The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-03-10
A CHuRCR MOUSE.

upon his horses neck, "The eyes of nj
owl would be at fault on such q nigh
as this. Be quiet, you brute! Do yc.
mean torepay my confidence ~ breaking
my neck2"
The animal had SHE'D so violently a.
nearly 70 throw his rider, and stoot
trembling in every muscle. His mnste
peered through the darkness in the en-
deavor 10 make out the cause Of his ter
ror. He could perceive before him th.
dim outlines Of o dismantled church
with its broad avenues OF gravestone.
clustered about it. Beside the road, 3,
close that he conld have touched /,
with his whip, he discovered an indis
tinct white object crouching upon one
Of the graves.
Resolved upon knowing what il was he
dismounted and approached It. AZ he
did so, it arose and fed rapidly away.
With his curiosity now fully aroused he
followed il. AS It neared the...cburch it
turned suddenly and confronted him.
At this moment broad glare of light.
ming flashed thwart the sky and he
thin, water-sonked garment. her hair
ioi''HB III dtFiiChCA OOuo QPOU
her shoulders. For an instant her
and her large. sorrowfnl eyes met his
to inlet into the solid body of the church
AS well as darkness permitted, he ex
amined the spot where she had disap.
peared, but could find no opening
through which she could have escaped
II 10 ,I ,I..nI ,1,o&
and thn, she hnd nothing to fear. The
tempest through the broken arches
With feeling akin to superstitious
terror, he hastily rcmounted Ills horse.
and did not draw rein until he reached
the village inn.
"Wh" occupies the old church yon-
der?" he inquired of his landlord
"Ah you too have seen it," exclaimed
the lanulord, mysteriously
"lt?" echoed the traveller. Il saw what
thought to be poor, demented GIRL"
"Yuu saw the spirit Of one" answered
the host so!emniy: Every enc here
knows the story. When she was alive
her name was Ada Merton. Her father
died a year back leaving her heress 10
his properly. As she was yet a minor,
he appointed his friend Stephen East
burn her guardian. who in case Of her
death unmarried, was to inherit the
property. I. is said that he beat,
starved. and cruelty ilI-.rtaled her. One
night-just such n.,tt rs this-slie
disappeared. Her hal and clonk were
found on the River bank mex. morning.
1t was plain that the pnOr creature had
sought deIiverance from her prosecutor
by suicide. That was three months ago.
Her body was never found, but her spirit
has been often seen in the cburchyard,
where her father lies. Meanwhile, the
man who drove her to her death lives at
his ease in her fathers house on the
hill"
The traveller was evidently deeply
Interested in tine story, but 40 made no
comment upon IT, Merely informing
the landlord that he should remain fur
week or two lie returned to his room.
Like mnny another Young man of for
tune, Charles Barclay WIS afflicted with
too much leisure. His sole object in
this part OF The country wus merely
languid search after amusement. The
landlords story had strongly aroused his
curiosity. Moreover, the young girls
sud fnce and beseeching glance in the
churchyard had made u strange imprea
sion upon him. Something in her i'm.
probable histnry had led him 20 form u
vague suspicion of truth nearly rs i'm
probable. Eagerly accepting tho poysi-
BILE chance of an exciting experience, ho
determined to silt tho matter 10 the bot
tom.
Without dropping hint ms to his in.
tenton, he left 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 o stray
dog was to be seen wandering about the
chuTuhyard. An ineTably drenry mir
hung abnut the place, depressing his
spirits and almost resolving him TO
abandon his object. But ~ sentiment of
pride urged him on, and he cautiously
made his way into tho church and anL
down in one Of the pews.
For more than an hour nothing occurr.
ed to attract his attention. Ps became
drowsy, and WIS on the poir. of falling
asleep where he sat- when q low weird
peal from the old organ moaned through
the church. He sat erect aud listened
with suspended breath. The sunnd roae
higher and clearer, and presently the
sweet but mourniul tones Ut woman's
voice joined it. He could make out the
words Of prayer for the wre,ched.
After n moment the music ceased,
and he could hear tho ninger sobbing In
q low, heart-broken way. that brought
tears to hia eyea. He strnined his eyes
through the darkness, but could mako
out nnthing. Arising, he called out:
"Whnever you are. You are in sorrow
end afllicti0n. cannot see you. will
NJ 2.
you friend. Will you answer ME ?"
There was no reply, and the weeping
suddenly ceased. After morlent OF
hesitation he made his way To the organ
loft and struck q match. No one was
visible, nor wns there the smallest trace
OF the recent presence of any living be.
ing. Considerably startled, he LEFT the
church, determined to repeat his expe.
rience On the following night.
Providing himself with dark lantern
he went 10 the church ON tho next night,
and secreted himself near the organ. Az
before it was nearly midnight before he
came conscious of the presence of
another person in the building. On
this accession the organ was nos played
but there WAS rustic IA of wnmaL'u
dress and presently he heard the came
low bitter weeping.
Quickly arising no shot tho rays of
the lantern in the direction whence the
sounds proceeded. Not more than thvee
yards from him in tine broad, glare OF iii ssssiu
light he beheld the girl whom he had
met in the churchyard. She was look.
ing at him with aa expression of in5cnSe
terror in her white face and tear.wat
eyes. As she stood covering before him
she reminded him OF some innocent ami.