The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-01-07


seemed to pass bodily through her shape,
she melted into the shadows Of the place.
This time he did not pursue her. Her
mysterious escape. which seemed 10 con-
firm her own words, began to impress
him with the belief that he had indeed
confronted a visitant from the other
world.
Next morning, however, cool reflection
taught him that he might easily have
deceived himself in his excitement. He
therefore resolved all the more obsti-
nately to pursue the investigation.
For three nights following he secreted
himself In the church, and awaited her
appearance, but his watch was fruitless.
This caution on her part fully convinced
him that he was dealing with q human
being. and not with an impalpable
phantom.
Meantime, In pursuance OF the suspI
cion which the landlords story had I'M
parted to him, he found a pretense on
which to- make the acquaintance of Ste
nhen Ia stburn. The man impressed
him unfsAgorably at first sight. Tall and
oaunt og figure, with small, restless
gray eyes and false smile, he seemed
10 Barclay 10 be capable of any villiany.
The young man was careful to avoid
mentioning the supposed ghost, and de-
parted with an invitation to call again.
On the fourth night Barclay again
seweted himself in the church. 1t was
cold for the season, and he shivered in
his hiding place, despite his warm cloth
ing. Hour after hour passed away, and
he was beginning to fear that his errand
weald again prove fruitless, when faint
liefs@ IN the body Of the church caught
his eye, As it rose higher, he could see
that il proceeded from small heap OF
sticks coslacted upon the stone floor.
Crouching over it, and extending her
thin fingers to the fame, he beheld the
figure OF the young girl. Evidently
overcome with the cold, she had vent
ured to indulge i'll this small comfort in
the hope that it might escape notice.
Pulling off his; shoes, Barclay crept
up behind her, and, before she was
aware of his pres ence, seized her in his
strong grasp.
81 knew you were no ghost, he said,
smiling "thougn ii you continue this
life much longer you viii become one.
Sire uttered faint cay of terror, and
sunk upon her knees.
tJpare me" she scbbed. ~ am on
ly poor, homeless, frierdless girl, who
never wTonged any one. Why do you
pursue me q
" For your own good, my poor girl, .
he said, kindly. "Why will you not
believe in my good iiltentions?"
why should IL" she cried, passion
ately. "Did not my fathers trusted
friend, who had sworn to be my second
father, seek my life? ?"
"Ah p said Barclay, with a start.
" My conjecture was true, then. He
decQyed You to the river, and, after be-
lievmg you safely out of the way, left
your cloak and hat upon the bank to
give the impression that you had COM
mitted suicide?"
"Yes," she answered "but the river
was more merciful than he, for it cast
ras ashoEe alive. Sick with horror, and
madly afraid of the whole world, came
here whebe my father lay, to die upon
his grave. But it is hard for one SO
young to die. have lived here these
three months, suffering, freezing, dying
That I was taken for my own ghost was
fortunate for me, for it kept every one
away from me, and aided me to get what
little would keep me alive, after night
fail. And ] encouraged the supersti-
ton. Now you know all. IF You are
that mans emissary may God forgive
you and help me-
81 am the enfissary of mercy" re-
turned Barclay, [ am here to do JUS
tice to q villain, and to restore you to
your rights. VIII you trust and help
meY
She looked up at him.
"You have good, kind face" she
said, offering him her hand. 1T will
trust YOU
"Then," said Barclay, "keep up the
character you have assumed for one day
more. Tomorrow night I shall bring
Eastburn here with witnesses. Do you
play on that organ when you hear us
enter. When turn the dark-lantern
upon you, arise and denounce him as
your murderer. We can safely leave
him to accuse himself"
81 will do as you wish" she an
swered, brokenly. Chow can / thank
you?"
"By following my directions, replied
Barclay, brusquely, to hide his own
emotion.
With few words more of advice he
left her. His next move was to go di-
rectly to the landlord Of the inn, relate
the whole story, and secure his support
At 10 o'clock on the,next night, in
company with the landlord, he called
upon Stephen Eastburn. Cutting short
his smooth salutation, Barclay said:
"Mr. Eastburn, the obscure manner
Of your wards death has given rise TO
strange rumors in the village Her
spirit is said to wander in the old
church. We desire you to accompany
us there tonight, III order to set these
stories at rest"
Eastburn's jaw dropped, his face grew
hvid, and he was barely able to reply, in
a quavering voice;
"Ghost absurd Do You mean to
make fool of me? will not go to the
church at this hour of the night.
"Allow me to observe" said Barclay,
sternly, that the rumors, unless you
aid in dissipating them, may eliminate
il charge of murder"
Something significant in his tone
| seemed to render EaStburn suddenly
submissive.
"Of course I will go, out of polite
ness, if you insist. We shall probably
bag a church mouse. They are pro-
verbally so starved as to be incapable of
fight"
No reply was made to his lame attelnp
at humor, and in very uncomfortable
frame of mind he went with them to the
church, and was shown into pew in the
dark, between them. After moment of
silence, the low tones of the organ
sounded through the church, accompan-
led by woman's voice.
"What is this ?" cried Eastburn,
starting up. "Whose voice was that ?''
BE SILENT" said Barclay, sternly
GOOD reason have you to hear that
voice with guilty horror"
AT the same instant the glass from his
lantern fell broadly upon the organ.
Standing beforeit, looking down at them,
was the figure of Ada Morton.
go, God!" groaned Eastbmn, chok-