Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-01-19
rustic as of woman's dress, and presently
he heard the same low bitter weenino

AAChA ih AhC b2Ooo SldiC Vi lllt llRlI ne
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 lin she reminded him of some
innocent animal crouchIng at the hunters
feet With an accent of deep pity he ad-
dressed her:
81 saw you IN the churchyard night be-
fore last, lspoke to you last night / am
not an enemy, nor an idle curiosity seeker
| earnestly want to aid you. Will you not
trust me?"
Keeping her eyes fixed upon him with
the same distrustful look, she answered in
a faint, far-off voice:
Your friendship or your enmlty can be
nothing to me. The world you live in by
its v-ickedness and cruelty, drove me to
my death. am doomed to this place I'M
til justice is done upon my destroyer.
''You are trying to mislead me-" ex-
claimed Barclay. "You are no spirit, but
4 poor, starving, homeless young girl. You
have suffered mIserably and have resolved
TO restore you to your rights, as well as ex-
act reparation from the man who has
! wronged 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
/ ly 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 beiief that
he had indeed confronted visitant 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 obstinately TO
| pursue the investigation.
For three nights following the secreted
himself in the church and awaited her ap-
, pearsnce, but his watch was fruitless. This
caution on her part fully convinced him
that he was dealing with human being
| and not with an impalpable phantom.
Meantime in pursuance of the suspicion
which the landlords story had impaired to
him,he found a pretence on which to make
/ the acquaintance of Stephen Eastburn. The
man impressed him unfavorably at the
I first sight. Tall and gaunt of figure, with
/ small, restless gray eyes and a false smile,
he seemed to Barclay 10 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 shivereG in his hiding
place despite bis warm clothing. Hour af-
| ter hour passed away, and he was begin
| ming to fear that his errand would again
prove frlItless, when faint igh. in the
body of the church caught his eye. As it
rose higher, he could see that it proceeded
from small heap of sticks SOLICITED upon
the stone floor. CTouchIng over it, and
| extending her thin fingers to the flame, he
beheld the figure of the young girl. Evil
IDENTIFY overcome with the cold, she had
veDtured to indulge in this small comfort
in the hope that it might escape notice.
Pulling OFT 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 faint cry of terror, and
sunk upon her knees.
.Spare me-" she sobbed. a am only
poor homeless, friendles girl" who never
wronged any one. Why do you pursue
mel"
For your own good, my poor girl, he
SAID kindly. "Why will you not believe
me in my good intentions?"
''Why should l Z" she cried passionately.
''Did not my fathers trusted friend, the
man who had sworn to be my second father,
seek my life p
''Ah!' ~ said Barclay, with start. ''My
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 2"
Yes" she answered; 'sbut the rver was
more mercifuI than he, for it cast me
as1ore alive. Sick with horror, and madly
afraid of the whole world, L came here
where my father lay, to die upon his grave.
But 1t is hard for one so young to die. l
have lived here these three months, suffer-
ing, freezing, dying. That l was taken
for nv own ghost was fortunate for
me, for it kept every one away from me,
and aided me to get what little would keep
me alive, after nightfall. And l encour-
aged the superstition. Now you know all.
If you are that mans emissary, may God
forgive you and help me-
81 am the emissary of mercy" returned
Barclay 81 am here to do justice on a
villain and to restore you to your rights.
viii you trust and help me?"
She looked at him.
ssYou have a good, kind face" she said,
offering HIM her hand, Il will trust you"
'sThen," said Barclay, keep up the
character you have assumed for one more
day. Tomorrow night shall bring East
burn here with witnesses. Do you play
on that organ when you hear us enter
When l turn the dark lantern Ipon you,
rise; and denounce him as a murde.er We
can safely leave him to accuse himself"
"Iwill do as you wish" she answered,
brokenly. How can l thank you?"
by following my directions" replied
Barclay, brusquely, to hide his own emo
ton.
With a few words more of advice he left
her. His next move was to go directly to
the landlord of the inn, relate the whole
story, and secure his support.
At ten o'clock OH the next night, in COM
pany with the landlord, he called upon
Stephen Eastburn. Cutting short his smooth
salutation, Barclay said:
s.Mr. Esstburn, the obscure manner OF
your wards death has given rise to strange
rumors in the village. Her spirit is said to
wander IN the old church. We desire you
to accompany us there tonight in order to
set these stories at rest"
Eastburn's jaw dropped, his face grew
lliyid, and he was barely able to reply in a
quavering voice.
''Ghost absurd Do you mean to make
a fool of met will not go to the church
at this hour of the night.
s.Allow me to observe" said Barclay,
sternly, ''that the rumors, unless you aid
In dissipating them, may culminate in g
charge of murder"
Something significant il. hls tone seemed
l.. 4 a rhr,alc rNa