The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-06-11
Select Story.
EASTBURN'S CRIME.

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II must trust to your instinct, mutter
ed the traveller, letting the bride fall
upon his horses neck. "The eyes of an
owl would be at fault on such night as
this. Be quiet, you brute Do you mean
to repay my confidence by breaking my
neck 2"
The animal had SHE'D so violently as
nearly to throw his rider, and stood trenb-
ling in every muscle. His master peered
through the darkness in the endeavor to
make out the cause of his terror He
could perceive before him the dim outlines
Of dismantled church, with its broad av-
enues of gravestones clustered about it
Beside the road, so close that he could
have touched it with his whip, he diseov-
cred an indistinct white object crouehing
upon one Of the graves.
Resolved upon knowing what it was, he
dismounted and approached it, As he did
so, the figure of young girl arose and fed
rapidly away.
He called aloud that he was a friend,
and that she had nothing to fear The
only answer was the wierd wall Of the
tempest through the broken arches With
a feeling akin to superstitious terror, he
hastily remounted his horse, and did not
draw rein until he reached the villag, inn.
ssWho occupies the old church yender2
he inquired of the landlord.
"Ah you too have seen it, exclaimed
che landlord, mysteriously.
T. ..A.1I Il, t~n.,fla~ slyf ,s,s
what / thought to be poor demented
girl
aYou 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
q year back, leaving her heiress to his
property. As she was yet minor, he ap-
pointed his friend Stephen Eastburn her
guardian, who, in case Of her death IN
married, was to inherit the property. One
night, Just such night as this, she disap-
peared. Her hat and cloak we're found on
the river bank next morning. Meanwhile
the man who drove her to her death lives
at his ease in her fathers house on the
hill
Like many other young men Of fortune,
Charles Barclay was afflicted with too
much leisure. His sole object in this part
of the country was merely languid search
after amusement. The landlords story
had strongly aroused his curiosity.
Without dropping hint as to his in-
tentions, be left the inn on the next night
shortly after IL o'clock, and proceeded to
the church. The place was silent aud de-
serted.
For more than an hour nothing occur
red TO attract his attention. He became
drowsy, and was on the point Of falling
asleep where he sat, when a low, wierd
peal from the old organ moaned through
the church. He sat erect aud listened
with suspended breath. The sound rose
higher and clearer, and presently the sweet
but mournfnl tones OF a womans voice
Joined it. He could mako out the words
of prayer for the wretched.
After a moment the music ceased, aud
he could hear the singer sobbing 10 low
heart broken way that brought tears to his
eyes. He strained his eyes through the
darkness, but could make out nothing;
arising, be called out.
II saw you in the churchyard last night.
am not an enemy or an idle curiosity
seeker. | earnestly want to aid you.
Will you not trust me 2"
sYour friendship or your enmity can
be nothing to me- The world you live in,
by its wickedness and cruelty, drove me
to my death. | an doomed to this place
until justice is done upon my destroyer"
"You are trying to mislead me, ex-
claimed Barclay. "You are no spirit, but
a poor, starving, homeless young girl.
He advanced towards her as he spoke
aud stretched out his arms to seize her.
In an instant she seemed uncertain how to
act, then even as his hand seemed to pass
boldly through her shape, she melted into
the shadows Of the place. This time he
did not pursue her. Her mysterious es
cape, which seemed to confirm her own
words, began to impress him with the be-
lief that he had indeed confronted visi-
tant from the otber world
Next mornisg, hsueyer, cool reflection
taught him that he might easily have de.
ceigcd himself in his excitement. He
therefore resolved all the more obstinately
to pursue the investigation.
For two nights following he seercted
himself in the church and awaited her ap
pearaGce, bat his watch was fruitless.
This caution on her part fully convinced
him that he was dealing with huma u
being and not with an impalpable phan-
tom.
On the fourth night Barclay again Sc
creted himself in the church. 1t was cold
for the season and he shivered ia his hiding
place despite his warm clothing Hour
after hour passed away, and he was be-
ginning to fear that his errand would again
prove fruitless, when faint light in the
body Of the church caught his eye. As il
rose higher, he could sec that it proceeded
from small heap of sticks collected upon
the stone floor. Crouching over it, ex-
tending her fingers to the fame, he beheld
the figure Of the young girl.
Pulling off his shoes, Barclay erept up
behind her, aud before she was aware of
his presence, seized her in his strong
grasp. II knew you were not a ghost"
he said, smiling; though if you continue
this life much longer you will become
one."
"Spare me, she sobbed 81 am only a
poor, homeless, friendless girl, who never
wroDged any one. Why do you pursue
me 2"
aFor your own good, my poor girl" he