Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-10-27

over the polished osken stairs that new
er gave back sound. / gained the
deserted top floor and CROPPED my way
along to the narrow staircase that led
to the belfry. Oh, how my heart was
beating My breath came in short
gasps. In my soul was crying-"It is
for grandma's sake Lord help me to
save her-help me to be bravew
On, on, up the steep old steps, and in
at the trap door. l heard sound be-
hind me. Doubtless it was the rats,
but thought it was the burglar pur-
suing me. In an instant had closed
the trap, shot home the rusty bolt and
lock, and stood there, locked in the
belfry.
A dim. gray Light, like earliest dawn,
made every object visible. l seized the
rope with both hands. At that instant
| remembered the story of the tower
remembered with thrill Of natural
horror that was standing where the
mad murderer fell, holding the rope
his dead hand grasped so firmly, while,
in that corner yonder, where the dead
girl had lain
A dreadful, piercing scream broke
from my hps-not all the burglars in
the world could have kept it down.
Madness of horrors! what did | be-
hold? A woman's white-robed form,
with dark, dilating eyes fixed on me,
white wild face, and streaming hair,
and bare arms raised as if to clutch
the rope and rend it from my hands!
Despair took hold upon me.
Grandma! Grandma | screamed.
'They will murder her."
l chung to the rope, pulling with all
my strength. The phantom stood
gesticulating wildly. The heavy bell
at last began to tremble. 1t moved
it swung-the iron tongue struck at its
sides.
Clang! clang! clangl the wild alarm
pealed forth again, and again.
shrieked to the ghost Keep off, in
the name of Heaven" Clangl clangl
with deafening crash the bell went on
My courage rose. Knocked the figure,
and laughed and shouted wildly. Then
l heard notes.-the discharge of fire
arms. Help had come to grandma.
My own strong nerves gave way, and /
| tainted on the belfry floor.
l recovered in my own room. The
servants had found me lying under the
bell. To this day l shudder at the
thought of being locked in that horri-
BILE place alone. Grandma was unhurt,
her property was saved, and the rob
bers arrested before they could escape.
And grandma said it was all thanks to
my courage; and though she did not
make me i heiress (having passed
her word % the contrary she did what
| liked much better-she made new
will, naming Charley and myself Joint
heirs, provided we got married imme-
diately, which we did, and lived happy
ever since"
And the apparition in the belfry?
was near forgetting that. 1t was a
real, genuine vision or shade, | can as
sure you. 1t seems the tower had al
one period of its history been used as
sort of store-room for old rubbish
among other things an immense crack.
ed mirror had been put there and il
was my own reflection in the glass thai
| had seen, but SO white, so wild, anc
changed by excitement and fear that
had never suspected the identity O.
the form, and came very near being
frightened to death bya glimpse of my
own face.
We lived several years in the ole
house now-Charley and land hae
two rosy babies born to us, but all oul
days and nights are happy, peacefr
ones, undisturbed by visionary terrors
Whether the tower is haunted or no
| cannot tell, for that was my first ane
las experience of the ghost of Grey
friars.