Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-04-14
EASTBURN'S CRIME.

you mean to repay my confidence by
breaking my neck ~
The animal had SHE'D so violently as
nearly to throw his rider, and stood
trembling in every muscle. His master
peered through the darkness in the
endeavor to make out the cause of his
terror. His could perceive before him
the dim outlines of dismantled church,
with its broad avenues of gravestones
clustered about it. Beside the road SO
close that he could have touched it with
his whip, he discovered an indistinct
white object crouching upon one of the
graves.
Resolved upon knowing what it was, he
dismounted and approached it, AS he
did so, the figure of a young girl arose
and fled rapidly away
He called aloud that he was friend,
and that she had nothing to fear. The
only answer was the weird wall of the
tempest through the broken arches.
With feeling akin to superstitious terror,
he hastily remounted his horse, and did
not draw rein until he reached the village
inn.
''Who occupied the old church yonder %
he inquired of the landlord.
"Ah you too have seen it," exclaimed
the landlord, mysteriously.
"Itl'' echoed the traveller. alt was
what thought to be poor, demented
girl"
"You saw the spirit of one, answered
the host solemnly. every one here
knows the story. When she was alive
her name was Ada Morton. Her father
died a year back, leaving her heiress to
his property. As she was yet minor,
he appointed his friend, Stephen East
burn, her guardian, who, in case of her
death unmarried, was to inherit the pro-
perty, One night, just such night as
this, she disappeared. Her hat and cloak
were found on the river bank next morn
ing. Meanwhile the man who drove her
to her death lives at his ease in her
fathers house on the hill"
Like many another young man OF
fortune, Charles Barclay was afflicted
with too much leisure. His soul object
in this part of the country was merely a
languid search after amusement. The
landlords story had strongly aroused his
curiosity.
Without dropping hint as to his
intentions, he left the inn on the next
night, shortly after IL o'clock, and pro-
ceeded to the church. The place was
silent and deserted.
For more than an hour nothing
occurred to attract his attention. He
became drowsy, and was on the point OF
falling asleep where he sat, when low,
weird peal from the old organ moan ed
through the church. He sat erect and
listened with suspended breath. The
sound rose higher and clearer, anC
present. the sweet but mournfuly tones
of a woman's voice joined it. He coulo
make out the words of a prayer for thu
wretched.
After moment the music ceased, anC
he could hear the singer sobbing in low
heart-broken way that brought tears tt
his eyes. He strained his eyes through
the darkness, but could make out nothing
Arising, he called out:
81 saw you in the curchyard las
night. am not an enemy or an idl
curiosity seeker. earnestly want to ait
you. Will you not trust me 2"
''Your friendship or your enmity cal
be nothing to me. The world you live il
by its ,wickedness and cruelty, drove nj
to my death. am doomed to this plac
until justice is done upon my destroyer.
LOU are Tying 10 ullsltdu ult5 bS
claimed Barclay. "You are no spirit, bu
poor, starving, homeless young girl
He advanced towards her as he spok
and stretched out his arms to seize hei
In an instant she seemed uncertain ho'
to act, then even as his hand seemed {
pass boldly through her shape, she melte
into the shadows of the place. This tim
he did not pursue her. Her mysteriou
escape, which seemed to confirm her ow
words, began to impress him with til
belief that he had indeed confronted
visitant from the other world. ILL.,.
Next morning, however, cool re1ectio
taught him that he might easily ha,
deceived himself in his excitement. H
therefore, resolved all the more obstinate
to pursue the investigation.
For two nights following he secrete
himself in the church and awaited Ia
appearance, but his watch was fruitles
This caution on her part fully convinc,
him that he was dealing with a humi
being and not with an impalpable pha
tom.
On the fourth night Barclay aga
secreted himself in the church. 1t w
cold for the season, and he shivered
his hiding place despite his warm clothin
Hour after hour passed away, and he W
beginning to fear that his errand won
again prove fruitless, when faint Zig
in the body of the church caught his ey
AS it rose higher, he could see that
proceeded from small heap of site
collected upon the stone floor. Crouch
over it, extending her fingers to t
fame, he beheld the figure OF the you
girl.
Pulling off his shoes, Barclay crept
behind her, and before she was aware
his presence, seized..her in his strong gra'
''Iknew you We're not q ghost" he sa
smiling though if you continue Il
life much longer you will become one.
"Spare me,'' she sobbed. ~ am OIL
apoor homeless, friendless girl, W
never wronged any one. Why do y
pursue me I"
''For your own good, my poor girl, y
said kindly. why will you not bell,
me in my good intentions f''
"Why should II" she cried p
sionately. "Did not my fathers trus
friend, the man who had sworn to be
second father, seek my life ~
"Ah ~ said Barclay, with q sts
''My conjecture was true, then.
decoyed you to the river, and al
believing you safely out of the way,
left your coat and hat upon the bank
give the impression that you had &C
mitted suicide ~ ..-
"Yes," she answered, "but the ri
was more merciful than he, for it cast
ashore alive. Sick with horror,
madly afraid of the whole world, ca
here where my father lay, to die upon
grave. Now you know all. If you
that mans emissary, may God forg
you"
81 am the emissary Of mercy, "returl
Barclay. 81 am here to do justice on
villain and to restore you to your rigl
Will you trust and help me p
She looked at him.
''You have good face" she sa
offering him her hand, 81 will trust yot
"Then," said Barclay, keep up
character you have assumed for one IN
day. Tomorrow night | shall br
Bastburn here with witnesses. Play
organ when you hear us enter. Wher
turn the dark lantern upon you, rise,s
denounce him as murderer. We
safely leave him to accuse himself"
II will do as you wish," she answer
"How can thank you l''
"By following my directions" repl
Berclay.
With few words more Of advice