcn she Coulu haye escaped.
. AIIe called aloud that he was a friend, aud
lat she had noting to fear. The only an
sNer was the weird wall of the tempest
through the broken arches. With u feeling
akin TO supcrstitlous terror, he hastily re-
mounted his hols sc, and did not draw rein
until he reached the village inn.
"Who occupies the old church yonGcr9"
he inquired OF this landlord.
"Ah you too have seen it, exclaimed
the landlord, mysterlously.
''It2" echoed the traveller. '1 saw what
thought to be a poor, dcmented glrl."
You saw the spirit of one," answered
the host, solcmnly. "Every one here knows
the story When she was alive her name
was Ada Morton. Her father died year
back, Having her hcircss to his property.
AS she was yet a minor, he appointed his
friend Stephen Eastburn her guardian,
who, in case of her death unmarried, was
TO inherit the property: 1t is said that he
beat, starved, and cruelty ill-treatcd her.
she Disappeared. Her hat and cloak
were found on the river bank next morn
ing. 1t was plain that the poor creature
had sought dellverancc from her prosecutor
by suicide. That was three months ago.
Her. body was never found, but her spirit
had been often seen in the churchyard,
where her father lies. Meanwhile, tho
man who drove her TO her death lives at
his ease in her fathers house on the hill. "
The traveller was evidently deeply inter-
estcd in the story, but he made no COM
ment upon it, Merely informing the land
lord that he should remain for q week or
two, he returned to his room.
Like many another young man OF for
tune, Charles Barclay was afflicted with too
much leisure. His sole object in this part
Of the country was merely a languid search
after amusement. The landlords story
had strongly aroused his curiosity. More
over, the young girls sad face and be-
sccching glance in the churchyard had
made strange impression upon him. Some.
thing in her improbable history had led
him to form vague suspicion of a truth
nearly as improbable. Eagerly accepting the
possible chance of an exciting experience,
he determined TO SIT the matter to the
bottom.
Without dropping hint as to his inten-
'fnOns, he loft the inn on the next night
shortly after eleven o'clock and proceeded
to the old church. The place was silent
and deserted; not even stray dog was tt
be seen wandering about the churchyard.
An incffably drcary air hung about the
place, depressing his spirits and almost re-
solving hlm to abandon his object. But {
sentiment of pride urged him on, and hi
cautiously made his way into the churcl
and sat down in one Of the pcws.
FOR more than an hour nothing occurred
to attract his attention. lie became drowsy
and was Oh the point of falling aslcel
whelc he sat, when low weird peal from
the old organ moancd through the church
Flc sat erect and listened with suspended
breath. The sound rose highcrant
clearer, and presently the sweet bu
mournful tones Of w0mans voice joinct
it. He could make out the words of
prayer for the wrctched.
After q moment the mnsic ceased, ant
he could hear the singer sobbing IN low
heart broken way, that brought tears to hi
eyes. He strained his eyes through tn
darkness, but could make out nothing
Arising, he called OUT
'Whoever you are, you are In sorrOy
and afiliction. cannot see you. vii
not pursue you. All desire is to be you
friend. viii you answer me2"
1 There was no reply, and the wcepin
Suddenly ceased. After moment Of hesl