The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-05-13
could scarcely stand when he bade Us
uco6.ni0hf -

could scarcely stand when he bade q.
goodnight
j Hermann sprang to his feet.
! "The very thing, :" he exclaimed, i'm,
petuously. Then in answer to Katrine's
bewildered look, he continued: IS You
have found the best means of getting rid
of the fellow. Only help me now, and
promise you he will soon disappear
But give me one little promise, Katrine, .
he pleaded, in earnest tones. "Only
say that you will be mine, and l viii
never rest till he has gone"
Katrine did not answer in words, but
slipped her hand again into her lovers
and bestowed on him q glance that
seemed satisfactory.
"Tell me. little one, questioned Her.
mann, breaking the "eloquent silence
that had fallen upon them, shave you
ever told him the legend of the man who,
having overtaken his fugitive servant,
tied her to his horse's tail, when the
horse became frightened, and ran, dash.
ing her to pieces among the rocks!
You know it is said that the horse drag.
cling 8 skeleton is often seen.''
81 know the story" answered Kat
rine, with shudder; sbut I have not
told him that because it happened at
Cairo, and that is too far for the horse
to be likely to be seen here"
"Never mind that,' interposed Her
mann. "You need not be par
ticular to mention the exact place.
Among the Kaatskills is near enough.
Tell it with all the horror you can
think of; not emitting the fiery eyes Of
the gigantic white horse, nor the un-
earthly shrieks and groans that filled
the air as he passed. When can you
tell him, that l may be ready to per-
form my part?'
s'He will come tonight, as usual,
SUPPOSE" answered Katrine; sand the
dame is spending the afternoon and
evening at one of the neighbours, SO she
will not be there to notice if I do not
tell the exact spot where the ghost is
usually seen. Shall tell of her COW
that stands moaning among the rocks?''
eyes, tell all you can think of, and
leave the rest to me. Do you know
which path he usually takes?''
"The one we are now on, which leads
him by the falls. o Hermann!" and
her face blanched at the thought, ''you
will not drive him too close to the edge
of the precipice?"
''Never fear," returned her lover. 81
will not hurt hair of his head, except
to brighten him; nor would I do that
could find any other way to defeat his
plans against you, but I know of none.
Even if we followed your fathers ad-
vice, the dame would always be against
me; but if he runs away, breaking his
promises to her, I have strong hopes
that, in her wrath against him, She may
change her opinion, and become friend
ly."
But the sinking sun now warned
Katrine that she should be returning
home. She could not promise when
she could again meet Hermann, as it
was only when her step-mother was alb
sent that she could leave the house with
out being cross-questioned as to where
she Ws going, but blushingly consented
to send her father as messenger when
q favorable opportunity should occur.
This was a great concession for the
coquettish maiden, who had never be-
fore been so gracious, and Hermann, ap-
preciating the fact, was duly grateful,
and thanked her eloquently when they
parted.
A dark, cherries evening succeeded
the lovely day, and Katrine sat very de-
murely knitting, after getting her
fathers supper, and chatting gayly to
him while he ate it; and, while she
washed the dishes and tidied the kitch-
en-, wondered to herself whether Tjerck
would dare to take the lonely walk from
his farm to that of her father. She
was arranging in her own mind what
would be the most natural way to in
trcduce the legend of which Hermann
spoke, when the outer door burst open,
and Solpaugh entered with such wild,
terrified look, that Katrine instantly
concluded that Hermann had already
commenced operations.
The newcomer seemed anxious to ap-
pear at ease, and took seat by Hans,
who was smoking as usual; but fright
soon got the better of his discretion, and
he falteringly inquired whether Katrine
had seen or heard anything unusual that
evening; and, OH her replying in the
negative. he proceeded with trembling
lips to relate how, as he came along the
mountain side, he had heard wild cries,
and once, far before him, fancied he
saw some large, white animal moving
back and forth among the trees, but
when he reached the spot it had disap-
peared.
'sNo doubt" observed Katrine, who,
seemingly intent on her knitting, still
watched Tierck closely as she spoke,
''no doubt it was poor Nattie's COW that
you saw"
s.Poor Nattie?" responded Tjerck
questioningly; ''and who was poor
Nattie?"
"The murdered girl who haunts these
mountains" answered Katrine, as cool
ly as though she had remarked that it
was dark evening
"Haunts! Did you say haunts these
mountains?" asked Tjerck, in terrified
tones.
"Certainly. Have you never heard
the story? l will tell it to you. 1t is
just the night for ghost story!"
Katrine threw fresh log of wood on
the fire, for the evening was sufficiently
chilly to make the kitchen fire most