The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-11-02
The Hollow Stump.

It was plain to be seen from the ex.
cited groups that gathered on the street
| corners that something of an unusual
nature was agitating the dozy village of
Ethelton. I had visited the place on
one or two former occasions, destined, as
| now, to drop line in the mountain
brooks which abound hereabouts. On
these fishing excursions had seen suf-
ficient to enable me to tell that on this
| occasion something out of the ordinary
had happened.
In the Office of the one hotel which the
| village supported, found the little, old !,
fat landlord discoursing with energy
which plainly betokened that he had
something weighty to tell, and the eager
attitude of his listeners proved to me
that he was not drawing from his fund
of stock stories. My mind was bent on
fishing, and little did care for the mar.
| vellous tale-whatever it might be, that
| my host had to tell. But after tea, as
was idly smoking cigar on the piazza,
and noting the beautiful effects of the
changing light and shade on the distant
mountain side, my vo]uable host drew
up chair beside me and poured into
my ear, with the enthusiasm of story
teller who has found fresh listener, the
matter that was stirring Etheltown from
center to circumference, or, in other
words, from where we sat TO the old grist
mill on the creek. In short, it was as
follows:
Old Ebenezer Cornell had for many
years been the postmaster in the place.
For almost two generations his curious
eye had scanned every letter that passed
through his hands, and he was consid-
cred to be the political oracle of the re-
gion. A few months previous to this his
health had failed, and the duties OF the
Office had been performed mainly by the
old mans daughter-his only child, who
was esteemed by all the most modest and
beautiful girl in that section. OF late,
however, letters have been mysteriously
lost, or stolen, and the theft had been
traced to the Etheltown Office, and Clara
the young deputy postmistress, had that
day been arrested by the government
authorities.
This was the story mine host told, " it'll
much circumlocution and repitition.-
Seeing no end to the food of words he was
pouring forth upon me, Excused myself
and strolled down the quiet street, and
beneath the stately elms and shapely
naples that shaded it. had proceeded
but little way when met party,
forid-looking man and fair young girl,
while following closely we're number Of
the village boys. had seen many fair
faces, but none that had ever impressed
me as did this one. While the features,
if strictly analysed, would not have met
all the requirements of beauty, there was
something 80 sweet and sad about it that
for hours afterward it remained plainly
photographed on my brain.
easily learned what had surmised,
that this was the post masters daughter,
and that when had passed her on the
street she was in charge of an officer.
The next day spent among the hills,
following the brooks that played at hide
and-seek amonst the rocks, and meeting
with but Indifferent success. The sun
| had sunk to rest before I unjointed my
pole and prepared to return to the vii
lage. I found myself several miles dis
tsnt from the village, very tired and
hungry. plodded YEARLY along, and
| finally, to lessen the distance took q
path through the woods with which
was familiar. On reaching the borders
of0the woods sat down at the foot of
| q large tree to rest. The perfect still
ness of the night oonspired with my
WEAKNESS and soon sent me on an exile
to slumber land.
How long I had slept ] know not. I
was awakened by some noise. and started
up to hear stealthy, cat-like tread.
The moon shone down through the leafy
canopy above me, casting weird shad-
ows, and presenting all objects in an un-
natural light. Peering cautiously around
discerned, or thought did, . figure
draped in white bending over an old
stump. 80 weird was the scene, and 90
dazed was ON swaking suddenly. thst
could scarce believe the evidence OF my
senses, and thought myself the victim OF
an optical illusion. But the object
moved, drew itself erect. and almost
noiselessly glided out of the forest.
There is more or less Of . latent belief
in the supernatural in the most matter
Of fact persons. did not-do not-be-
lieve in ghosts, but must confess that
this strange apparition startled me, and
caused q nsmeless chill to pass through
my frame. But srousing myself, l con-
cluded to examine the stump and see, II
possible, what strange errand my
ghostly visitor had to this old, decsyed
stump in the woods.
The discovery made startled mo, and
dispelled in moment all theories OF .
heavenly visitation. I had not enter
tanned an angel unawares. Gathering
my traps hastily, emerged from the
wood. and seeing the white figure in the
1;.xer~a T foIiowod and traced IL TO q